Leopard geckos will need to be handled from time to time. They often need to be picked up, shoved, moved from one enclosure to another and/or need to be gripped to be closely inspected. When considering the fragile nature of Leopard geckos and the potential to transmit diseases, handling should be done under responsible supervision and caution should be taken afterwards (see later).

When handling a Leopard gecko, its intentions should be anticipated and it should be observed closely at all times. Untamed Leopard geckos might attempt to escape while being handled. An uncomfortable Leopard gecko can at any time walk, dash or jump from your hands while being handled.

The correct way to handle a Leopard gecko

Adult and baby Leopard geckos are handled differently. Even more so than adults, baby Leopard geckos need to be handled with extra caution.

Handling adult Leopard geckos

Larger, adult Leopard geckos are to be handled with two hands. They can be picked-up by scooping one hand under the belly while supporting the rest of the body with the other hand. The Leopard gecko should be allowed to rest on the palm of your hand while your fingers are gently curled over its back. When sitting down, a tame Leopard gecko can be allowed to sit on the body of the handler.

Handling baby Leopard geckos

Baby Leopard geckos can be picked-up by using your hand to make a ‘cage’ around the body. Tame baby Leopard geckos can also be encouraged by a gentle shove to go and sit in your hand before ‘caging’ your fingers around the body. When handling a baby Leopard gecko, use slow, careful movements and restrict handling to a bare minimum.

Falling injuries

Falling injuries are commonly seen in pet Leopard geckos. Although falls from shorter distances sometimes go without injuries, a fall from a significant height (e.g. from a sitting lap or standing person) can lead to serious internal injuries. Holding and handling a Leopard gecko correctly can prevent unnecessary falls from happening.

Tail injuries

Leopard geckos are known to be able to lose their tails. This commonly happens due to falling injuries (see earlier) or incorrect handling. By grabbing a Leopard gecko by the tail, it can easily break off. Also see tail injuries in Leopard geckos for more information.

Hygiene practices while handling a Leopard gecko

Some diseases can be transmitted from Leopard geckos to humans. In-contact human hands can also be the carrier of certain diseases from an infected Leopard gecko to a healthy one. Irrespective the risk for transmitting diseases, Leopard gecko handlers are always advised to take responsible hygienic precautions.

F10 has a wide range of products including wipes, hand soaps, sprays and contact cleaners that is safe and effective to use with Leopard geckos. F10 products are available from certain veterinary clinics and hospitals.

As a summary, these are good hygiene principles for Leopard gecko owners:

• Do not touch your face while, or directly after, handling a Leopard gecko, the inside of their enclosure, feeder insects or their substrate.
• Protect any open sores or wounds you might have on your hands before touching or handling a Leopard gecko.
• Wash and disinfect your hands (or in-contact skin) directly after handling a Leopard gecko, the inside of their enclosure, their food or their substrate.
• Do not kiss a Leopard gecko or bring it close to your face.
• Do not eat while handling or even close in close proximity with Leopard geckos.
• Use safe, but proven disinfectants to wash, wipe or spray your hands.

For more information, also see our Leopard gecko owner hygiene article.

When not to handle a Leopard gecko

Although it is generally recommended to restrict the handling of Leopard geckos to only when it is absolutely necessary, there are cases where this is more important. Leopard geckos should rather not be handled in the following situations:

The post Handling a Leopard gecko appeared first on Leopard Gecko.

Bite injuries in Leopard geckos are commonly seen as tail wounds (or the entire tail falling off), neck wounds, leg and toe wounds, eye wounds and lip wounds.

Tail wounds in Leopard geckos

Tail wounds from biting are more frequently seen when different sized Leopard geckos are housed together, where too many babies or juvenile Leopard geckos are housed together (overcrowding) or during breeding (see later). Feeding frenzies often result in (larger) Leopard geckos snapping and biting anything that moves, which often includes moving tails of other Leopard geckos. Feeding frenzies can also result in human bites. Also see tail injuries in Leopard geckos for more information.

Neck & lip-biting injuries

Neck biting is usually due to vigorous mating behaviour. During the breeding season, a male Leopard gecko will attempt to mate by biting onto the neck or lip area of a susceptible female. The incidence of these Leopard gecko bite injuries and wounds can be reduced by introducing more females to the group or to allow proper rest periods for females during the breeding season. Pairing with a larger female might also reduce injuries from a large male.

Male Leopard gecko biting a female during courtship. Injuries from mating will often be seen on the neck of female Leopard geckos. Image 정브르 (CC BY YouTube)

Male dominance

Male dominance, or territorial behaviour in Leopard geckos can also be seen by biting injuries. During the breeding season, or less often during other times too, male Leopard geckos become territorial and aggressive towards each other. Fiting will lead to tail wounds, lip wounds, leg and toe wounds, eye wounds and wounds in any other area that can be bitten. Adult males will often fight for the ability to mate with females. It is not advised to keep more than one male Leopard gecko per colony.

Leopard gecko eye wounds

Leopard gecko eye wounds can be seen with bites to the head. Although eye wounds are rare, they can be quite serious and can result in impairment of vision, eye infections and even the loss of an eye. These injuries should be treated under the guidance of an experienced reptile veterinarian.

Leg and toe bite wounds

Although leg and toe wounds are more often seen as a result of shedding problems, bite wounds to these areas can also be seen from time to time. As mentioned earlier, leg and toe bite wounds can be due to fighting or feeding frenzies in Leopard geckos.

Treating bite injuries in Leopard geckos

Most Leopard gecko bite wounds will need little intervention from the owner, except when bleeding cannot be controlled or when swelling and infection sets in. The incidence of infection can be reduced by applying antiseptic ointment or starting a course of prophylactic antibiotics, available upon clinical examination by a reptile friendly veterinarian.

The post Leopard gecko bite wounds appeared first on Leopard Gecko.

As with any pet, it is important for Leopard gecko owners to know how dangerous their pet(s) might be. It might come as a relief to know that Leopard geckos do not have piercing, sharp teeth and are non-poisonous to humans.

Biting behaviour in Leopard geckos ranges from biting each other to biting people. It is more commonly seen with Leopard geckos that are courting or feeling threatened.

Also see
Breeding behaviour in Leopard geckos

A male Leopard gecko biting a female during courtship. Image 정브르 (CC BY YouTube)

Do Leopard geckos bite?

The short answer is, yes. Although rare, Leopard geckos will bite in certain circumstances. These circumstances include:

Are Leopard gecko bites dangerous?

Although they have relatively strong jaws, a bite from a Leopard gecko will most often lead to a hard pinch-like sensation. The size of a Leopard gecko’s mouth and body makes them fairly weak when it comes to physical danger.

It is important to know that, as with any other pet, the bacteria on the skin and the inside of the mouth of a Leopard gecko can be dangerous to humans. This is especially important to know when blood was drawn from a bite and/or when proper hygiene practices are not followed.

Also see
Good hygiene practices for Leopard geckos

What to do in the case of a Leopard gecko bite wound

As mentioned previously, most bites from a Leopard gecko will be harmless and the skin will be rarely broken. If this is the case, make sure to wash your hands with an appropriate antiseptic soap before you continue doing something else.

In the rare cases where blood is drawn, basic first aid measures should be started as soon as possible:

1. Flush the bleeding wound under running water for about 5 minutes. Distilled water is preferable, but potable tap water can also be used. Active bleeding in the very early stages of skin damage will aid in flushing out intruded bacteria.
2. If the wound is still bleeding after this time, apply light pressure using clean gauze, cotton wool, towel paper, bandage or a wound band-aid and re-evaluate the wound for bleeding after 5 minutes.
3. If the wound has stopped bleeding, apply a commercial antiseptic and cover the wound. The safest is to consult a medical practitioner.
4. If the wound has not stopped bleeding, consult a medical practitioner as soon as possible.

Practical tips related to Leopard gecko bites

To prevent children from being bitten by a Leopard gecko, parents should supervise their interactions. It is advised that only responsible children are allowed to handle Leopard geckos.

Skittish baby and juvenile Leopard geckos are more likely to bite when scared, startled or spooked. Some Leopard geckos will feel threatened while they are in the process of shedding their skins. Rectifiable factors that can make a Leopard gecko bite include inadequate hiding areas and too large (or too many) live food items.

Warning will often be in the form of barking and snapping. The typical threatened/threatening posture is when the head is held up high, the body is lifted high from the ground, the mouth is open and the body is inflated. Some geckos might try to escape in the process. In addition to this, aggressive adults will often raise and wave their tail before biting.

Try to minimise fast movements and handling as much as possible during the first couple of months and/or until the Leopard gecko is observed as being content and docile. Also try not to interfere or get your hands nearby threatening individuals, during the breeding season, during courting or during feeding.

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