Leopard geckos are originally from the Middle East and parts of India. With everything going crazy in the body, it’s no surprise that your leopard gecko is a little snappy because of it. Leopard Geckos Teeth Issues. Ever since I was a child, I’ve always had this deep passion and interest for reptiles that eventually led me to become the proud owner of multiple snakes, lizards, frogs, and turtles. 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 could see this as aggressive behavior on your part and they will be forced to act. For a long time, keepers tried to prove that Leopard Geckos are lone creatures and don’t need any type of company. It’s easier if you put your hand on the bottom of the tank after you have cleaned it. We see that both the advanced as well as the beginner reptile keepers need to know about the activities of If you find that your leopard geckos are constantly going at each other’s necks, then that’s when it’s time to separate them. Although some reasons are more clear than others, it can be quite the mystery trying to figure out what the cause is, even for owners who have had their gecko for many years. The reptile owner community is large and with more and more people showing interest in them, I’ve decided to share what I know and have learned about reptiles over the years so that owners from all walks of life can give their reptile the love and care that they need. A baby Leopard Gecko is more desired and valuable if it features certain colors. My gecko who I’ve had since August has suddenly become aggressive when I try to pick her up. That being said they still need the time to get used to you handling them and disturbing their sleep since they are crepuscular, they wake at dawn and dusk, especially if they are young. We, just like them, want to either defend ourselves or run away. And their personality is just perfect for families. While some animals don’t have an issue with this, many others, like leopard geckos, do. They can be quite snappy and moody and usually don’t like to interact with anyone or anything until it’s over. 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. Temperature can even affect their mood since they need a spectrum instead of a set climate. Have you noticed that your leopard gecko poops in the same corner every time? There’s really no way to tell exactly how often you should pick them up because as you may know by now, all leopard geckos are different. But, it will take a little adjusting to get used to. 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. 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. 5 ~2 year old female suddenly extremely uncharacteristically aggressive?? If they are still on guard give them time. Substrate can last for quite some time, but shouldn’t be left in the tank for no more than a month at a time without cleaning. Male leopard gecko twirling tail as he gets excited add he eats crickets. Fortunately, that’s not the case. A Leopard Gecko’s skin will become pale for a few days as its body prepares to shed its old skin and make room to grow. why you should never get a partner for your Leopard gecko here – you should read it! Leopard geckos are cute, but they can hurt each other. You just have to take it slow with them. They have very thick tails when healthy, but these tails can fall off if picked up by them, especially if they’re squirming around. that I get from Amazon, but whatever floats your boat will work. If they are still on guard give them time. Because of all of the stress from the other gecko, some of this aggression might even be taken out on you as a result. The leopard gecko can seriously injure each other if they start to bite. It is also suggested that you provide a hot section, called the basking area provided by a light fixture that is 90-95°F. 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. Unfortunately, this is a common issue in not only the leopard gecko community but in the reptile community as a whole as well. If you’d like to read more in-depth about their whole shedding process, then. As for the tank, is a great option. If you’re older and have a wife or younger and have seen your mom go through these changes, then you might know what I’m talking about. 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 just have to be patient. Keep in mind each leopard gecko will be a little different and how your gecko acts when stressed might be different than another animal. For a larger tank, then this one here also from Amazon will do just fine. And even though I’ve had my hands full, I’ve loved every single second of it. She still eats and drinks fine and I’ve seen her start sleeping out in the open more. As for the tank,  this one here from Amazon is a great option. 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. In order to do this, you’ll have to start what I call the ”, If you’re interested in that topic, then you’re in luck, because I actually wrote a full article on that as well. So in this section I’m going to explain some reasons why you may have a leopard gecko that will suddenly turn aggressive. The reason for this is puberty, which is a term that we’re all very familiar with.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'reptilejam_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_13',115,'0','0'])); If you’ve gone through puberty, then you know that it comes with bodily changes. You might have a male and female leopard gecko intending them to have a companion once they mated. Both male and female geckos are affected by this, so no owner is safe from their wrath. Leave them alone for a little while and then return to the tank slowly. 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. There are just way too many reasons why your leopard gecko could start acting aggressive towards you, so to see what the culprit is for their behavior, it’s best to go down the list and see which culprit makes the most sense to your particular situation. Still, you’re probably asking: Why is my Leopard Gecko pale? In this case, your crested gecko will be angry and will be trying to run around the tank and hunt for some bugs. It’s titled ”. 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. ive had a leopard gecko who is about 1 1/2 old. It’s their ” rebel ” phase and is a completely normal part of their growing process. 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. Avoid hand feeding or be careful when doing it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I have kept chameleons, bearded dragons, leopard geckos and many other reptiles. Posted by 9 months ago. For an issue like this, you’ll want to get your hands on a thermostat. We, just like them, want to either defend ourselves or run away. Do Leopard Geckos Smell Bad? But even today those claims are not backed up by any facts. So if it works best for you, don’t worry that you are blocking them from having social contact. This isn’t always the case, and on occasion, your leopard gecko might become stressed or scared. Hey! While the female hot heads get their name plenty of geckoes are just more aggressive. The amount of work they have to put in to remove that pesky layer of skin is no easy task. If you’d like to go with the last option, then I recommend going to this page for my personal equipment suggestions if you don’t already have what you want in mind. No. Like with most animals, the way to gain the gecko’s trust is to allow them to get used to your smell. Leopard geckos that are between the ages of 0 to 2 months will be able to live just fine in a tank that is 10 gallons, but any gecko that’s 3 months and older will need something that’s at the very least 20 gallons.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'reptilejam_com-banner-1','ezslot_8',111,'0','0'])); If you currently have a gecko that is older than 2 months and is still in a 10-gallon tank, then I highly suggest that you upgrade to a larger tank for the sake of their health and well-being. To get a better understanding of the importance of your tank’s temperature. Like gaining a new dog or cat trust if they are hesitant of you just put your hand towards them. They would most likely choose to scurry off to safety and hide rather than bite a person. You’ll either have to rehome one of your leopard geckos or buy a new tank with extra equipment and separate them. Depending on a couple of factors and who you ask, cohabiting can be a very unsafe or safe thing to do when it comes to leopard geckos. 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. There isn’t an exact determination as to why some female leopard geckos act this way. Your gecko is ectothermic so they will only perk up if they have time to soak up some heat. Some believe that the temperament is due to higher temperatures during incubation, hence the name. Discover information about the species, keeping them as pets, diet, and care information. Do this for about a week or so. Males will fight other males that they view as competition, as will female leopard geckos. For example, if you have other pets in your house besides your leopard gecko and you touch them frequently throughout the day or maybe even put on some cologne or hairspray and the scent gets onto your hand, then it’s very likely that you will be bitten or attacked when you try to put your hand in the leopard geckos tank. If that doesn’t help, keep repeating the process. I’m Devin Nunn, an average joe that just so happens to have a deep love and passion for everything to do with reptiles. Many new leopard gecko owners will wonder why their gecko seems to be hiding from them. She has never been aggressive before and I’m worried. 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. This can be very worrisome if it’s your very first leopard gecko and you’ve never had experience with them, but rest assure that this odd behavior is very normal and will pass within the course of a few days, max. Just make sure it’s something that is safe, easily cleanable, and also that you keep on top of it and change it as needed. 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. So, don’t wait if you don’t have one, get one ASAP. And if you’re not sure when puberty occurs, then you can expect for it to happen around the 1-year mark as they’re transitioning into adults. If your female leopard gecko is becoming suddenly aggressive towards you and other geckos, she can be a ‘hot female’. With that said, I do believe that, and have seen, that some leopard geckos can be a little more aggressive than others. When it comes to getting a leopard gecko accustom to your presence you need to go nice and slow. However, they display a moderate amount of social communication through their body language.They also perform other typical behaviors that can be indicative of their health and well-being. 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. 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. And with pregnancy comes mood changes. This site is owned and operated by ReptileJam.com, a limited liability company headquartered in Indiana, USA. Don’t scare your leopard gecko. If your crested gecko enjoys ‘hunting’, catching and eating the bugs, it might get frustrated if you stop offering them. But, it’s not an uncommon thing to see once they get to that age. We explain how friendly they are and what you should expect here. Why would your leopard gecko turn aggressive? From lethargy, weakness, to aggression. Leopard geckos can be quiet territorial with each other, being loners out in nature. I like to point out that very, very few animals are 'aggressive', in that they don't openly look for a confrontation with the aim of attacking - most of the time it’s just not worth the risk. save. I’m not against the idea of it as long as you’re putting two females together, but if there are two males together, then that’s a definite no-go as this will definitely cause tons of stress and aggression as they are way too territorial to live together. All tanks should have them, but many people forget to get them when choosing their tank equipment. I’m not sure about other leopard gecko owners, but I love the fact that they all carry different types of behavior. Because of all of this work, naturally, they become very, very stressed out. Like stated above, two males in the same tank won’t fly. While anxiety over these sudden changes in your gecko’s appearance and behavior is entirely normal, there is likely no cause for alarm. Keep handling down to a minimum at the very beginning of owning them and go from there.