would a snappy and hissy leo still reform?

[sauroid]

i bought a subadult male leo today and i can't hold/touch him 'cos he's very defensive. he would twist his tail then hiss and snap at me if he sees my hand getting near him. he is so unlike my first two leos who are very sweet and laid back. i bought him 'cos he was the best looking and i thought maybe he'd tame down someday anyway. my questions: would he still turn into a docile leo someday? what do i do to "tame" him? thanks.

 

[hybrid]

All i can say is lots of handling! The bits dont hurt that bad. lol Just be careful about his tail comin off. He may drop it...

 

[nats]

Yes, with time and patience, even he can be tamed :main_yes:

P.S. If folks can tame tokas, ANYTHING is possible! But you may not have much skin left on your fingers!!

 

[sauroid]

i'm not exactly worried about getting bitten but i'm concerned more about the stress i might cause him whenever i have to work in his enclosure for maintenance, etc. and yes, i'm also worried that he might drop his tail if i attempt to hold him for some necessary reason.

 

[Jaiden23]

Considering that you just got him today, alot of that aggression could just be due to stress. Give him some time, the 'snappy' ones usually tame up more as they get used to you. It may just take a little bit longer, and a bit more work, than your other leos. Give him a few days alone (with the exception of cleaning and feeding) and then start to slowly introduce your hand in the tank for longer periods of time.

My newest girl was quite the little spastic monster as well when I first brought her home. She would charge at anyone that approached the tank. 3 weeks later, she always comes out to greet me and climb up my hand :main_laugh: Just be patient with the little guy, he'll come around for you :main_thumbsup:

 

[rubym]

Most of them come around with a little time and patience. Give him a few days to ajust to the move then slowly start getting him used to your hand just being in the tank. We have one that is still a little nippy and does a whole lot of barking at us but she has gotten alot better.

 

[nats]

i'm not exactly worried about getting bitten but i'm concerned more about the stress i might cause him whenever i have to work in his enclosure for maintenance, etc. and yes, i'm also worried that he might drop his tail if i attempt to hold him for some necessary reason.

Dont worry much. They do not just drop their tail. You really need to physicaly abuse him for that to happen. You can antagonize him all you
want, he will not just willfully drop his tail.
All this tail dropping business is a little exagerated :main_yes:

If your dog or can chased him around, that would be a different story.

 

[ReptileRookie]

My female was a little snappy, but now she liek being hadled better than the male! Determination and patience is all you need XD

 

[LizMarie]

Oh Lord I hope you can but I didn't have much look with Petunia! i got her when she was a year old from a pet shop and she was a nipping, hissing fit. Oh lord after five years all I could do was have her walk on my hand and just stay there and pet she head with my finger, two stroke and nothing more. She was such a pre madonna!!! Sometimes if she was sleeping and I woke her she would step out her hide tail in the air and hiss like GET OUT NOW! But she loved following me as I walked next to the tank and just looking at me as i sat down next to the tank. She was one ODD gecko!

 

[sauroid]

i hope he'd become easier to manage and i really hope he does not end up being an aggressive male 'cos im planning to use him as a breeder someday.

 

[hoppslover]

I sure hope they can be reformed. I have to hatchlings that arent very happy babies yet. Jumping and hissing at me everytime I get in their tub. lol

 

[sauroid]

great news! i checked his enclosure today to clean his poop and check how many MW he has eaten, and to check how he is generally. i opened his moist hide and let him roam around his tub, then i gradually put my hand near him to let him get used to my presence. he paced around the tub and i just put my fingers under him and lifted him up slowly, and he just crawled on my hands like we've known each other for quite some time.:main_laugh:
he's still a little nervous and restless but he's as docile as my two other leos, im actually very surprised at how quick he has acclimated. i am so happy today.