Aggressive at Feeding Time? O.o Also, other questions.

[Kyee]

Okay, well my little boy (or girl) is around 6 months old, if the store I got him from was right that he was 3 months old when I got him.

Well, lately he's been getting really aggressive about feeding times. I open the top to feed, and he'll sit there watching me. If I take too long to get food in there, he'll launch himself at the top of the tank. I'm not sure why, as he eat around 6-8 large crickets each day. Is it not enough?

And also, he used to be super friendly in the beginning, when he was on small crickets. But then I switched him and he'll randomly hiss at me if I put my hand in the tank. He'll also stalk me through the glass.

I'm not sure if he's too skinny either, but i go by the rule that his tail is the same width of his neck, and it is. I know this is disorganized, but I'm a bit worried. I'll get pics if necessary.

Thanks.

 

[Kyee]

Also, he looks too small to be 6 months old. When I got him, he looked pretty much like a hatchling.

 

[ajveachster]

Pics would be great. If a young gecko is underfed it can stunt its growth, so the age might be right. Then again, they may not have kept proper records. You might want to try handling sometime after feeding, but not right away. That way your hand isn't associated directly with food. We have a couple of boys who are just crabby. They will click at us every time we pick them up. It may or may not be something he grows out of. We had another boy we got at 10 grams. He would hiss at us at first, but now doesn't. He's still a little jumpy, but not bad.

 

[Kyee]

Hmm.. I'll need to get batteries for my camera. But I'm pretty sure the set-up was okay in the pet store, and it was a small locally kept one. He's currently in a 10 Gallon with three hides, calcium, water and rocks and such. He's verrryyy active, but has been tiny since we got him.

He was kept in a good sized tank with reptile carpet (which he's still on) at the pet store, but I'm worried that he may have been bullied there, that's why he's so small. He may not have been getting enough to eat.

 

[TheSmilingGecko]

kyee, its best if u can show us his pics..
however, i dont think he got any problem with you or the surrounding.
if im not wrong, he is lack of proper attentions / cares from u.. like playing with him.. u can carrying him gently every time after his meal (if u r afraid of being bite from him b4 his meal)!
u mentioned dat he is being aggresive.. actually, its a signal from him obviously he is very hungry at all time.. or perhaps he noticed that his owner is back & will offer him food.. & its also the animal instinct that he approach u whenever he sees u comin.. it just like a dog when they see their owner comin home everyday.
the difference is they r reptile & needs more time to built up the confident & trust btw him & you. be more patience kyee.. show your confident, carry him & gently touch him & play with him.. u can even talk 2 him! (dont laugh, he can recongnise your voice & body odor/scent).
* i can carry any of my leos without any problem, i put them on my hand & body, they like me to pat them on their head,, just like my dog.. ^-^
as long as u handle them gently with confident.. slowly you will be fine with them & can play with him any time.. in fact, they r one of the most docile reptile / gecko in the world.
* keep one dish with meal worms all the time in the enclosure kyee, in case he is hungry while you are not at home. not to forget the water & calcium dish ok. try again & u will be fine. cheers
opps! i almost 4get! leos seldom hiss.. they will hiss or make sounds whenever they r feeling threatened, not comfortable, being hold wrongly, injured, sick or etc. bye

 

[Kyee]

Mmm.. unfortunately he refuses to eat mealworms, and will only eat crickets. I've tried him with mealworms multiple times, but he apparently rather chase his food. And I dunno, he only gets active when I go towards the tank, so I think your right, TheSmilingGecko. He probably knows that tank opening usually = food! so, I'll get him a bit more, and see if that helps. I'll also up the food and maybe try mealies again.

I'm wondering, are gloves a possibility for the first while?

 

[TheSmilingGecko]

Mmm.. unfortunately he refuses to eat mealworms, and will only eat crickets. I've tried him with mealworms multiple times, but he apparently rather chase his food. And I dunno, he only gets active when I go towards the tank, so I think your right, TheSmilingGecko. He probably knows that tank opening usually = food! so, I'll get him a bit more, and see if that helps. I'll also up the food and maybe try mealies again.

I'm wondering, are gloves a possibility for the first while?

hmm.. its ok to leave a dish with meal worms inside although he dont take it.. just in case he need it.
just feed him with gutloaded & dusted crickets.. he will be fine.
& u dont need a hand glove kyee, just pick him up accordingly with confident.
let him get use to your scent/odor, body temperature & your voice. make him feel safe & comfortable, in your hand or with u. cheers

 

[jaymotzrt]

you should try getting a feeding bowl and like put like 5-10 mealies in the bowl and see how he does change the mealies like every 3 days or so


R.I.P Little Fella

 

[ElapidSVT]

shake your mealworms in a bag with crickets as well as the dust to help make them smell 'right'.

good luck!
rob