How to make my scared bearded dragon comfortable and stop biting?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Reptile | Bearded Dragon
Hello my baby bearded dragon is a little scared of me and some times puff up and tries to bite my could you please give me some tips on how i can get him comfortable with me like the dragons on you tube thanks
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on May 1st, 2019
This is common with beardies that are stressed or don't want to be handled. I would try to approach him slowly and try to handle him daily. When handling him, try to feed him some of his favorite worms/treats to help him warm up to you. To become really comfortable, they need to be handled regularly but try not to hold him all day every day as he needs to be in his environment with proper lighting and heat. I hope this helps!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on April 24th, 2019
Check the environmental parameters. Any changes may affect his behavior. Survey the area in and around the enclosure for any negative stimuli that may cause stress or aggression. This may include loud noises, strong vibrations, bright lights or high traffic. Reduce or eliminate them if possible. Give him some time to "settle down ", then gradually reacclimate him to you and being handled. If the behavior persists, consider an exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose and treat any infection or injury.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My bearded dragon has been acting strange it all started when one day he accidentally bit me after i fed him a superworm and tried to pet him a week later the same thing happened to my step dad and after each incident he has been acting more and more
Check the environmental parameters. Any changes may affect his behavior. Survey the area in and around the enclosure for any negative stimuli that may cause stress or aggression. This may include loud noises, strong vibrations, bright lights or high traffic. Reduce or eliminate them if possible.
Give him some time to "settle down ", then gradually reacclimate him to you and being handled. If the behavior persists, consider an exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose and treat any infection or injury.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
my baby bearded dragon is biting me and i don’t know how to make him stop he is also a grayish color i don’t know what to do please help
Thanks for reaching out about Rex. The key with taming bearded dragons is gentle handling, quiet movements, and winning trust. Try short periods of handling and offering treats by hand to win trust. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My bearded drigon was very calm and relaxed when I bought him as a baby. Now he is a little bigger but not even close to being full grown but he is getting agressive and scared of me all the time. How can I change this behavior?
Regular interaction and handling is necessary to keep him "tame". Begin by sitting next to the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Move slowly and speak softly around Gunner. He may run to the far side of his enclosure or go hide initially but should acclimate to you quickly, especially with regular feedings. Once he's accepted your presence near the cage, place a hand inside the cage. Make no attempt to touch or hold him. Increase the amount of time as he acclimates once again. You can then draw him closer and onto your hand with treats or food.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My juvenile bearded dragon has an odd behavior. When I first got her, she wouldn’t really let us pet her or hold her. She got used to us and finally let us grab her. After switching her tank and putting her in a bigger one, we also had separated her
The change in environment may have caused her some stress resulting in a bit of flightiness or aggression. Gradually re-acclimate her to you again. Start slow and easy by simply sitting near her enclosure. Progress to placing your hand in the enclosure for ever increasing periods of time, then to enticing her with a treat. Eventually, you should be able to handle her again.
Check environmental parameters to ensure adequate heat and lighting. Maintain a clean cage and proper diet. She maybe approaching a shed which could make her grouchy. The period between 6 and 8 months for most dragons can also be a "grouchy" time....think teenager attitude and behavior.
Be patient though, it will pass and she should settle down again.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Recently our bearded dragon had a prolapse. We rushed her to the emergency vet where they told us everything we learned about bearded dragon care was inaccurate to some degree. (We got her from pet smart as well as all info about 'him'- which is a he
One of the most reliable sites for beardie care is found at the link below. http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html You can find additional information here: http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Bearded-Dragon/ Provide heat, UVB lighting, water and a balanced diet while she recovers and beyond. Once she is healthy again, acclimate her to your presence slowly then gradually introduce her to handling by holding her for ever increasing periods of time.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a bearded dragon I got from the let store about a week and a half ago. He has all the right lighting and the lady told me hes 3. He refuses to eat veggies and ever since I've gotten him his beard has been black. He doesn't puff up at me and le
The black beard Is indeed an indication of stress or anger. It may be due to his new surroundings or something could be wrong in his environment.
You can review care and feeding here: http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html
Confirm proper temps and humidity. Also, provide a hide large enough for him to enter on each side of his enclosure.
As long as Boris is at least 16-17 inches long, superworms are fine to feed. Gut load them for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. For variety, you can offer appropriately sized crickets, dubia roaches or phoenix worms.
Try offering greens in the morning about an hour or two after the heat lamp comes on. He may be hungrier at this time. Once he eats his greens, you can offer prey. Sometimes, a sprinkle of dried mealworms on the greens will stimulate the appetite.
Since he is "new" to you, an exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles would be recommended to confirm good health or to diagnose and t
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I’ve been getting a lot of mixed answers as to what to feed my dragon and what the schedule should be I’m a new owner and I also want to know what the light schedule should be right now he seems hungry but won’t eat the collard greens I gave him how
Beardies are omnivores and eat a mix of greens and live prey. Adult beardies will eat more greens than prey. At his age, Majesty can be fed once daily. Alternate between prey and greens. Don't forget to dust food with a calcium supplement as well as a multivitamin. Always have fresh water available. Offer different types of greens such as mustard greens, dandelion greens, kale, bok choy or raw cabbage. Vegetables that can be fed include celery, carrots, squash and pumpkin. This list is my no means inclusive. If he won't eat greens, chop them finer and add strawberries or blueberries to the mix. Mixing in crickets or mealworms may also stimulate the appetite. As long as the stool is formed, size isn't an issue. It will change depending on how much and what he eats. A light cycle of 12 hours on and 12 hours off is sufficient. To get him acclimated to you, simply spend time with him. Initially, you'll want to just sit by his cage, then progress to placing your hand in the cage then
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Can i give my Bearded Dragon a bath when he gets older? What do they prefer to eat? What activities do they like most?
Beardies can have regular soaks even as juveniles, especially when they are shedding. Use warm water and fill a container no higher than Lucky Man's shoulder. Never leave him unsupervised while he is bathing. Bearded dragons are omnivorous. They eat plant and animal matter. Greens and veggies should make up about 20% of the diet. Acceptable foods include carrots, green beans, squash, mustard greens, collard greens and dandelion greens. Prey should be of appropriate size. Beardies can eat crickets, locusts or dubia roaches. Wax worms can be offered as treats. Never feed insects caught indoors or in the yard. Raise your own, buy online or from a pet store. They do enjoy being held once acclimated and are very curious about their environment. Follow the link for more information: http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Hi I'm trying to get advice on the current condition of a bearded dragon I received a few days ago his previous owner didn't meet any of its needs he is approx 3yrs old he has eaten well both veg and live foods he appears very flat today he does move
With that black beard, he does seem stressed. Check temps in the cage. Low temps can affect activity in reptiles. Survey the area in and around the enclosure for any negative stimuli. This may include loud noises, strong vibrations, cold drafts or high traffic. reduce or eliminate any if found. You can review dragon care at the links below. http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Bearded-Dragon/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My bearded dragon , Lightning just moved to from my fathers house to my house. I have been trying to feed him veggies , Fruits , And Superworms and he is not seeming hungry or willing to eat ( he came to my place on Monday and he has also not poope
The stress associated with new surroundings can certainly affect appetite. Low temperatures can also affect activity, appetite and digestion in reptiles. Give Lightning a few days to acclimate. Confirm adequate temps, both basking and ambient, in his enclosure. You can also survey the area around the cage for any negative stimuli, reducing or eliminating them if possible. Continue to offer fresh greens, fruits and appropriately sized prey. Warm soaks in a 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte may treat or prevent mild dehydration. The soaks will also warm him up and, if you massage his abdomen during the soaks, they can stimulate defecation.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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