re-homed a beardie and need advice

[mrs.e]

Hi,
I already have a 3 yr old male beardie and I've just re-homed a 12 month old female beardie (from a friend who IMHO didn't really look after it properly in the first place!)

We've had her for just over a week and her traits couldn't be more different to my 3 yr old.

• She's very skittish
• Very Jumpy
• Really doesn't like being picked up, if you're lucky enough to get hold of her she struggles like mad to get away from you (and you end up being ripped to shreds by her claws!)
• when she's out on the floor for a "run about" she jumps and puffs her body to the side if someone moves or coughs....

She's generally in good health (bowels fine, colouring fine, eyes, mouth, muscles and bones fine), she's approx 17" from nose to tail tip.

My question is, although she is 12 months old, with us handling her like we do our 3 yr old will this general behaviour calm down or will be be like this all the time now?

I've only ever had the one beardie and never re-homed, so can't compare..

Many thanks!

[dickvansheepcake]

She sounds incredibly stressed out, unhappy and defensive at the moment. As you've only just got her she will most likely be suffering from relocation stress so you should give her a week or two of no handling at all, only opening the viv to give food and spot clean. Don't interact with her at all.

After a couple of weeks of letting her settle, you can start to get her used to you by hand feeding, then tempting her onto your hand with food, then after a while you start picking her up gently. Just be patient and don't rush it and you should get a lovely, tame and relaxed beardie.

Oh, is she housed in her own viv or have you put her in with your male?


Jenny

[mrs.e]

Hmmm.. I did think that too, but I thought the sooner she got used to us handling her, the better (as the previous owner, basically ignored her and didn't handle her), will give her some chill time... she's a lovely little girl, and I'm looking forward to the challenge of "weaning" her into our family!

woah, no!!! she's in her own tank lol

Thank you!!

[dickvansheepcake]

If she's not used to handling at all then it's all the more important to leave her to settle in first before trying to handle her. Give her a little time and I'm sure she'll calm down

Sorry to ask about her having her own tank, but you never know! Some people aren't anywhere near as sensible as you!

Hope it all goes well for you


Jenny

[mrs.e]

yeah... will try that method and see how she goes... I'll keep you all posted on this thread! thank you

No, no worries... although I would love to have a million baby beardies running about the place, I don't think that would go down too well with our new little girl, poor thing! lol

and thanks again for your advice, very much appreciated

[trudib]

Sounds like she just needs to settle in, as above leave her for a week apart from feeding etc, then maybe try some hand feeding. Hopefully she will settle down and slowly get used to been handled