Please help explain this behavior.

[madeve]

I've had this Leo since December. He is usually calm, tame and does't mind being handled. He is housed by himself in a 20 gallon long tank on carpet, I have an under tank heater on one side and a ceramic heat emitter as heat sources. He has 4 different hides, one of which is a moist hide. He has a diet of crickets, meal worms and the occasional wax worms.
I haven't handled him much this week due to long work hours, tonight he was sleeping under his half log, I moved the log and nudged him so he would know I was there and lifted him up. He freaked out, mouth open, tongue out, eyes bugging out, he got all stiff and his tail tip was shaking frantically, to top it all off he peed in my hand. I quickly took him out and set him on the counter and he settled down. He seems normal now.
I've never experienced this behavior before and was wondering if he was just spooked and it was a natural reactions against a predator or if there is something else wrong here.
Thanks.

 

[Spotty the Leopard Gecko]

Make sure to observe him and see if he does it again while you try to pick him up. He probably just got spooked and although you touched him so he knew you were there, maybe he was still asleep and thought a predator was after him, natural instinct.

 

[acpart]

Some geckos, not leopards so much, but it's possible, get cage defensive. They freak out if you "invade" their cage space but are fine once they get out. It's possible, though not guaranteed that this happened with your gecko. It won't necessarily happen all the time.

Aliza

 

[madeve]

Thanks for the answers, he has not displayed this behavior again but he has been a little fussy when I try to pick him up. Though once he is picked up he behaves as he used to. I guess he may have just become a little territorial.