New Owner...1st time shed with me and now he's crazy!!

[Jamesngin]

I'm a newbie when it comes to beardies and have a question. I bought my dragon Brutus from PetSmart about 2 months ago. He is around 8 inches long and has just shed. Again this is my first dragon and my first shed. It looks as if he shed all of his skin this morning and now he's nuts. He loves to be out of his terrarium....held and petted on. Now if i reach in to get him he immediately puffs up and almost lunges at my hand. He's also just going insane, running all over the place jumping, falling ect. Is this normal? In the 2 months i have had him he has not once even opened his mouth at me. Any help would be appreciated!!!! Thanks in advance.....James

 

[zimbabwepegasus]

Hi James! Welcome to the forum!

Let's get a couple Qs out of the way:

How old is he?
How much are you feeding?
Did you recently get a new UVB?

If I were you, I'd put a sock over my hand and approach him slowly, but go for it. My guess is that he'll chill as soon as you have him out. But regardless, you need to enforce the idea that this is not a punishment, it will not hurt him and yes, that he has to do it! Make sure you are scooping him from under his belly (their natural predators are birds and some get a little freaked from something large hoovering over them) and supporting all his wee little legs.