Tail Spinning, Scratching, Gaping

[jjaimeebles]

I've had a juvie girl for a couple months now. She's about 5 months old.
When I pick her up, she sometimes violently spins her tail.
She also will try to scratch and scratch her way out of my hand (which is so painful I've had to put her down more than once)
And also when I pet her beard, she sometimes opens her mouth for a few seconds and then shuts it.
She's never hissed at me or bobbed her head at me. She doesn't seem to ever wave either. I'm trying to read her body language, but she doesn't seem to do any of the common displays.

**She recently had a big growth spurt, and I have very small hands so I'm wondering if maybe I'm not supporting her well enough when I pick her up. And she also has parasites right now (I received her that way, we're treating them this week), so I'm wondering if that may be why she is opening her mouth, or if she is displaying aggression towards me. Thanks!

 

[PudgysMom]

They do not like feeling unbalanced. If you pick her up, always make sure you have your hand underneath her behind. She shouldn't get so scared, then.