I just found this website and it looks like a great place to find some very useful information.

I just started into gecko keeping and decided to start with a baby. I have read that babies can be rather irritable but I was wondering if the way mine behaves is abnormal. Yesterday he bit me and hissed at me when I put my hand near him and today he struck at and hissed at one of his hides when I was moving it around. I have to admit that both instances were probably not he most ideal times to mess with him....yesterday when he bit me he just got done eating and today I think I woke him up.

Can I just write off this behavior as poor judgment on my part or do some leopards just have an ornery personality.......in either case, does that type of ornery behavior pass with age?

Well I know that when mine get bothered a little more than what they like they get mad and try to bite and hiss. I think that with time and regular handling for short periods of time should help tame him down.

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0.1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa (Sakura)
1.1.0 Leopard geckos (Tasuki, Sango)
2.0.0 Ball pythons (Tsume, Kenshin)

Hmmmm, mine must have been the exception rather than the rule. I've had 2 since they were so teeny (they are sisters) and never once since the day I brought them home have they been agressive.

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

I'm so excited! I heard a gecko hiss today (not mine) everything about them are so cute even when they're mad and biting! Apparently mine's really fiesty so hopefully I can tame the beast!

Its not abnormal. Ive heard of peoples Leopard Geckos hissing, or biting a bunch of times. I dont know though, because when I got mine, she was almost an adult.
If it was during feeding, its understandable, because when I was feeding my young crestie, I went to move something in her cage and I guess she thought my finger was a snack hehe.
But as long as you hold it every day, it should get used to you with time. And if it bites you, dont put it back in its tank. Let it know that it wont get what it wants by biting, because then if you even pick it up it will just bite you, knowing you'll put it back in the tank.

Slujo, if you bought yours recently (in the last few days) you should give him a break to adapt and adjust to his new home before attempting to handle it or impose your presence.

Within a few days, when he calms down, slowly work towards making your presence not a threat but a pleasure, like giving him treats when you spend some time in the enclosure talking with him.

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

You have to remember that, if it was in the wild, baby lizards are on the menu of virtually everything that comes by!
As far as the gecko knows, you want to eat it!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I agree with everyone else...and once his house is set up, try not to keep moving around his hides...it will just stress him out more...good luck...in time he will settle in....Lyn

By the way....welcome to HC Network!

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

It really doesn't matter if they are wild caught or captive bred-their flight/fright response at anything that is larger than them is pretty ingrained
They do view you as a potential predator and it takes a while for them to overcome their fear
I guess that they figure that being defensive might scare you off

Sandy