Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been thinking about this subject for awhile. I don't think there'd be any official studies done, but if any of you can refer to any, that'd be awesome.

I was wondering about what kinds of personalities you've observed in your own leos. How much of an impact do you think you've had on their behavior? Do you think they act a certain way because it's evolutionally advantageous?
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chickabowwow

3.2 leopard geckos (Rosie, Locke, Lisa, Caesar, Tommy)
and 3 eggs a' cookin'

I haven't read any studies and can't really point you in the direction of one.... but I have an opinion

I think our geckos' personalities are from both nature and nurture. I think the more tame your leo is - it's more of nurture. If leos were able to run wild and free or have never been really hand tamed before, they'll act how they do in nature - which is avoid contact. They'll hide under something dark, hiss and stand on all fours with their tail swirling, or drop their tail before they make an escape for it. When leos are babies, they tend to be more jumpy and jittery because they don't know what to expect with this huge hand coming into their territory. But, as they grow accustomed to it being there, feeding them, and letting them walk around more places than just their home, the less likely they are to hiss at you, run from you, or drop their tail when they see your hand again in the future.

The first 1 or 2 weeks I had Melvin, he did not want to crawl on me or be picked up unless he was standing on his hind legs and leaning against the glass. When he saw my hand in his tank, he'd look at it and walk away and go in his cool hide. He'd still come out to eat, but didn't really want to make contact with me. But now, Melvin got so used to my hand being there to pick him up and let him crawl on me - that he tries to crawl up my hand while I'm feeding him and putting food in his bowl lol - he'll run to the bowl, stand on the handle (looks like a swirled branch) of the dish like he always does, and keep his arms somewhat elevated off the dish with his head looking up. The closer I bring my hand in to put a couple mealies in his dish, he raises his head higher and licks my fingers and tries to climb. Because of this, I end up holding him for 10 - 15 minutes at a time before feeding time, put him back in the tank on the branch of his food dish, and he goes off to attack the little mealies and then goes to rest on top of his humid hide or wander about trying to climb up the glass with many unsuccessful attempts. It's really cute and now we have our own little schedule. Once it's night time and I head over to the tank, he pokes his head out and makes his way out - ready to be handled. This schedule started happening 2 weeks after I got Melvin (started beginning of last week and still happening! )

But that's only my opinion, so you don't have to take my word for it But see - your leos wouldn't be the same if you didn't hand tame them and keep them in captivity right?

aimee
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1.0 Albino Leopard Gecko (Melvin)
1.0 Black Lab / Pitbull mix (Mikey)
1.0 Blue Fighting Fish (Blue Balls)

I just started thinking about this because my baby leo, Tommy, seemed very comfortable around me even when I first got him a few week sago. I mean, he'd still be intimidated by sounds, but it seems like he was used to being taken care of by people. He wasn't afraid to walk around or come out to eat while I watched him. He's still young, and knowing that the breeder raised a ton of leos, he probably wasn't handled much.

Anyway, his behavior took a sharp turn after he escaped. I found him four days later, and he was very jittery. He would only eat if I wasn't in the room. But he's had some time to readjust, so I think he's back to his normal self for the most part. I'm avoiding handling him, but I do sometimes hold his humid hide in my hand while he's still in it. He'll pop his head out and "smile" at me like he's not scared at all.

I've heard that leos can actually die of stress, particularly if they aren't provided with a place to hide. Feeding my adult leos for the first after getting them seemed to help them relax a lot more. So it makes sense that if leos were provided with everything they need, the security would help them open up and behave much differently than if they were on their own.

BUT, it seems like my males generally have more interesting personalities than my females. They just seem more inquisitive and defiant. So there's got to be more than just human interaction involved to create that.

I spend too much time thinking about these things. lol
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chickabowwow

3.2 leopard geckos (Rosie, Locke, Lisa, Caesar, Tommy)
and 3 eggs a' cookin'

The only document I've found relating to Leo behaviour is:

"Social experience affects territorial and reproductive behaviours in male leopard geckos, Eublepharis macularius"
- Animal Behaviour; March 2002, Vol. 63 Issue 3, p487, 7p, 1 chart, 3 graphs

I'll try and post the article later tonight if anyone's interested in reading it.

My leos are so sweet, cute & friendly... everytime I talk near their tank, they poke their heads out & look up. Then when I stick my hand in there to feed them, tend to their tank or hold them, all 3 of them race to get over to my hand & start climbing up. Them I am obliged to hold them for a little bit or let them roam around my roam while I fix up their tank. I always impress my guests by showing them this "trick." My boyfriend & I were wondering how these such sweet, clumsy lizards could even survive in the wild. I guess it is nature that they do & nuture that they are sweet & tame like this.

I have only seen/handled one wild-caught leo at the East Bay Viv, in Berkeley, CA, selling for a $25. I asked to see it last time I was in there & you could definetly tell it was WC, it was way jumpy & tried to bite instead of lick. Luckily it wasn't too big & my finger couldn't fit in it's mouth. The employees, however, said it has calmed down since someone brought him in, fresh out of the middle east...

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Danielle
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1.0 Chinese water dragon, 0.3 leos, 1.0 adopted iguana, 0.0.2 beardies, 2.0 green anoles, 1.0 blue anole and 2.2 bettas ~My Pets~