Handling Help

[Ambo9536]

Hello everyone, I am a relatively new beardie owner and got my first one about a month ago. She is six months old now and I have been handling her as much as I can so she can warm up to me. However, I've handled her for awhile now and every time I do she seems to be stressed and always tries to escape from my hand or myself in general. Is this normal? Is it just that she is young and has a lot of energy or that she just hasn't tamed up yet?
Thanks.

 

[SpacialCoogs]

It could be that she wants to explore, do you take her out when she's starting to get sleepy? or at any time of the day?

During the day mine will run around the house and may not want to be held. Closer to lights out she'll chill and eventually sleep on me.

 

[Ambo9536]

Usually I get her out during the afternoon... so maybe that's why. Thanks!

 

[kingofnobbys]

I concur with the above.... at 6 months old she's probably about 200g and getting big enough to have supervised floor time in a safe area of the house (MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO OBJECTS she can swallow on the floor and any gaps she can crawl into are blocked).

After she has her daily floor time ,she'll likely find a nice spot to crash and will then be ready for a snuggle and petting as she'll be pooped. She may well take the opportunity while on the floor to releave herself (so keep an eye on her and if she lifts her bum suspiciously , slip a bit of paper towel or news print under to catch her load, though beardie poos are pretty easy to clean up).

I don't advocate letting lizards roam about on elevated surfaces such as lounges and a bed, they can fall off and if they land awkwardly they can hurt themselves even break legs. The floor is the safest place.

 

[magpieandstuff]

I agree. My bearded dragon only wants to cuddle after he has had plenty of time to play out of the tank. Let her explore a little bit and then try handling her.