Quick question

[Jakeelias93]

I just got a new 4 month old beardie and set up everything according to spec for his viv but he's worrying me. He is getting skittish when I try to pick him up, doesn't eat handfed crickets, and when I try to pick him up he swallows air and puffs all up like hes terrified. He does the same in baths and doesn't drink but every other day, never in his bath. He eats about five crickets a day, after that he is uninterested. Is this normal? I try to handle him everyday. His colors don't seem any different either.

 

[Soulwind]

How long ago did you get him?

They can go through quite a bit of stress (lowered appetite, stress marks, hiding, etc)
for up to a couple of weeks when they first come home. They usually calm down eventually.

Mine still puff up when they get thier baths -- although once they are in there, they enjoy it
and won't come out until the water cools off, so don't worry about that -- they need thier baths
to stay well hydrated (they absorb water through thier vents while in the bath).

As for being skittish and not wanting to be held -- just give it time. Be patient and gentle but
firm in handling. Remember, at his size, in the wild, he would be near the bottom of the food
chain and everything that is bigger than him might be wanting to eat him.

He'll take some time to understand that you aren't a predator and aren't going to hurt him.
Some of the taming techniques (see other threads in here) can help with that too.

 

[Jakeelias93]

Ok thanks so much. I've had him about five days so far.