question about eating - tale shaking

jbuafs · #1 01-15-2005, 01:12 AM

OK I have two baby Leopard Geckos. When I put crickets in for them to eat, one of them always stalks the crickets and when he gets ready to go for it he shakes his tale back and forth (it's soooo cute). I know that when they get older the males shake their tales for the females/to see if there is another male in the cage. I am wondering if both male/female baby Leopard Geckos do this when eating or if it might mean that he is a male and the other is female (too little to check right now). I hope this makes sense

Thanks!

**Jay DeMore** · #2 01-15-2005, 09:13 AM

I don't keep Leopard Geckos myself, But I'm sure someone has an answer to your question. It could just be that he's so excited to hunt. lol

**Ssativa** · #3 01-15-2005, 05:30 PM

My female blizzard lizard does that too. It just means that she is really eager to eat. Watch out though. If you have two leo's housed together, the other leo might mistake the wiggling of the tail as food. It's happened to mine once or twice, but now I put food on both sides of the enclosure and that doesn't happen any more.

**Rich** · #4 01-16-2005, 07:54 PM

Hello,
This is from our caresheet:

Quote:

Gecko behaviors

Geckos are extremely fun to watch due to their behavioral characteristics. They are curious by nature and can become excited by a simple cricket crossing their path. With stealth and determined moves, a gecko will stalk its prey, with a tail twitch, lunge forward, and grab hold. The tail twitch is rather amusing to watch. It serves various functions and each should be noted accordingly.

As stated above, the gecko could twitch its tail by becoming overly excited. Both males and females will rattle their tails, so differentiating between the two is crucial.

It can also be used to see what other males are in the enclosure. Leopard geckos will rattle their tail as a signal that he is a male or to show a sign that he does not want to be bothered. If another gecko in the enclosure also rattles their tail, it signals that there is another male in their territory. Some sort of altercation will often follow this.

Males will also rattle their tails to see what females are present and to inform them that he is a male. This signaling is often done when a male is introduced to a female’s enclosure or vice versa.

Getting use to your leopard geckos behaviors will help you to better understand your gecko.

**lola** · #5 01-17-2005, 09:19 AM

Quote:

With stealth and determined moves, a gecko will stalk its prey...

hahaha...my Leopard Geckos must not have read that caresheet, as most of them are soooo clumsy! i have one that misses the cricket by as much as an inch sometimes. i have often wondered if Leopard Geckos have depth perception.

regardless, they are not very graceful, especially while eating.

lola

**Tha3rdman** · #6 01-19-2005, 09:02 PM

We're with ya lola, our shadow, which is a hypo, hunts by the shotgun method, she'll keep striking till she gets lucky. I'm wondering if it's not a by product of line breeding.

**geckoguykc** · #7 01-19-2005, 10:38 PM

iv got one that does that to

**Ssativa** · #8 01-19-2005, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tha3rdman

We're with ya lola, our shadow, which is a hypo, hunts by the shotgun method, she'll keep striking till she gets lucky. I'm wondering if it's not a by product of line breeding.

That's an interesting theory.
I'm not sure if blizzards are line bread, but Shady, my blizzard lizard, fits the description on the care sheet. She is little and fat compared to my normal leo , Spec, and when hunting Shady shakes her tail with and gobbles her prey, with quick, precise aim she never misses. Speck seems to have less enthusiasm about eating. She waits, and when the opportunity arrives, she'll grab the bug often after several tries though.

**geckoguykc** · #9 01-20-2005, 08:22 AM

the one I have that does that is a circleback

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