licking

[Spooki]

i just adopted an adult male leopard gecko named Toki a couple days ago, aside from being kind of obese he seems healthy. i have never had a leopard gecko before but i work in a pet store and take care of baby leos there...

i have noticed that every time i put my hands in the cage to clean up his droppings or to offer food he comes over and licks my hand. he seems really fond of licking me. is this behavior normal? :main_huh:

is he tasting me to get to know me or is it the salt on my skin he is after? he doesn't bite at all, just licks like a friendly dog would.

 

[runko]

yes licking is good...means he likes you

 

[Spooki]

well that's good, he sure does it a lot. LOL

 

[Geck-O]

Well, he's tasting you. He might take a bite soon. Just kidding. Means he's pretty comfortable around you.

 

[nats]

When they lick things, they are exploring and marking territory.
At least, thats what it says in my gecko book

 

[GatorGirl286]

the licking is comparable to what snakes do when they flick their tongue. it brings in scent and other particles from your skin (or the air or whatever they are "licking") into whats called a vomeronasal organ. its what they use to analyze their surroundings. if i touch the tip of my finger to me geckos lips, he does the same thing