Rex impersonates the Tokay Gecko

[XoVictoryXo]

Today I observed some strange behavior from Rex while I was handling him.
I rubbed the side of his mouth and he opened his mouth WIDE like a Tokay Gecko. I thought it was just a fluke, so i rubbed the side of his mouth again, and sure enough managed to snap a picture :lol:

What a silly boy. :lol: Does anyone else's leo's do this?

 

[cricket4u]

That's because you're annoying him and he want to bite your hand off! :biggrin:

 

[XoVictoryXo]

:rofl: LOL This cracked me up!! lol

 

[ryan6789]

Today I observed some strange behavior from Rex while I was handling him.
I rubbed the side of his mouth and he opened his mouth WIDE like a Tokay Gecko. I thought it was just a fluke, so i rubbed the side of his mouth again, and sure enough managed to snap a picture :lol:

What a silly boy. :lol: Does anyone else's leo's do this?

My gecko Squirt does this, when Iv force fed him or gave him rept boost that's how iv always gotten him to open his mouth.

 

[KTyne]

Lol aww, maybe it's just an instinctual reaction much like how newborn babies (human babies ) will turn their head and open their mouth if you touch/rub their cheek because they are trying to get to food?

 

[XoVictoryXo]

So I did this again last weekend..

I brushed the side of his cheek with my finger to watch him open his mouth, and he turned his face and BIT ME FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. LOL

Note to self, do not attempt this again.... It is annoying! LOL

 

[matt0101]

your picture link is broken!

this is how vets get geckos to open their mouths for them. it's also a good technique for force feeding. there are youtube videos explaining this. it should work with most leos!

 

[Geckologist.tj]

That is a very common instinctual behavior in many lizard species. At least I assume it is instictual since I've seen many otherwise docile lizards do it. Perhaps it really does just annoy the mess out of them, kind of like blowing in a dog's face.:biggrin:

FYI, it can you get bitten. Been there, done that.