First Time Owner/Dragon Doesn’t Like Being Picked Up

Hello everyone,

I’m looking for advice or just some reassurance.
So my bearded dragon is about to be 5 months. I waited a while before picking him up when he was just 2 months and first got him. I make sure not to go over his head and try to scoop from under in the front. Well, he often runs away now and is so squirmy when I hold him. I make him relax before putting him in his cage but he’s very squirmy now and I feel bad holding him. I do reward him when he does relax. I took him to the play pen and now it’s hard to “capture him” with still coming from the front and not over his head. I was trying to make this a regular thing. However, he escaped once and there are just things on the floor and mouse traps upstairs. I don’t really have a safe place for him to explore or run around except the playpen for now.

It’s very discouraging.

However, he doesn’t mind when my hand is cleaning the tank or when I pet him. He will feed off my hand and put his cute Little two hands on my hand. I just pet him often now instead of picking him up unless he needs a bath for either shedding or has poo on him.

Idk if I should continue to pet him and just offer the chance to sit in my hand within the tank?

Yes let him sit on your hand a pet him -- I never took Blaze out till he was almost a year old on the floor to run around -- keep handling him in the tank --- you might let him sit on your chest or hold him up to your chest so he gets used to being held like that - continue to reward him w/ treat worms etc --
Karrie