New baby beardie and help taming/handling

Hi there everyone!

I had posted a while back about my sweet boy Gizmo who passed away after a long hard battle with ADV.

I finally got another beardie! His name is Rango!

The difference is night and day, Rango is so full of life and eats so much! He is a happy little guy!

He is a little under 5 months old. Ive had him for a bit over two weeks now.

He is VERY shy though, he is getting used to me (just me, anyone else looking in his cage he gets nervous and will just watch them), I hand feed him every chance I get, id say that 25% of the bugs he eats a day im giving to him by hand and he eats them right up!

When I go to pick him up, he lets me (doesnt run from my hand) but as soon as I start getting him out he tries to wiggle free of my hand. Once he is on me he seems nervous looks around. I usually hold him right in front of his cage because im trying to take baby steps and he is still getting used to his surroundings im sure. I have not taken him out many times, because I was trying to let him get acclimated to his cage, he has been out maybe 5 times for baths and some handling after and maybe 3 times for just handling (10 mins at a time) so he is def not used to much handling yet.

But lately when ive been taking him out, he will sit on me with his mouth slightly open, almost looks like he is basking but I know he wouldnt bask on me because im def not as warm as his enclosure. But its not wide and he isnt acting aggressive (no black beard, no stress marks) just sort of sitting there with the mouth slightly open. Is this an aggression/defensive thing

He did do the puff up and hold the breath thing for a second and I think I read online that it means he is getting comfortable? So maybe he doesnt mind my handling?

After a little bit he does try to explore (run up my arm) so maybe thats a good sign too he is curious!

I got some treats (waxworms) that im giving him ONLY when I handle him, I figure this will maybe help as well.

But any other tricks or words of encouragement would be great I cant wait to start holding him more!

Any tips to getting him more comfortable with me and handling?

It sounds like you have a god start going. I would imagine some of his behavior is related to relocation as it can take from days to weeks depending on the beardie to fully settle in to the change. Hand feeding has got to be one of the best ways to have them associate you with good things, so keep that up. Working with holding them while in the enclosure and working up to moving around is a good slow and steady method as well.

Sitting with the mouth open isn't really something I would be able to pin to a specific mood. I see it mostly with one of mine that is in the same process and I personally attribute it to him being on alert (not aggressive or defensive so to speak but unsure of what to think and therefore staying ready). It is something I would expect to slowly fade as his confidence in the situation rises.