Scared of bearded dragon

[Kurt]

Hi there I am new to this website but I joined for about of help, we have Zippy now for about two years (zippy is our beardy) and from day one he hasn't seemed to like me and in turn as made me very nervous around him, my wife has not fear are all and handle him but I really want to get over this fear I now have when It was because of me we got him and generally do love reptiles, we have just recently got a baby tortoise as well who is great and loves being handled, although we have had zippy 2years I believe he is about 4 as we got told his was two when we received him, any advice would be fantastic thank-you

 

[Leviathan2]

If he is not fast, I used to use magazine to slide under him and put him up.( To take him for shower and stuff. Nowadays, he is too fast, I have to grab him tight.

I say get a leash ( so he doesn't run away) and use the method I did. Put him in "big area" not from the cage, and take to hold him from the bottom(slide hand in) and lift him up.

 

[chelsmm]

What exactly are you afraid of? Is it that he might bite? or run away?

Our new beardie (4-5 year old male) has had a hard time adjusting to a new home, and he was trying to bite me every time I picked him up. I went to home depot and got some leather gloves. Now when I pick him up, I'm not afraid. After a week or so of this daily handling, he seems so much less stressed out. He hasn't tried to bite me in several days. I'm almost ready to ditch the gloves. Maybe try leather gloves if you are afraid he will bite.

They need to feel secure, so I'm not sure the magazine under would be best. I'd start with a hand in the tank, then petting, then putting the hand under the belly and another over the back. Be sure to support the legs and tail.

good luck!