What do you do when your bearded dragon wont let you touch him or pick him up with wanting to bite you?

Answer 1

Handle it as little as possible ! Reptiles are not like dogs and cats - they can never be 'domesticated' to the point they will never bite their owners. If you MUST handle it - start with short periods. Try feeding it while you hold it - basic instinct will make it associate handling with feeding.

Answer 2

bearded dragons, like any animal often has to be eased into handling, if you are having problems with handling, it will take up to a few weeks to get him used to your presence. here are a few simple steps to take. It is very important that you don't move on to the next step until your lizard is perfectly comfortable with the one you are on. remember that with any animal, if they are pushed to far to fast, there is a chance you will get bit. you can expect to have a few battle scars with any animal you try to add to the family.

1. place your hand in the tank just resting it on the floor of the habitat for about three to five minutes a day. If your lizard scurries away and runs to a corner, keep trying. don't give up. as the lizard becomes more comfortable with your hand slowly start placing it closer to him until you can have your hand about an inch away without him freaking out.

2. try gently petting him either on the back or his head; but make sure throughout the process he is comfortable with both being touched. again if the lizard starts getting antsy, lower your hand so its sitting beside him. once he is calmed down, slowly try again. even if your lizard is fairly okay with this it is good to do this for at least two to three days, to ensure that he is fully comfortable with this new contact.

3. try petting him gently beneath his chin on his beard. again, if he starts becoming scared, lower your hand to the floor of the tank until he is calm.

4.when he is fine with this step, then you can try actually picking him up. make sure that you are supporting all four of his legs, as any amount of heights would scare an animal when they are not used to it. the main goal is to make your lizard feel safe and comfortable with you.

if any of these steps arent working after your three - five minutes of trying, come back the next day and do the previous step again. it is very important that it is constant and not just a two second attempt.

Answer 3

This can depend on several things such as improper husbandry and temperatures, illness or puberty.

In most cases, persistance is the key to working it out. Recheck husbandry and temps and approach him from a side view, not from the top

I had the same situation. What I did was get a pair of gloves to protect my hands and kept picking him up more often until he became familiar with being picked up. In most cases once I had him in my hand I was able to remove the glove. He was only nervous about the initial contact of being picked up. If you leave it alone you will have a beardie that will never be comfortable with you and will always try to bite you. As the other above said... persistence is the key.

Answer 4

Either go to hospital or call poison control. I have been bitten, twice, and it was a little painful almost paralyzing for my finger, but i just continued to pat and serve my beardie. **EDIT**You DO NOT need to go to a hospital just rinse it off and get a bandaid!! god people.

Answer 5

hi,

i have a bearded dragon and he normally lets me pick him up but how ever if he is too hot,shreding, just eated he dosent let me so i think the best idea would be just take it slow and maby this sounds weird but get to know him

Answer 6

Think about it ! Bearded dragons (as with most other reptiles) would be unlikely to encounter a human being in their natural habitat. Therefore they see you as a threat ! Captive reptiles can be 'conditioned' to accept human contact but they never truly become tame as a dog or cat does !

After 25 years keeping/breeding reptiles I still get the occasional bite - even from animals I've had for a number of years !

Answer 7

If your Bearded Dragon bites (which it normally doesn't) you should handle them more and give them treats like wax moth larvae and make sure you are allowing them to get used to you.

Answer 8

wash where it bites you and put a plaster on it but don't worry it wont bleed because they don't have many teeth.

Answer 9

You have to let your baby bearded dragon get used to you don't try to pick her up until she gets used to you because they may bite you and trust me it hurts!!

Answer 10

My brothers bearded dragon bit me and it was bleeding