Sudden hostility

[XoVictoryXo]

Very strange but all week both of my Leo's were in extremely aggressive hostile moods! I have never seen them act this way but they kept shaking their tails and lunging to bite me! A day or two I can understand and I just let them be, but a week!
I need to give Rex (male) a bath because he currently has stuck shed on his toes and I wasn't even able to pick him up because he kept lunging to bite at me!
I assume they can break skin when they bite which doesn't seem pleasant. LOL I tried to get Boyfriend to help too but he wanted no part of getting bit either.
There was a change recently, I did add some red heat lamps at night. and a 3rd hide. Xena did lay her eggs so for her to be grouchy is understandable! But why Rex? They are housed separately and right next to each other. Should I move them so they cant see each other? Do they go into heat??
I would walk past the tanks and they both would even lunge and bite at the glass to try to get me! Why so mean? Funny part is, Im insulted. :coverlaugh:LOL

The temps are great now 85 warm side and 75 cool side. They both have been preferring to sleep on warm side and are being fed 3 or 4 phoenix worms daily and a dozen gutloaded dusted crix per week- do they need more food?
HELP, I dont want his toes to fall off from the stuck shed ! I bought him with missing toes and promised he would never lose another toe. Where did my docile sweet babies go?

 

[cricket4u]

Do you smell like chicken? :lol: There are many reasons. Read the link in this thread under aggression.

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/community/pests-diseases/62178-educational-links.html

 

[cricket4u]

XO you just sparked a memory. This might not be relavent to your situation, but I though it was worth mentioning. In more than one situation actually what appeared to be a calm gecko, was instead a cold gecko. You mentioned you have recently corrected temps by adding the heat bulbs. Well the truth is it's actually a normal behavior and a good sign especially in non-adults. Although leopard gecko have so called docile temperament when compared to other geckos, they are normally very cautious and swift to their surroundings.

A large majority of people do not provide enough heat and were always stunned to see how fast they can move and react when provided with proper temps and space. I am referring to friends I have had who also own geckos. At first they were unable to relate with my findings of course until they witnessed it themselves. So do not be surprised if indeed what you are seeing is a warmer healthier gecko acting accordingly. Provided with proper heating and space, they are savage hunters.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

LOL Yes indeed, they are truly savage. I dont know what to do about his toes without being attacked lol. Should I turn off the heat lamps for a day just so I can tend to his toes?
I dont mind aggressive behavior if it means they are healthy. LOL Ill def miss holding them for hours though. Maybe in the morning when they are tired and more inactive is a better time to tend to their stuck shed issues and the weekly inspections?
Wow my mind is blown on this new knowledge! LOL

 

[SamanthaLovely]

Very strange but all week both of my Leo's were in extremely aggressive hostile moods! I have never seen them act this way but they kept shaking their tails and lunging to bite me! A day or two I can understand and I just let them be, but a week!
I need to give Rex (male) a bath because he currently has stuck shed on his toes and I wasn't even able to pick him up because he kept lunging to bite at me!
I assume they can break skin when they bite which doesn't seem pleasant. LOL I tried to get Boyfriend to help too but he wanted no part of getting bit either.
There was a change recently, I did add some red heat lamps at night. and a 3rd hide. Xena did lay her eggs so for her to be grouchy is understandable! But why Rex? They are housed separately and right next to each other. Should I move them so they cant see each other? Do they go into heat??
I would walk past the tanks and they both would even lunge and bite at the glass to try to get me! Why so mean? Funny part is, Im insulted. :coverlaugh:LOL

The temps are great now 85 warm side and 75 cool side. They both have been preferring to sleep on warm side and are being fed 3 or 4 phoenix worms daily and a dozen gutloaded dusted crix per week- do they need more food?
HELP, I dont want his toes to fall off from the stuck shed ! I bought him with missing toes and promised he would never lose another toe. Where did my docile sweet babies go?

I wouldn't be too worried about them biting you. So far I haven't seen mine break skin when biting. Sahara bit me one when I was holding her, I pinched her little toe and she wasn't impressed. She also bit the vet and was literally hanging off her. No blood though.

And Kalahari mistook my finger for a cricket the one time. Again no blood. I'd be more worried about freaking them out then them biting you. Have you tried getting a tubberwear container with holes in the lid and soaking him in his cage in that?

That's how I bathe mine. I try to keep them in their own environment.
You could try letting him bite a towel to keep his mouth occupied while you get him in a bath.

 

[cricket4u]

LOL Yes indeed, they are truly savage. I dont know what to do about his toes without being attacked lol. Should I turn off the heat lamps for a day just so I can tend to his toes?
I dont mind aggressive behavior if it means they are healthy. LOL Ill def miss holding them for hours though. Maybe in the morning when they are tired and more inactive is a better time to tend to their stuck shed issues and the weekly inspections?
Wow my mind is blown on this new knowledge! LOL

Another sign, increased appetite and chasing or at least running to check anything that moves. A real leopard gecko hates water. You are screwed now,:biggrin:

Ideally prevention is the key. Check the humidity in the hide to make sure it's high enough. 70-80 Try to maintain the humidity in the tank at 40-50% and make sure that you are dusting with a MVI that includes Vitamin A every 7-10 days. It should not be a frequent problem. For now you will just have to struggle with them a bit.:biggrin:

 

[cricket4u]

I wouldn't be too worried about them biting you. So far I haven't seen mine break skin when biting. Sahara bit me one when I was holding her, I pinched her little toe and she wasn't impressed. She also bit the vet and was literally hanging off her. No blood though.

And Kalahari mistook my finger for a cricket the one time. Again no blood. I'd be more worried about freaking them out then them biting you. Have you tried getting a tubberwear container with holes in the lid and soaking him in his cage in that?

That's how I bathe mine. I try to keep them in their own environment.
You could try letting him bite a towel to keep his mouth occupied while you get him in a bath.

Yes, that is the less stressful way.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Thanks guys! I will def work on maintaining better humidity! I was able to sneak up on the predator (lol) while he was sleeping and distracted him with paper twl and shuddled him to the bath. No more stuck shed now thank goodness! He seemed relieved

 

[houseape57]

It wouldnt hurt to offer a bit more food either.

 

[cricket4u]

I was wondering why houseape57 mentioned more food. I did miss the question regarding quantity. The warmer they are, the more food they will need. Can you take pictures of them just to make sure they are not underweight or overweight? Also age?

 

[XoVictoryXo]

I will take updated pix as soon as I get home. They have both gained some weight since I gave them phoenix worms!
I normally give them a dozen dusted crix a week and 3-5 worms a day. I can add more food if thats not enough! I didnt want them to become overweight.

when Rex went thru his prolapse in march and stopped eating for a bit he weighed 44 grams. He has gained a bunch of weight since then. Esp after I bought the phoenix worms and cancelled out meal an waxworms. I bought him already mature- and of course pet store doesn't know his origins- So I am not sure of his age.
here is the first day I bought him the phoenix worms mid april.

this is the mid april for Xena when introducing phoenix worms. She is currently pregnant and just laid her 2nd batch of eggs. She looks like a fatty girl here, her stomach is not as big now. I need an updated photo for her. She is eating like a champ except for the day PRIOR to her laying she refuses food.

Her day before hatching- that was her laybox

Xena I got her as a juvenile in June. so I know she is just over a year old, wish I knew her exact birthdate.
Does she look like a juvenile or a hatchling here?

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Rex finally bit me yesterday by accident as I was giving him a worm, I am happy to report it didnt hurt at all. LOL. Not even a pinch!

 

[cricket4u]

Rex finally bit me yesterday by accident as I was giving him a worm, I am happy to report it didnt hurt at all. LOL. Not even a pinch!

Lucky you. I got bit by an adult male once and he ripped my skin, blood was leaking on the floor and it hurt a little.:lol: However, it was under a very stressful situation and so was not accidental. He was very angry. well I need pictures of them from now. You said they gained a lot of weight and so I doubt they are underweight.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

OWCH Omg Cricket!! He must have been PISSED. lol.
Ok I will take some new pix tonight since their Diet change and light change. I had a blue light during the day at first but They did not enjoy it, They Hid all the time. I think because they are albino. I prefer to keep them in dark with the red heat lamp. Is it okay to keep that on all day? I have the curtains drawn so it is always dark in my room. I read that albino's need to stay away from light due to their sensitivities.
I completely forgot about diet change could add to their "hostility". Now I am thinking its not really them being mean- just that they are just really enjoying their new diet and just being greedy. I bet if they wanted to really attack me they would attack with strength
It seems like I open the lid for their daily maintenance- & they look immediately to attack me with their tail scrunched and wiggling and nipping at me. Its kind of funny because I am like "hey its just me, mommy, coming to cook and clean for you, so just relax!"
But I am hearing them launch themselves at the glass periodically too.
I Think I am going to separate the cages so they dont even look at each other as I can bet it hurts banging your nose against glass. Maybe that will also change their hostility a bit too.

 

[cricket4u]

Allow them to see sunlight through the window. That's what their hides are for. It differs from direct light.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

I have the curtains up today they are hiding/sleeping lol.
here are lots of new pix! :biggrin:
Rex

here is Xena

this tickles when they walk on my arm LOL

How does their skin and their health look? I am open to all advice

 

[cricket4u]

Yes, they are suppose to be sleeping during the day. That is what a photoperiod if for, so that they know when to sleep:biggrin: Skin looks fine. It's tricky. In some pictures his body weight looks good. In others he looks like he may need to eat a bit more. Increase his food a little and then take a picture in a month.

 

[cricket4u]

Which picture seems more accurate in person?

 

[cricket4u]

Wait there is a boy and a girl right? The last picture which I believe is Xena? She looks a bit thin. Keep in mind that the warmer they are, the faster they will digest. 4th pic the tail size looks appropriate.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

the first 4 is rex! he is looking better and better nowadays! Tons better then in march when he was sick and getting thin.
Xena is pregnant and just laid her eggs. your right, now that im looking at these new photos in comparison she does look a lil thinner to me after she laid.
I will def increase their food thats no problem at all since they love to eat.
Im going to get an order of silk worms now.
I have phoenix cocoons waiting to hatch to so i can start breeding them myself
I hope to see even better improvement for them! thank god for this message board!!