Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I have a year(and a few months) old male Leo. Well since we are getting him a mate my dad was trying to check out his length for the size. Well really couldnt measure him correctly b/c well I'll get to the point in a sec. Ok here I go..Well when we first got him he was fine I mean he still tried to bite and all but that was when he was stil alot younger then now..?? But well he is more older and he seems to be even more aggressive then last time...I dont handle him b/c of course hes still young and will get stressed more easily(thats what ppl told me...)...but he got more aggressive then last time I mean WTH?? Is it b/c hes hungry?? I feed him mealies?? I give him vitamins in a little orange juice cap which he licks on somtimes ??.... Is there any prob?? Or is he just still too young to be handled?? I used to have a other one...he was younger then the one rit now..he use to sleep on me....but this ones crazy...it makes me depressed really....is there an answer to this?? or is it normal?? Or is this permenant..(thats gonna kill me ^^)....I MEAN HE WILL GET A LOT NICER WHEN HE GETS A BIT MORE OLDER RIGHT!!!???? Even tho I didnt handle him when he was very young, when he gets older he will be nice and let me handle him and stuff rit?? I mean adults are alot nicer then males rit??!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Thx!!
Solid_Snake

The reason he is so aggressive is because he isnt used to you, and he is scared of you. You really should've held him when he was younger, so he could get familiar with you. Your leo is an adult, he is over a year old and unlike many other herps, most leos are full grown at this age. So, he might become more tame, but I wouldnt expect it, because he was just never handled before. Sorry...
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Josh
My Email

da**....care sheets told me not to handle babys......da** them....now i lost them b/c I thought I was doin the right thing...can I try to tame him rit now?? I mean sure hes and adult but hes still young isnt he??

O YEA!! Sorry for double posting but I still have a bright side!!! Im gettin a female!! And Im getttin her from Gecko Ranch!! And Im sure she will be friendly !! So I can handle her!!
I think!! Hass anyone bought from Gecko Ranch?? Are they good and and are there LEO's friendly??

Thx!!
SOLID_SNAKE

i would just try to start handling him now. You can use gloves at first if you are scared of being bit. Then as he calms down a little, take the gloves off. At first, just hold him in your hands over his cage, then gradually you can start holding him outside of the cage. Good luck!!
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Josh
My Email

If the leo is a year old or more he should be starting to calm down. Could it be that there is something stressing him out??? Or maybe he is afraid of you and gets defensive??? Try hand feeding him, that way he will get used to your hand being near him.

Cleo
1:1 leos (6 eggs cooking)

Yea but I get supriesed when he strikes...weird...its like an g*y instinct to move my hand hwn he strikes...I geuss im still scared of bites when they dont even hurt...im such a pussie hahahaha

Start at the point where he starts to get a little jumpy (say that is when you open the lid of the cage and put your hand in) Just open the lid of the cage a few times a day without doing anything (feed him quickly and quietly) and then when he seems calm doing that move on to also putting your hand in but do not approach him and so on getting closer each time. This will take months be patient. Also if you have a full glass aquarium cover three sides to make him more secure. If that fails after months you could try taking away his food and pin down his favorite with your finger (risky).

Hey,
I've heard alot about handling babies, dont because they're fragile, do because they need to get used to you, I think you should so they get used to you but be careful because they'll fragile, a bit of both. If your new female your getting is a baby, then use this rule.
As for the male, it will take some patience, but you can tame him, theres hope, dont worry. As josh suggested, use some gloves or something if your afraid of getting bitten, seeing as hes an adult now. Every day, when you feed him, offer him food by hand, wearing the gloves. He'll get used to your hand being in the cage, after a month or two (patience). Then you can start taking him out of his cage everyday for short periods of time ( maybe 5 minutes) as he gets calmer and calmer, you can increase those up to 10 minutes, and eventually he'll settle down and not try to bite and hiss, that sorta thing. Good luck with him,
MaC

But he did get calm in a flash?? He didnt get pissed off or angry at all after i handled him for a few mins?? I fed him some byy hand and he took it from me?? Thats all??