Thread: reposted question???

I asked this about a week ago and no one responded. Figured I'd try again just in case someone who might know the answer just didn't see it before.

My youngest leo opens her mouth all the time. Not in the tank, like a yawn, but when she's in my hand. She rubs her nose against the palm of my hand and then opens her mouth wide. First time it happened I thought she was going to bite me. But she didn't. She just opens her mouth and leaves it open for a few seconds - then closes it. And often she repeats this action two or three times.

Does anyone else's leo do this? Is she actually thinking about biting me? She's never shown the slightest tendency towards aggressive behavior, and sits in my hand willingly - in fact, she climbs in... I don't even have to chase her down. So if she is thinking about biting me, it's a surprise since she is so timid and sweet. But I just have no clue why she does this.

I saw your post and I really don't know..... but will take an educated guess of sorts. It appears to be a non aggressive reaction. It might be it's way of acquiring your sent or just her way or reaction to being held by you. It's appears it's her way of telling you all is OK. Sound kinda like a fake Yawn? They do sleep a lot...lol. If this only happens when you pick her up.... and no ill affect. It's just something yours does and is "unique" to your gecko. So..... I would not be concerned.

I haven't seen that before either, but it doesn't sound like cause for concern.

Maybe she is just stretching her jaw muscles.
If she don't bite ya don't worry i guess. I've been bit 3 times in 2 days by my male raptor, I just got him weds evening tho so we are still getting a feel for each other

Thanks! I had read somewhere else that when you have an ill gecko you have to force-feed it by rubbing the side of it's head to get it to open its mouth. I wonder if it's just an involuntary reaction to her rubbing against my hand?

Originally Posted by bman123

Maybe she is just stretching her jaw muscles.
If she don't bite ya don't worry i guess. I've been bit 3 times in 2 days by my male raptor, I just got him weds evening tho so we are still getting a feel for each other

Just a suggestion.Don't handle your leo for a couple of weeks.The reason your getting bit is because he too stressed.Leave him be for a while

have you observed her in her tank alot? is she doing any of this in there rubbing or such? could sound like stuck shed somewhere on her head / jaw area maybe trying to loosin it up. if its just when you hold her then thats odd never seen that with any of mine lol yu should video it and post it here lol

No, she doesn't do it at all in her tank. Only when I hold her. She'll do it a couple times in a row and then just stop. If I try to get her to do it by rubbing her head, she just pulls away. When her mouth is open, I even offered her my finger - to see if she wanted to bite me. I prepared for the worse, but all she did was pull away and close her mouth??

maybe she thinks there is big shinny teeth in there, and thinks if she shows them off you wont annoy her? lol