Why does my new reptile duck her head and pull away when I pet her?

I commend you for rescuing her. She's gorgeous! You can only do what you are doing now. Let her acclimate to you at her pace. Move slowly around her and speak softly. Continue to sit by her for longer periods of time. Use treats and food to entice her closer and closer. Don't force her to do what she doesn't want to do. This may result in a nasty bite or scratch. Be patient and be consistent. Above all, be careful.

I commend you for rescuing Meredith. The first thing would be to have her physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to confirm good health or to diagnose any preexisting conditions. Next, review the website below for information regarding bearded dragon care. http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html Give her some time to acclimate. Provide a hide on each side of the tank. Consider a tank wrap to provide more security. Survey the area around the cage for negative stimuli. This may include loud noises, vibrations or bright lights. Reduce or eliminate any if found.

Time and patience! If Princess is skittish in your new home it may just be she needs some time to settle in and relax. If she was abused or not handled much before coming to your home, she may also take longer to bond or just never be quite as cuddly. A few things you can do: Let her approach you instead of forcing interactions. This can help her gain trust and make things less stressful. If she does approach, offering your hand for her to sniff before petting, giving a favorite treat, or just talking in a calming voice can help. Pheromone diffusers and collars are great for reducing stress and anxiety and may help her to relax some and settle in. Treats are friends! Hand feeding her meals, giving treats when she approaches, and rewarding her for when she is calm and not nervous can help build trust as well. Playing with toys, if she likes them, such as a feather on a string can help increase bond and interactions without petting that may be too stressful for her, while still letting her interact and have fun.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is definitely OK! It is possible he was handled frequently before you got him, so he is already used to being handled. He may also just have a personality where he isn't afraid of being picked up. As a reminder, geckos can carry infections that can make humans sick, so always wash your hands well after handling him! I hope this is helpful.

You will need to gradually acclimate Peanut to handling. Begin by simply sitting by the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Move slowly and speak softly around her. She may retreat to her hide or to the far side of the cage initially. Don't worry, this us normal. When she becomes more accepting and calm, progress to placing your hand in the enclosure. Again, for ever increasing periods of time. She may once again retreat. Make no attempt to touch or hold her. Use small treats to coax her closer to you then onto your hand. Be patient and be consistent. The more you interact with her, the quicker she will become acclimated.

I commend you on adopting such a wonderful creature! She may need time to adjust to her new home and enclosure. Make sure it is large enough for her and located away from loud noises, vibrations, direct sunlight or high traffic areas. The commercial pellets are an excellent diet. You should also offer dark, leafy greens, diced vegetables and prey such as crickets or dubia roaches. These can be purchased from your local pet store. Gut load prey for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Dust with a calcium supplement 3-5 times per week. Use a multivitamin 2-3 times per week. Make sure the temperature in her enclosure is appropriate. Low temps can affect appetite and activity in reptiles. The cage should be in the mid 70s F on the cool side and mid to high 80s F on the warm side. A basking spot of 90-100 F is recommended. She will also need a UVB light source running the length of her cage and about 12-14 inches away. This is vital for calcium, metabolism. You can soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20-30 minutes to warm her up and to rehydrate her. If her appetite does not return, have her rechecked by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose illness or injury. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites.

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.