shadi11

[FIFERMAN]

during christmas my citrus male turned very nasty seemingly over night.
he went from a friendly relaxed little fella to the pitbull of beardies. he would jump a good six inches trying to latch on to me.
i put it down to the fact i had placed our xmas tree on top of his large viv and at night he could see the tree lights running through the diffrent colours. he couldnt see the tree but the lights reflected into his tank off the wall at nights. i might be wrong but its the only thing i can think of that could make such a drastic change in him so fast.
obviously i moved the tree and set about trying to calm him down.
i took him from his large wooden viv and put him into a 4 ft glass tank to confine him a bit and for the next few weeks he only got fed his livefoods from my hand. he would puff and hiss but still took his crix and wax worms from me. through time when his mouth was full and his teeth were busy i would stroke the tip of his tail, he would pull it away from me and threaten me but im happy to say i stuck with it and i can now slowly lift him out and handle him, although he still objects sometimes.
has anyone else had any experiences calming an agressive beardie or other lizards?

[ReptileMan27]

I had 2 different beardys in the past and both were mean. They were fine the first couple weeks I had them and then after that they turned mean. Always biting and opening their mouth. They started making my tokay geckos look freindly lol. I sold the one and traded the other for a snake.

[Drache613]

Hello,

Well, sometimes changing things around alot may cause them to have different types of behaviours towards you for some reason.  They normally don't like alot of change.   
They don't like things above them, as they view it as a predator.  Good think you moved your tree.
How long did it take him to calm down afterwards?
I think this happens to quite a few people.  You just have to figure out what is upsetting them, & change the situation for them.  Glad you got him calmed down now.

Tracie 

[shadi11]

My rescue.. If I dont hold him daily..  I have a very angry agressive beardie.. and even daily holding for the first 5-10 minutes I have to fight with him. and then I look like I have a kitten at home to most people because of the scratches I have on be.. I have found if I take him out and while on me cover with a towel the calming factor is much faster. Also..  Sounds crazy.. If I let him sit on my head happy too.. The reason he tears up my hands and arms is trying to run for my head. LOL!
Drache my youngest. When I changed her tank she flipped out.. I thought she was gonna try to eat me. She tail whiped charged and everything.

[Dragona]

ok - as mentioned above - beardies are heavily against Change, even the slightest thing could p**s them off!

Good job you moved your tree but it probably wasn't the cause of his attitude - they apparently have very sensitive eyes and all those colours flashing about are a pain but i guess the lights were only on at night when he was either settling down or already sleeping.  They will shut their eyes through either the slightest grit and grain matter, intensive heat and even intensive light so i personally don't think it was that - otherwise you'd have every one moaning on the forum at christmas time that their dragons have turned into psycho gremlins!

it could be anything - theres a whole world of reasons from light, heat, vision and observation, vulnerability, sight of other dragons (or noises), loud music etc... you can go forever.

I think puting him in a small glass tank was a bad idea as there is too much insecurity with that type of containment.

Also i wouldn't get into the habit of hand feeding - My Friends dragon is now dependant on it and is treated like a little baby now!

one last thing - i wouldn't be messing around with their tails either - one of their most objective body parts. 

I would leave him for a while in his usual vivarium without change and carry on as normal until he settles down - unless you notice any kind of strange habits, illnesses etc.... p.s. make sure he has a good hiding place.

Good luck with him though dude - i hope he returns back to normal real soon.

[Drache613]

Hello,

Yeah, one other thing.  Don't back down from him though.  If he is being aggressive & tries to charge at you, don't back down.  Otherwise, he will think that he is the boss & that he has won.  Show him he can't get away with that.  They are just like kids.  I hope he does calm down for you though.  As Shadi said, hold him daily. 

Tracie

[Dragona]

I would refrain from holding him daily at this stage - give him his space until he has visibly returned to normal.  Also I would like to add that I in-offensively dissagree with tracie in that they are just like kids - these are naturally solitary reptiles who do not like their personal space intruded - if you are putting your hands in to hold him and he's charging at you then all he's is doing is protecting himself and his territory.  In which case I WOULD back down until he returns to his usual state - i predict this is just a passing phrase and he will soon become more placid with time.

Show him he can't get away with that

How do you show that - by leaving your hand in there for him to rip to shreds!!
 

They are just like kids

or give him a quick slap !!

Let's see what happens.....

Remember this is only an opinion not advice - so do what you feel is right.  Good Luck.

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh I have to disagree.  I think that alot of people would say that dragons are just like kids.  They have a high degree of intelligence, given the opportunity.
Yes, they are solitary animals.  However, what is the use in keeping them in captivity if all you do is sit them in their tank & look at them?  If you never get them out & socialize with them, they will never develop their personalities. 
I can tell you from experience that our dragon has pouted, literally, when he hasn't gotten his way.  He knows exactly how to get his way, & of course, it always works.  They learn exactly what buttons to push, & are very intuitive about their actions. 
Just learn what your dragon wants, without upsetting him too much, but don't let too much time pass before interacting with him.

Tracie

[shadi11]

I would have to go with Tracie here. With my rescue if I dont hold much to his displeaser his behavior comes worse. he will trash his tank. tear everything up..  I have 5 and out of those 5 that is the hardest to initially handle. the other 4 will jump out to be held..  if I let them walk around the house the will follow me.. I found if you are trying to pick up a beardie and it fights you and you give in you have even more trouble. and as far as I am concerned you want to be able to hold if you have to eventually without stressing them. because what if you need a vet visit. what if you have to give medication. how do you properly clean the tank. a dragon you cant touch is not a wonderful thing.
although the littlest change has been known to set any of them off expecially if they didnt like it..  so have you changed anything?

[Dragona]

That's great you are entitled to disagree.
otherwise these forums would become a little boring!

They have a high degree of intelligence, given the opportunity.

Where did you learn of this? as most herpologists and specialists think they are extremely docile (stupid) after carrying out detailed examinations.  I for one don't think they are highly inteligent? as i have seen no evidence to back this up.They have a degree of inteligence that they put to use in their own way, eg feeding, utilising light heat water etc... They also have very little fear - but this is not action of a reptile with high intelligence.  But i suppose you could argue this.

Yes, they are solitary animals.  However, what is the use in keeping them in captivity if all you do is sit them in their tank (VIVARIUM) & look at them?  If you never get them out & socialize with them, they will never develop their personalities.  

I did not say to NEVER get them out   - what i actuallt stated was i would refrain from constantly holding him whilst he goes through this passing stage - i bring my dragons out on a regular basis (but im sure when i do - they wonder what the hell is going on!) I mean they are slighty different to normal pets as you are limited with the amount of interaction you can carry out with them - eg, stroking a dog or cat may be stimulating for them but i'm sure this differs with a scaly entity etc... etc...

I think that alot of people would say that dragons are just like kids.

I can say from experience that Kids are cheeky, noisy, disrespectful, ungrateful, constantly whinging, argumentitive,restless, hyperactive, competitive, moaning little buggers! i get none of these traits from my dragons! lol...

everybody's views are obviously different and here is a great place to express them - many new members will learn alot from experienced members - but remember you can't apply what is good for someone elses dragon to your own - bring them up remembering that these fasinating reptiles originate from the Australian dry lands and immitating their natural habitat is only going to be good for them - certain things will work well where others may not.