[KaitS.]

I need a little help. I have a 9 month old male leo that I got a few weeks ago. He is well adjusted now and is very active. I have been keeping some mealworms in a dish and feeding him crickets as his main food. He was on a mealworm only diet until I got him so he has never "hunted" his food until I started him on the crickets. He doesn't have very good aim at all when he lunges for his food. I'm not sure if its because he is new at this or if his eyes are weak since he is an albino so I have to injure the crickets so he can catch them. My major problem is that when I approach his aquarium he comes out of his hide and "stalks" me through the glass. Full on tail shaking, following me, stalking. And since I won't touch the bugs with my bare hands I use tweezers. As soon as my hand comes over the top he starts lunging at me trying to bite me. I know he probably has just realized that when I come around then so does food, but I can't even come near him now without him trying to eat my hand. Any suggestions? Or am I just doomed to never really interact with him?

[Mardy]

He'll get used to you eventually, it'll take time. How often do you feed him? His behavior actually sounds like he's very hungry by the time you get around to feed him. They get pretty excited during feed time so it's ok if he strikes at your tongs or hand when you feed. You'll notice once he gets full he stops doing it, so it's just a behavior that indicate he's a bit too hungry.

Perhaps increase the feed schedule or leave more mealworms in the dish overnight so he can feed on them at dawn & dusk if he chooses to. But usually once they get used to you, they'll get more calm. A few weeks isn't enough time for them to get used to you just yet, so keep doing what you are doing, he'll grow out of being skittish soon enough.

[KaitS.]

I probably should have put that I feed him every day lol. He gets about 6 or 7 crickets average daily. I feed him until he loses interest and goes back in his hide. But a little while later if I walk close to the glass he acts all crazy again. Is he just trying to be a big fatty and eat constantly? He shouldn't be hungry CONSTANTLY.

[Mardy]

They can be weird creatures, and each have their own personalities

I would say just give it more time, a few weeks isn't enough time for some geckos to get used to their owners and/or environment. Eventually he'll know you are not food, but rather someone that brings him food. Also at this age he's at his sexual maturity peak, they can get sorta funny initially when they reach their first puberty. Some go on a feeding frenzy, some go on a food strike.

[KaitS.]

Oh okay. I didn't think about it possibly being related to puberty. Well, I'd rather him over eat then stop so I guess I have to just watch and see if he chills out. Thanks

[Angey]

My leo who is female was (and still is) a big eater. Until she was about 10 months old she would eat 8-12 crickets in a sitting and I left meal worms or super worms in a dish for a snack, she would eat about a dozen of those in a night as well.
Now that she is over a year, she doesnt eat every day and about half as much in a sitting.
Some are just really BIG eaters!

[Jim]

Oh my! I named my Yellow raptor Hex female "Miss Piggy" but after hearing what your gal has been putting away, I think I need to change her name ! lol ......... kimo