Handling Bearded Dragon

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I bought my bearded dragon just over 2 weeks ago. its about 2 months old and for the first couple days he was fine in letting me pick him up, he didnt move really, which is fine. Now when i try to even get near him he runs. Ii come from infront of the side as to not try and scare him, sometimes i can get under him but when i try to lift him up even gently he runs off. He's even jumped out of my hand as i was lifting him (about 1 foot drop) just to get back to his cage. He wont even let me pet him, he just runs away, no matter where i pet him (back or head). He's eating normally, i spray him often, temperatures are what they should be, he seems healthy. i dont know if its just a baby thing or if he  just doesnt like me.

ANSWER: Hello Trevor,

If you could tell me a little bit about your setup.  What type & brand of UVB light are you using, is it a flourescent tube bulb, a compact or a coil light?  What type of basking light are you using a bright white light or a colored light?
What are you feeding him currently?
What do you measure the temps with, a stick on type of thermometer, a temp gun or a digital probe?  How big of a tank is he in?
Is his beard darkened at all?
Something is causing his behavior change, & we will figure it out.
If you can please answer the questions, that would help alot.  Thanks.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, ok, for the UVB light its a coil light. Basking light: Exo Terra Sun Glo Neodymium Basking Spot light...its 150 Watts.

I measure temps with a temp gun and i believe hes in a 20 Gallon tank. His Beard hasn't darkened at all...least not that i've noticed.

Currently im feeding him Crickets and Romaine lettuce with some carrots mixed in...once a week i throw in some strawberries and cover his crickets and veggies in calcium powder. He eats about 5 crickets per day...give or take one...he wont eat anymore than that even if they walk right in front of him.

ANSWER: Hello Trevor,

Ok, which brand of coil UVB light are you using?  The coils are not good.  They emit a low wavelength frequency of UVB which is close to UVC emissions.  The quality of UVB is not good, either.  That is most likely going to be the problem, or at least most of it anyway.  The coils can also cause eye problems, too.
I recommend getting a reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb or a reptiglo 8 flourescent tube bulb.  Please do not get the reptiglo 10 tube bulb, or any ESU or Zilla lights.  They are worthless.
Ok, great, a temp good is good.  What are the temps measuring then?  In a 20 gallon tank, I recommend the basking to be 95-105 not to be higher than 110 & the cooler end around 78-82.  
The Sun Glo is ok.  You are using a 150watt, that seems high, but if the basking temps are within the ranges I gave you then that is fine.  
The coil light, I recommend you to turn it off until you get a flourescent tube light.  After you get a new one, make sure to place it directly beside the basking light to encourage basking.  That way he gets heat & UVB at the same time.
He should be eating more like 50+ crickets daily at his age.  Try to feed him 2 times a day along with veggies & greens daily.  He will need the calcium 4-5 times per week, too.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Im not sure what the brand of my coil is...i bought the Zilla deluxe bearded dragon kit...the basking light bulb burnt out within two days, which is when i bought the new one.

Temperatures are slightly over that range...im usually getting around the 110 range for basking...Temps for the cooler area are alright.

Im not sure how to get him to eat that many crickets in a day...the petstore that i got him from said 5-7 daily with some fresh veggies everyday...i usually feed him around noonish...i can try to feed him again later in the day see if he will eat more then. And ill start dusting the crickets more often.

The Cage is also located in my basement, so the temperature outside of the cage is much cooler than his basking area. not sure if that would have anything to do with him not wanting to leave it.

Answer
Hello Trevor,

Oh ok, so, the light is a Zilla coil light?  If so that is going to be probably all of the problem with your dragon.  Those lights are very dangerous.
Here is a report on the light.  
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm

Is it dark in your basement?  Yes if the outside temp is cooler than in the tank, & dark he would not really want to venture out too much.  
Try feeding him in the morning, & early afternoon if possible.  Or just whatever is easier timewise.  The temps sound fine then, but are you measuring the temps with a digital probe or a temp gun?
Did you turn the coil light off?
How is he doing today?

Tracie