just got my BD and it my first help!

[rchlxx]

hiya

   just got my baby bd he is 3 to 4 month old he is 11 inches (how old would he more likely be 3 month or 4 month?) got him this week will have him for a week on Tuesday and he really worries me will he become more tamer every day i take him out but it more a struggle than enjoyable he opens his mouth and hisses at me its making me worry that he will never want to come out i know i have to keep at it but when he is bigger and doing that i think i will be to scared of him biting me   i really want to have a friendly bd what can i do to help him like me more i tryed the wearing a top then putting it in the Viv its been in there for a day now help if he keeps it up i think i will never be able to take him out without being scared he will bite me  

thanks any help will be g8

[Mach10X]

Dragons rarely bite.  Just keep at it and he'll come around.  Have you looked over our caresheet yet?
http://bearded-dragons.com/boards/index.php/topic,8.0.html

[spikesmum]

I have found that my Dragon senses fear like a dog would. If someone goes to stroke or pick him up and they are
scared he will flinch, move backwards and in some cases gets ready to get the tongue out.
He wouldn't bite and if he did it would be out of confusing thinking its food or he's scared.

When i first got my beardie i was scared and i know he played up knowing that. Now if hes being a bit naughty. I will say in my head
"im in charge, im the boss, you don't scare me" Then pick him up.
Don't be scared to talk to your Dragon. I tell Spike off. 

Over the weekend my son went into Spikes Viv, he tried to stroke him but spike moved away and got into his hunting stand.
I simply went over said in a stern voice just like i would to the kids "i don't think so little man" i showed him my empty hand (fingers together) Continued to say "i haven't no food, im going to stroke you" he let me do it. Try stroking the nape of his neck kinda behind his ears they love it. Handle your dragon as much as possible or he will become grumpy and then as he grows wont allow people to handle him.

[perfectly_flawed]

He needs time to settle down and get used to his new home. It's best not to handle them, except what's needed for feeding and soaking, until they're well settled. It can take anywhere from a week to over a month. Having excellent care (temps, uvb, hydration, feeding, etc) will shorten that time.
Right now everything is brand new to him and he's scared. You're HUGE and very scary to him. Try not to pick him up if you don't have to. It only scares him more, and that will make him feel that he needs to be scary to you. Double check everything according to our caresheet, and give him some more time. He'll settle down when he's comfortable.

[rchlxx]

thanks was alot of help

so when should i try and take him out and get him used to being handled ?
 and what age would he more likely be 3 or 4 month can i put him on pinkies when he is 5 month old or fuzzies when he is a year old ?

he just started to flake on his head is that shedding and should i start spraying him and how often do i spray him ?

[Mach10X]

You can mist, but most of us find it best to give baths.
Please check out our caresheet CLICK HERE for CARESHEET
The caresheet has lots of important information for caring for your dragon including how to bathe.  Keep in mind that bearded dragons are remarkably resilient creatures and you can be doing something wrong for months before your dragon will show any signs of a problem (such as metabolic bone disease).

Others may disagree on this, but as long as your dragon is healthy, I would give him about 3 days to settle in and get used to his enclosure then start handling him daily.  You can tape paper to the glass to reduce the amount of stimulus and slowly remove these sheets as he settles in, this is especially helpful if your dragon's home is in a busy room with lots of activity or foot traffic.  After a couple days of minimal contact, I would start handling him at least twice daily.  If he is trying to jump or walk off your hands, learn to put one hand in front of the other to give him an infinite bridge, he will grow tired of going nowhere and let you hold him (in most cases).  Be careful to have him over a soft surface and either sit on the floor or be up on a bed or couch.

You can also reduce stress by reducing the amount of ambient light at night, try not to have the room lights on when he is sleeping.  You can use the same trick with paper (or anything else opaque) to block out the glass when you must turn a light on at night.

[rchlxx]

so he can still get baths when he is only 3 or 4 month old?

what temp should the water be?

how deep?

and how often does he get one?

[zebrajanie]

Yep.. I know one breeder that offers bathes shortly after hatching..

Temp of the bath should be baby warm, or around 90-100*F

Up to the top of baby's legs.. at the shoulder.. The idea is for the dragon's butt to be under water.

Duration of each bath should be around 15-20 minutes.. Never leave your dragon alone during bath time.. It doesn't take much for one to drown.

When mine were that young, every 3-4 days.. NOw they are adults, most of them drink from a bowl, not saying yours will, just mine have adapted to a water bowl, so they only get a soak once a week.

Hope this helps !

[Mach10X]

Rchlxx, most of these questions have answers in our caresheet, although we will answer all your questions here it's a really good idea to read it nonetheless.  Here's that link again: CLICK HERE for CARESHEET

[rchlxx]

i have read it just never found out what this means

he is shedding and one of his nostrils seems like its blocked its pink over the hole and its bubbling when he is breathing through it is that because he is shedding or do i need to take him to the vet am sorry for all the questions but its things i need to know its my first time looking after a Bud ?

you prob think am a rubbish owner and i shouldn't have one but am worried about him all i want is the best for him