Please help - very aggressive crested gecko

[geckimomma]

I brought home a 5 month old crestie from a local reptile store back in January. It was smooth sailing until about April (coincidentally after I moved to a new apartment..) and thats when her aggression started. First it was her hiding from me and not letting me handle her anymore, then it was her lunging at the glass every once in a while at night when I'd move around in my room. My behavior towards her, as I can see it, has not changed one bit during that time. I never kept her up in the daytime, I never forcibly handled her or touched her, and she would always let me pick her up with no issues.

Since then, it has gotten much worse. She now perches herself on a branch or log all night where she can watch me like a hawk, hyperventilate, and jump at the glass whenever I walk into the room/walk by. I have started to cover her tank before I go to bed, to save her and I the stress. It has become so frequent that if I'm standing at the glass she'll lunge at it over and over again. Usually when I open the cage door she'll run away, but now she persists and gets ready to lunge at me, even nipping at me. I hold out my hand with my fingers together and my palm up, thinking maybe she mistakes my extremities for worms, but, it's definitely not an innocent mistake and she views me as some predator to which I have no idea why.

I talked to a vet (without having her be examined) and from what I've told him and showing him my setup, he said my husbandry is ideal and she could just have an aggressive personality. He talked about the potential of her getting ready to lay eggs but this has been happening since she was under a year old and she is not physically mature and still pretty small. Although she looks and "acts" (as in eating, shedding, etc.) perfectly healthy I'd like to get her examined as well but the exotic vets near me are completely booked out. She eats a gecko diet mix daily and I hand feed her worms once a week. I've started to feed her (worms) a little more often thinking that's what she wants but her behavior towards me is still getting more aggressive.

I have no idea what to do at this point. I've given her space, I try to get her used to my presence, I treat her with worms, I give her more hides and plants. Not only are geckos supposedly the more docile and easier reptiles to care for but I try so hard to make her comfortable and she still is so unhappy. Of course, I am mainly concerned for her health & happiness. I want her to feel calm, comfortable, and to stop banging her head into the glass! If anyone has any idea how to help her I would love to hear it!

Respectful advice & criticism only please, I am trying my best

 

[acpart]

THere's a limit about how much you can change some of these geckos. Here's an article about a gecko that I had (he has since passed away unfortunately) that had a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde personality:

https://geckotime.com/big-bad-bart/

Aliza

 

[Melissa's Zoo]

I'm new to crested geckos myself, but I wanted to share a thought I had while reading your post. I understand that certain types of worms are addictive to cresties and I wonder if she sees you as the worm provider and is stalking you because she wants more? Maybe you could try offering a different kind of insect in an escape-proof bowl and see if it helps. Just a thought, I hope you find a solution. We get so attached to them, and this kind of thing is tough!