He bit me!

[earls413]

Hi, I've had my gecko now for 6 years when I bought him he was an adult so I don't know his true age. He's always been very tame would let anyone hold him, hand feed him etc. I have a 10 month old baby now and while I was pregnant I didn't handle him quite as much nor do I now, but lately I've been trying to hold him and he runs from me and opens his mouth like he's going to scream but he's never done that before. So I've been putting my hand in his tank to see if he would acknowledge me, he walks up to my hand licks it then walks off. Today I noticied shed stuck to one foot and tried to pick him up to soak him he twisted frantically then bit me, so I let him go thinking he'd drop his tail if I didn't. I then noticed he brought blood so I went and cleaned my hand. Why all of a sudden is he so aggressive is it because I didn't hold him as much while pregnant am I going to have to re-socialize him, or could something be wrong.

 

[Jordycakes]

I heard a trick is wearing rubber gloves while holding him (because reptiles hate the feel or taste of rubber) which works on snakes. Whether it works on geckos is a different thing. You may have to re-socialise with him whilst using the gloves. Has anyone else tried this?

 

[Dimidiata]

Wearing gloves can make you more prone to squishing the animal as your hands arnt as pressure sensitive when covered. How do you go about picking up your leo? From above or below?

 

[earls413]

If he's on the ground kind of from the side if he's on top of his hide from above.

 

[TreF68]

I heard a trick is wearing rubber gloves while holding him (because reptiles hate the feel or taste of rubber) which works on snakes. Whether it works on geckos is a different thing. You may have to re-socialise with him whilst using the gloves. Has anyone else tried this?

Most snake bites are quick tags. It's rare that they will hold on unless it's a feeding response. Rubber gloves would not make the bite any shorter in most cases.

Also, it sounds a bit urban mythy. Snakes don't taste things like humans do.

 

[marauderhex]

Just scoop him into your hand, or even better, let him crawl up there on his own. Besides leo bites don't even hurt. Hell, Tokay bites don't even hurt. Don't be scared of the lizard, it can only lead to mistakes.

 

[Dimidiata]

Agreed. Though with rango i have found it easier to just let her crawl up, shes pretty good about it and doesnt waste much time.

 

[msebar]

It could be your body putting out a different scent do to hormones.