{"id":758,"date":"2019-03-16T19:54:53","date_gmt":"2019-03-16T19:54:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reptilefollower.com\/?p=758"},"modified":"2023-12-21T08:24:02","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T08:24:02","slug":"how-to-handle-an-aggressive-leopard-gecko","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reptilefollower.com\/how-to-handle-an-aggressive-leopard-gecko\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Handle an Aggressive Leopard Gecko?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hove you got an aggressive Gecko and need some advice on how to deal with it? Well, you are in the right place, I will explain why this may be happening and how to deal with it.<\/p>\n

How to Handle an Aggressive Leopard Gecko? You need gain their trust first and identify if they have any underlying issues to cause their aggression, such as sickness. Once that established, and you have trust they can be handled gently with an open hand.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are a number of reasons for this aggression, and it is important to understand why this is happening, how to deal with it, and know when and when not to approach them. Read on and let me explain.<\/p>\n

Usual Temperament of a Leopard Gecko<\/h2>\n

In this section I’m going to explain how leopard geckos temperament usually is so that you can understand what they usually are like before we can get into how to deal with an aggressive leopard gecko.<\/p>\n

Usually leopard geckos are quite docile well behaved, well-mannered lizards. In fact, ideal for any beginner. However, as you will learn in this article there are some that may have an aggressive nature. While this is quite rare, it does happen on occasion.<\/p>\n

What is the strategy to tame an aggressive leopard gecko?<\/h2>\n

The best way to tame an aggressive leopard gecko is to present yourself as not a threat. To them, you will find that leopard geckos, especially when they are new, have a natural fear towards human beings.<\/p>\n

As you can imagine, they have a good reason to do so, because they are so low in the food chain and anything that moves and is bigger than them is obviously interpreted as a threat.<\/p>\n

To gain their trust you can use a few different strategies, first being, using food as a way for them to identify you with a trusted person. Secondly, you can use tactics such as handling them and also even talking to them, which I will talk about later on in this article.<\/p>\n

Clear signs that they do not want to be handled<\/h2>\n

Before I explain how you should correctly handle an aggressive leopard gecko it is important to understand the times and the signs that indicate that they do not want to be handled. This is important because you may find that you’ll get your hand bitten if you approach them at the wrong time.<\/p>\n

This may have nothing to do with an aggressive nature, it may just be the wrong time of the day for them to be approached.<\/p>\n

Disappearing Swiftly<\/h3>\n

Hiding away is a very common, especially for new leopard geckos or even hatchlings. The thing to look out for is how they behave whenever you approach them. If they are in their hide, this might just be because they are relaxing.<\/p>\n

But the key thing to identify here is if they are playing and hiding only when you approach them. Then this is an indication that they perceive you as a threat.<\/p>\n

Especially if they appear to be running for their lives, into a hiding spot, as soon as you approach the glass or attempt to move your hand towards them. This is a time when you should proceed with caution.<\/p>\n

You will find that leopard geckos are more active during the night, this is because they are nocturnal animals and this is when they are most active. For this reason, it is best to approach them in the night, when they are more active.<\/p>\n

Again, if you find that your Leo is almost running away from you and hiding, then this is a clear indication, especially at night-time, that they do definitely perceive you as a threat.<\/p>\n

Screaming the House Down!<\/h3>\n

Weird noises such as Screams and hisses are another indication that it is the wrong time to try and handle your Leo. To be honest, this should almost be common sense and a natural reaction for a human to avoid proceeding, but unfortunately there are some people who will not heed to these obvious signs.<\/p>\n

You may find that they do this if you try to approach them or if you try to touch the glass of their tank enclosure. They may even hiss or scream and posture themselve in a defensive kind of stance. If this is happening this is a clear indication that it is not a good idea to attempt to handle them.<\/p>\n

This hissing and screaming behaviour does actually stress a Leo out quite a bit. It is something that they obviously would like to avoid.<\/p>\n

You may also find that some of them open their mouth wide, while hissing and scream at you. This is the time that you need to leave them alone<\/a>. It is clearly not an opportunity to try and handle them.<\/p>\n

Aggressive Charging<\/h3>\n

Charging is another tactic used to display a sign that they do not want to be approached. You may find that your leopard gecko will aggressively charge with its mouth open directly at you, as you approach their glass tank enclosure. Again, this is an obvious sign that you need to leave him, and not approach him or even try and handle him at this time.<\/p>\n

Shedding Irritation<\/h3>\n

During shedding is another time that you should definitely avoid trying to handle your Leo. This is because when they have shed their skin, the skin can be quite sensitive. They can get irritated easily during this time.<\/p>\n

Another thing is, it takes a lot of their energy to shed the skin and to get rid of all the old one. So, this is not an ideal time to approach them. Just bear in mind that during this time there is a chance that they may bite you.<\/p>\n

Things to avoid when you handle a leopard gecko you<\/h2>\n

So in this section I’m going to outline things that you should definitely not do when you eventually get to handling your leopard gecko.<\/p>\n

This is important because once you have earned their trust you can completely lose this in a second if you go about things the wrong way. For that reason let me explain what you need to avoid.<\/p>\n

Never Hold Them By Their Tail!<\/h3>\n

Never ever grab a leopard gecko by its tail even though they have quite fat tails you may be under the illusion that it is quite strong and therefore you can just grab it. This is not the case.<\/p>\n

Although it is relatively strong they have a tendency to drop their tails if they feel that they are under attack. So, if you do this you will find that your leopard gecko is likely to have no tail. Although this will grow back, it is not ideal. Because it is never the same whenever it eventually grows back<\/p>\n

No Grabbing At All!<\/h3>\n

You should not attempt to grab them. This will definitely stress them out. What you have to understand is, in the wild, birds will usually try to grab them from above and this will simulate this behaviour and stress out your leopard gecko.<\/p>\n

No Squeezing!<\/h3>\n

Never squeeze them or hold them too tightly. They have quite fragile bodies and it is very easy to hurt them. Especially if you do not know your own strength. In fact the best way to handle them, which I will explain in more detail later, is to have an open hand, rather than trying to grab their body, are you with me?<\/p>\n

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Did I share that I got FIVE leopard geckos LMAO? Here\u2019s one of them \ud83d\ude42 hypo tangerine male pic.twitter.com\/yuIANU0jek<\/a><\/p>\n

— \u2728morgan\u2728 (@lezboats) November 14, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n