The leopard gecko is a reptile that is an ideal pet with tiny teeth.New owners can avoid getting bitten by their pets by learning to notice the warning signs. Your leopard gecko will give you signs that it does not want to be touched.The leopard gecko, also called the common leopard gecko, or Eubleppharis macularius, is a native ground-dwelling lizard of the desert and rocky dry grasslands of India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. This gecko is also popular as a pet and often referred to as the first lizard species to be domesticated. Leopard geckos avoid regions with a chief substrate of sand. In low temperatures in winter, these lizards go underground for semi-hibernation, living on fat reserves known as brumation. These lizards are nocturnal and docile. Nocturnal gecko species are the evolved geckos of diurnal reptiles without eye rods. Nocturnal species have great night vision. Also, in low light, their color vision is 350 times more sensitive than that of a human. These reptiles are opportunistic predators feeding on various prey items. Invertebrates, mainly insects, make up most of their diet; however, they will feed on small vertebrates, like baby pink mice.If you enjoy reading these facts about whether leopard geckos bite, then make sure to read some more interesting facts about if leopard geckos like to be held and if leopard geckos need UVB here at Kidadl.Are leopard geckos aggressive?Leopard geckos are not overly aggressive, but there are certain circumstances when leopard geckos can display aggressive behavior and give out warning signs.Baby and adult leopard geckos are docile and make great pets. The behavior of your pet gecko is important as it represents your gecko’s mood and health. These behaviors must be observed more often in baby geckos that are new to a tank environment. Although some leopard geckos are feisty, the vast majority of these animals can be trained to interact with humans. When you get a new leopard gecko as a pet, it will need time to get well-adjusted. Make sure to give your reptile a comfortable tank environment with limited handling sessions. Your gecko will slowly open up to you, but it can take anywhere between a week to a few months. The only interaction you need to have during this period is feeding and cleaning the tank. However, this too must be done cautiously. Leopard geckos are territorial, and keeping more than one can lead to fights. So, it is always suggested to keep your pets separately. Both females and males show aggression over territory.If your pet reptile shows bad behavior for several days, then it can be due to temperature. As these animals get used to their environment slowly, it is important for you to keep an eye on their tank temperature. During the breeding period, both males and females show aggression. It is better not to handle them. You can prevent bites by taking a few of these steps and also reading your pet’s mood.Do leopard geckos bite?Yes, leopard geckos are capable of biting humans, but they do not bite hard.Leopard geckos are non-venomous and not aggressive towards their owners. However, there are instances where these animals can bite humans. Leopard geckos do not have big teeth. So, even if your pet gecko bites you, it should not hurt; however, it does depend on pain tolerance. Some reasons why a leopard gecko might bite you are restricting your pet’s movement, rough handling, hand-feeding food like insects, not training it and not handling enough, surprising your gecko with sudden movements, your gecko is feeling threatened or stressed, or your gecko is shedding. When your pet needs food, you can either place food in a bowl or use a plucker to feed your pet. This way, you will avoid getting bitten on your fingers. Make sure not to disturb your gecko when it is shedding, as it will pull out its own skin and might bite you by mistake.Baby gecko’s bites are not painful as their teeth are very small. An adult leopard gecko can bite you hard and can sometimes puncture human skin and draw blood. However, most of the time, their bite feels like a pinch. Leopard geckos are very shy and will avoid confrontation with large humans or other animals. When your pet lacks interaction, then it can get pretty stressed. So, it is always required for you to handle your pet, and sometimes hand feeding will also help. However, both must be done carefully.How bad is a leopard gecko bite?Leopard gecko bites are not harmful to humans.Leopard geckos do not have sharp teeth, but they can sometimes draw a little blood through their bites, which are extremely rare. Experienced owners know very well that leopard geckos bites are not dangerous. However, new owners might be frightened to own this animal, thinking that their bites are fatal. Leopard geckos that are born in captivity do not carry salmonella bacteria that can be infectious to humans. Wild-caught leopard geckos are not so tame and may bite more often. Sometimes, leopard gecko bites can draw blood, causing bacterial infection, however, it is not life-threatening. It is definitely better to see a doctor in case of bleeding, which is quite rare. Leopard geckos do not carry rabies.The main issue is when a leopard gecko does bite, most owners will start to panic. This is unnecessary. When your leopard gecko does bite you, you must stay calm. Do not throw the leopard gecko, scream, or make sudden movements. Also, make sure not to put your gecko back into its tank because it will associate biting with going back to the ground. You can avoid future bites by being well aware of your pet and how you behave around its tank. Try to get a tank that has a front opening instead of a top one so that you do not scare your pet every time your reach for it. If your gecko is shedding or pregnant, it will naturally get very aggressive, so make sure not to put your hand in its face. It is better to wait until this process is over before handling your pet.What To Do If A Leopard Gecko Bites YouIf a leopard gecko bites you, then make sure to clean the affected area thoroughly using water and antibacterial soap and apply a bandage. You can also use antibiotic ointment and, if you still feel unsafe, then you can talk to your gecko’s vet.So, it is clear that there are instances where you can get bitten by your pet. Some leopard geckos will love interacting with their owners; however, others may not interact much. Leopard geckos have polyphyodont teeth. The average number of teeth lies between 50-300 teeth along the jaw, and they look like small pointed cones. These lizards need teeth for protection, assistance during the shedding process, and to feed. They will replace their teeth every three to four months. Geckos use their teeth to hunt their prey. However, they do not chew like human beings but swallow their food. The combined force of their flexible tongue and muscle movements pushes the insects down their throat. Their teeth are not aligned for them to bite their food, but their teeth make it easier to swallow food. Their small teeth will not typically hurt the skin on your fingers. A tiny gecko bite will not inflict any pain, and normal-sized geckos can only inflict minimum pain. There are supergiant and giant geckos that can bite you harder.It is always recommended to wash your hands thoroughly whenever you handle a gecko or its environment. When your pet does bite, it is important to sterilize that area, which is needed if the bite draws blood. You will need to use cleaning alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on the bite area to kill any bacteria. You must also wash your hands with antiseptic soap to get rid of bacteria on your hand. This can sting a little; however, this step is vital as it can prevent you from becoming infected by any bacteria or dirt in your surroundings. After this, you can stick a band-aid on this area.It has often been believed that getting bitten by animals will always be fatal, but that is not the case. This can happen with other animals, such as dogs, but it is very unlikely with leopard geckos. So, you can just clean the bite area and put on a band-aid. If you need some reassurance, you can visit your vet for any further advice.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestion for ‘Do leopard geckos bite?’, then why not take a look at ‘Gecko food’ or ‘Leopard gecko facts’?
The leopard gecko is a reptile that is an ideal pet with tiny teeth.
