Well, I got a 3 y/o rescue mid December.. He had some serious relocation stress. Not only did we move him, I set up a whole new viv (he was in a 20 gal for 3 years!!!!). He finally started eating, but ate to much in too short of time (says my vet), and puked them up whole. He gets a clean bill of health from the vet. He still has stress marks though... Anyway, I usually cuddle with him a couple hours a day, the past couple of days I have been super busy and have only held him for a max of 15 minutes. He had been staring at me with a semi-darkened beard until I hold him. When I pick him up his beard fades and he is all animated again. After all this I guess my question is, can beardies get depressed?
It sounds to me like you have a shoulder cuddle beardie on your hands.
It's also possible that the heat in his viv isn't warm enough.
Mine are darker in their tank because they are basking and getting warm enough to eat.
It shouldn't be his temps, I use a temp gun I got with my megaray from reptileuv. Maybe he knows he breaks my heart when he does it and he knows I'll pick him up. He does also try to jump up my arm when I try and put him in his viv. Thanks!