Beardie behavior changed like a switch turning off?

[cuddlybadger]

Hey everyone! I'm really new to all of this as I just got my baby last week, but I'm trying to figure everything out that I can. I got my baby at a Petsmart and fell in love with her because when I was looking at the beardies they had she (I'm assuming, she's still really young, I'm estimating 2-ish months, but we sexed her with the flashlight method) was "glass dancing" whenever I got near and she watched me very carefully. She was very active, though a bit smaller than her tankmates, her eyes were bright and clear, and her coloration was just gorgeous. I say all of this, because she was very active and healthy and still is.

I brought her home and set up her new tank and she ate a lot of crickets. She also glass danced again around bed time and I brought her out without a fight and she nestled into my neck immediately. Night two, she did the same thing. However, I went to visit my dad for one night and had my mom take care of the lamps (I don't have a timer yet) and feed her. My mom said she looked very confused and almost depressed, staring at my bed because I wasn't there.

When I came back, she seemed to want nothing to do with me. I tried to take her out of her tank and she was much more hesitant. I brought her out of the tank and she seemed like she wanted to run away. We went outside for a few minutes and she squirmed her way out of my hands because I didn't want to crush her, but I had to catch her and ever since then she's been staring me down. If she seems like she's dozing and I look at her, she seems to "feel" me looking and opens her eyes and watches me. I have noticed that if we watch each other for long enough, she actually deliberately positions herself on her log with her back to me and stares at me over her shoulder. Since the outdoors incident, I haven't pulled her out of her tank except for our nighttime cuddles, where she just backed herself into the blanket until her eyes were closed.

I've been trying to rebuild our relationship because I'm assuming she doesn't trust me anymore? She'll eat out of my hands but if I put my hand in her tank in front of her and try to slide it under her she backs up quickly. She is still eating healthily and chases her crickets all over the tank and seems to like basil, even if she'll only eat it when I'm not looking.

Is this normal for a beardie to go from super loving and cuddly to seemingly distancing herself?

 

[CooperDragon]

Sometimes that happens. I don't think you broke her trust or anything like that. They go through phases and moods sometimes. If they are shedding they often get grumpy for a while. Do you see signs of shedding anywhere on her? Look for dull or gray waxy skin. If that's what's going on she will probably be back to her old self again after she is done shedding.

 

[cuddlybadger]

I think her skin might be getting a bit duller. She did eye bulge one night and I saw some people think that's related to shedding but it could also just be a form of yawning?

 

[CooperDragon]

Eye bulges are done to loosen the skin around the eye and is usually a shed related behavior. You might see some beard flaring for the same reason.

 

[cuddlybadger]

Thank you! It's good to know about the beard flaring. She started shedding in full today. I'm going to give her a bath tomorrow to help with it.
Thank you for all of your help!