The best way to handle them is to slowly put your hand inside the tank and let them crawl into your hand, but the worst way you’ll want to avoid is by picking them up by their tail or any other fragile body part that could hurt them. “. It will not hurt their feelings and they will feel the king or queen of their small kingdom. Don’t scare your leopard gecko. The bigger leopard geckos get, the more space they’ll need in order to live comfortably in their tank. Differentiating your leopard gecko’s behavior between happy and defensive will be difficult for a novice. Sorry, guys, but hormonal changes just don’t happen to females, but to us and our male leopard geckos as well. (They are still good climbers – we show you what that means for you in this article!). 5. They may even be a little more playful, which is awesome because who doesn’t love to play with their leopard gecko. Heat mats and lamps can reach very high temperatures if not regulated, and if your leopard gecko is subjected to these kinds of temperatures, then they could very well show certain behaviors and potentially even die. Now we want them to become familiar with handling. Do this for about a week or so. Leopard geckos are not social animals. Some leopard geckos will be restless, refusing to eat, trying to escape the tank, glass surfing and showing other behaviors during the puberty. Even if you do have a naturally aggressive gecko, that doesn’t mean that they will attack you all the time once they get used to you.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'reptilejam_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_12',116,'0','0'])); Having a more aggressive leopard gecko just means that they are a little more prone to snapping at you over little things such as when feeding them their food or when trying to pick them up. If you’re wondering if leopard geckos bite, take comfort in the fact that leopard geckos are not aggressive, not venomous, and generally not dangerous. They have a very calm and docile way about them, and they will make all family members happy. If you’d like to know a little bit more about their behaviors during pregnancy along with how to actually tell if they’re pregnant or not, then click here to go to the full article that I wrote so that you can have a deeper understanding on the topic. If they run away don’t reach in after them, let them have control of the situation. Keep working with them until they get used to you and over time things should even their self out. Not only will that solve any health issues that they are subjected to while being in the smaller tank, but it will also solve the behavioral issues as well. Do Leopard Geckos Smell Bad? Is this a bad thing? As for the tank, is a great option. You might be wondering what I mean by the term ” mistaken identity “, but basically what I mean when I say this is that because of certain scents or smells that you put on or naturally pick up throughout the day, they might accidentally mistake you for someone else. If they are still on guard give them time. Keep in mind that there are many different reasons why a leopard gecko would need a new tank. Their natural habitat is dry and hot, while the nights can get down to freezing. suddenly he is acting really agressive twoards me. These types of geckos can even hiss or scream, so when it’s vocals are directed at you it’s not because they are screaming for joy to see you. The best that you can do is try to introduce them upon maturity and hope that they get along. With everything going crazy in the body, it’s no surprise that your leopard gecko is a little snappy because of it. Leopard geckos are cute, but they can hurt each other. The one aggressive one continues to bite the other ones tail. Not only is this dangerous for that reason alone, but they could also fall and injure other body parts if they’re high in the air when it does fall off. If you’d like to read more in-depth about their whole shedding process, then check this article out here that I wrote where I go into a lot more detail ranging from why they shed, to symptoms you can expect while they’re shedding as well. They have very thick tails when healthy, but these tails can fall off if picked up by them, especially if they’re squirming around. Don’t move your hand in the tank, by keeping still they will feel like they have the upper hand which will relax your gecko. why you should never get a partner for your Leopard gecko here – you should read it! Is this a bad thing? save. Have you noticed that your leopard gecko poops in the same corner every time? In order for me personally to avoid this, I wash my hands with scentless soap and then dry them off with a towel that I’ve let a little bit of substrate settle on for a bit so that they can recognize me whenever I reach in. Don’t handle your new leopard gecko. It’s the one I use and absolutely LOVE. It’s a clever idea to have an extra tank on hand in case you need to separate them. Avoid hand feeding or be careful when doing it. If you see them displaying the aforementioned behavior towards each other they are just contesting for the territory. For example, if you’ve just brought home a new baby leopard gecko and you find that it is a little moody and aggressive acting towards you, then it’s because it isn’t familiar with you yet and doesn’t know where it’s at. Reason 3: Feeding issues. We explain how friendly they are and what you should expect here. As your leopard gecko grows and gets older, their hormones change as well. ive had a leopard gecko who is about 1 1/2 old. Fortunately, that’s not the case. Whatever the reason once in a while you will connect with an overly aggressive female leopard gecko. But, during the bonding process, it’s best to hold them around 15 minutes a day and then slowly try to work your way up and see what they’re comfortable with.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'reptilejam_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_17',119,'0','0'])); If you can see that they’re showing signs of aggression and are trying to wiggle around in your hand too much or bite at you, then it’s probably time to put them down. We, just like them, want to either defend ourselves or run away. Understanding their particular aggression language is the first step to trust and saving your fingers. Two aggressive leopard geckos stuck in the same enclosure will not end well and should be taken care of immediately. When it comes to an issue like this, it may be hard to put two and two together because of how small of an issue it may seem. Scroll Down to discover. When your leopard gecko does this and moves their tail from side to side then don’t make any sudden movements. If you are planning to have more than one leos in your house. If your female leopard gecko is becoming suddenly aggressive towards you and other geckos, she can be a ‘hot female’. And that’s exactly what they feel like doing whenever they see us for the first time. You’ll either have to rehome one of your leopard geckos or buy a new tank with extra equipment and separate them. Do this for about a week or so. If you have the means can you can keep them alone in their separate tanks. We explain how friendly they are and what you should expect here. When it comes to getting a leopard gecko accustom to your presence you need to go nice and slow. Hey! It’s their ” rebel ” phase and is a completely normal part of their growing process. A key thing to remember is when you do this, not to make any sudden movements. If your leopard gecko is having trouble choosing a spot to poop in, then try training them by picking up all of their poop and putting in it one corner on top of a paper towel so that eventually they’ll think that this is where they go. At first, the only interactions that you need to have with your gecko is during feeding and tank cleaning. Hiding when you come near them even at night. This one is almost a given, but anytime your leopard gecko is introduced to a new environment, then they will take some time to get used to it. Will all leopard geckos who go through puberty have aggression issues? If you’d like to go with the last option, then. Having the right temperature in your tank is absolutely detrimental to your leopard gecko’s health, so you need one in order to properly care for them and make sure they’re not receiving too much heat.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'reptilejam_com-leader-4','ezslot_16',117,'0','0'])); Heat mats and lamps can reach very high temperatures if not regulated, and if your leopard gecko is subjected to these kinds of temperatures, then they could very well show certain behaviors and potentially even die. If you’re at all having problems with your tanks temperature levels, then. Avoid handling during shedding. ReptileJam.com also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. Your gecko lizard might not bond instantly with you like say a dog would, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t capable of “affection”. It’s one that I recommended in the ” COHABITING ” portion of this article, but both issues warrant a different or separate tank, so it’s definitely one worth looking at. All tanks should have them, but many people forget to get them when choosing their tank equipment. My gecko who I’ve had since August has suddenly become aggressive when I try to pick her up. But, leopard geckos do rely heavily on their senses in order to detect potential threats, so if you so happen to be carrying a different scent than what they’re used to, then you can almost certainly expect to be attacked.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'reptilejam_com-leader-1','ezslot_10',113,'0','0'])); It’s not a personal thing, they just work purely off of instincts. Mistakes in their tank setup can even stunt their growth as we explain here. You just have to be patient. Because of all of the stress from the other gecko, some of this aggression might even be taken out on you as a result. If you don’t know what cohabiting is, then basically it’s when two or more animals live in the same enclosure or area. If your leopard gecko is displaying aggressive behaviors all by themselves and you can tell it isn’t directed towards you it could be a temperature issue. Even towards other female geckos. It’s titled ” Are Leopard Geckos Friendly? The amount of work they have to put in to remove that pesky layer of skin is no easy task. Their eyes are large, and their face is structured by Mother Nature to look like they are smiling. She has never been aggressive before and I’m worried. They could see this as aggressive behavior on your part and they will be forced to act. I have had the same two Leopard Geckos for more then 5 years and they have always gotten along great but all of a sudden one of them is being really aggressive! Like stated above, two males in the same tank won’t fly. It is thought that hot females are produced when being incubated at higher temperatures. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. February 6, 2021 Category : Uncategorized New Leo with Bad History. It’s a normal behavior that they display and just like many other behaviors that they show such as when they’re shedding or in a new environment, it’s nothing to worry about. If you’d like to learn a little bit more about each reason, I suggest reading on so that you’ll have a better understanding.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'reptilejam_com-box-3','ezslot_4',107,'0','0'])); There are many reasons why a leopard gecko could be displaying aggressive behavior, but this one is by far probably one of the most common ones. After they have calmed down see about reintroducing them. What we view as aggressive behavior is your leopard gecko being defensive! that I wrote so that you can have a deeper understanding on the topic. If the tank gets smelly, then that’s a good indicator that it needs to be changed. To lessen their hostile attitude you have to figure out what is agitating them to the point where they feel that they need to defend themselves. 5 ~2 year old female suddenly extremely uncharacteristically aggressive?? It means that your lizard feared for its life and as a defense, it dropped its tail to hopefully distract whatever was trying to attack it. This isn’t a topic that I’ve written on yet, but once I do, I’ll be sure to come back and link to it so that anyone who is going through it with their gecko can have a better understanding about the whole process. Just think, if this type of behavior is not unusual in humans, then you can kind of see why your leopard gecko would be acting like this. It’s worked for me, so it might just work for you as well. Still, you’re probably asking: Why is my Leopard Gecko pale? So, don’t wait if you don’t have one, get one. If you don’t know where to get a good quality 20-gallon tank at, then, Also, if you’d like more information on when exactly leopard geckos reach adulthood so that you can get a better idea of what type of tank you need for them in the future if you still have a baby gecko, then, check this out this article here that I wrote. There are two fixes for this. Age isn’t a factor either, both young and old will fight, though the young ones tend to be a bit more aggressive. Leave them alone for a little while and then return to the tank slowly. ReptileJam.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. As silly as it sounds this is an actual term for certain lady geckos that are more aggressive than others. It’s easier if you put your hand on the bottom of the tank after you have cleaned it. The gender of the lizards doesn’t matter. Before we get into greater detail, though, take a look at some of the things that may be causing them to act this way. Another common antagonistic move by this gecko is crouching low to the ground and with its tail standing on end moving in an ‘S’ pattern. Leopard Geckos – Temperament and Habits. If you have recently added a leopard lizard to your home the thought of why did I do this if they don’t like me might have crossed your mind. They can be quite snappy and moody and usually don’t like to interact with anyone or anything until it’s over. This isn’t a topic that I’ve written on yet, but once I do, I’ll be sure to come back and link to it so that anyone who is going through it with their gecko can have a better understanding about the whole process.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'reptilejam_com-leader-3','ezslot_15',114,'0','0'])); Aside from aggression, though, here are some other behaviors that you may see them display: Keep in mind that all leopard geckos are not the same and may or may not display different behaviors depending on each one, but what you see in that list is pretty much what you can expect when dealing with a leopard gecko that’s about to lay eggs. You may get a new Leo, but it may have a history of living with a pet owner who never looked after them very well. IF you want to take the gamble of putting them together, I highly suggest getting a much larger tank that allows PLENTY of space between the two geckos.