My bearded dragon is hiding after being scared. How do I get her out?

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Lizzie. Brumation is triggered by a drop in temperature in the environment and shortening day length. If you have a heating element on your system, the temperature should not be dropping. Being quiet and secretive for two days is concerning, as they usually remain active up to the time they lay, not for several days prior. If she is egg bound, a veterinary visit is recommended. Calcium injections and a drug to induce egg laying (oxytocin) can be given to stimulate egg production. She could be sick for other reasons with kidney disease being common in aging bearded dragons. If she is still eating, you have a little time. If not, she needs to visit a veterinarian. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about your bearded dragon. Bearded dragons do not hibernate, so concerns would be around being too cold or being sick. It the environmental temperature is correct, a veterinarian should be visited to aid in the diagnosis and treatment. Good luck.

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.

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.

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.

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!