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Hey everybody! I just got my bearded dragon, Odahviing, a couple days ago and I already have a few issues with him/her. I guess it's to be expected since I'm a new beardie keeper and he's my first but I still have a couple questions despite all my research and that has to do with a small behavior problem he has. When I got him from Petco they told me that he's a little bit mean and might try to bite me. I figured that shouldn't be a big deal since I know some can be more temperamental than others at first and that he's probably a bit stressed and nervous. Who wouldn't be moving into a new home? I would especially expect a small one to be nippy and flighty as even large adults have to avoid dingoes, pythons, monitor lizards, eagles and hawks in their native Australia but here's the thing, He's a juvenile about 8 inches long and the lizards at Petco seem well socialized. I've met bearded dragons much younger and tinier that were calm to sit in your hand and even excited to see you and by now he should be pretty used to humans. It gets even stranger. When I was about to purchase him I asked if I could hold him real quick just to judge his character for future and when I did he seemed a bit unsure of himself but didn't mind to much, letting me pet him without issue. When I got him home he let me pick him up out of the box and put him into his habitat where he was really enthusiastic and even ran up curiously to look at my family and I as we watched him. In addition I took him out later that night and even though he opened his mouth for a second and hissed softly he let me pick him up and we just calmly sat together for about 5 minutes, he rested in my hand and looked very happy and sat on my leg all relaxed almost the whole time. I did take note that he would back away and open his mouth if I put my finger near his face so I just figured "okay, he doesn't like that. He'll become more social with time." He has a lot of energy, he ate the day I got him and readily accepts and chases the crickets I put in there, even now I've gotten him to take small pieces of greens, sweet potato and mango from my hand so he knows I bring him food and likes it when I do. It was great for a day or two after this as he let me take him out more but the final time I took him out he became real skittish. Now it's like he's a different lizard or at least has mood swings. He'll open his mouth and show his teeth even if my hand is a foot away and he will try to bite me and even jump to do so and he'll run from me. He hisses a lot and puffs out his throat so he must be scared or angry. Believe me, I don't mind bites in the slightest as I deal with all kinds of animals, besides, what could he do at his size? But if I want him to be a social and tame lizard for my family and friends I don't want that to become a habit so I'm trying to avoid a bite to begin with. Bearded dragons are curious and gentle by nature but even still I know some are more crabby than others and it takes a while to become as tame as a dog but I have to ask what gives? The way he was acting before I thought he trusted me and saw me as a friend. I've tried offering food by hand when he gives his aggressive poses and strike at it and eat it regardless so you would think he knows I'm giving him food and trying to take care of him but at this rate (he can already bite mealworms in half) it will be hard to do upkeep and it's discouraging to think he might never mellow out the way he's currently acting. It's like in his mind I'm just a very friendly dingo that will eventually just eat him anyway 
