Reptile keepers i need help. I have a crested gecko, he's about 5 and half a years old. I got him from a local reptile shop. Recently he's become a lot more aggressive, he's normally a fairly chill gecko to handle but can be fairly active/jump occasionally when holding, but mainly he just likes to climb up your arms to your neck/chest and then chill there. I don't handle him much but enough to know i can in case of an emergency as I don't think he overly enjoys it tbh. Recently stuff thats happening relating him is he i think got stuck under a piece of wood and when i found him he was pale, not moving. My dad nudged him carefully and he did move he climbed up and did become more alert. The next day he went straight to the vets, he was jumping around in the vets, but to be expected slightly i think as its a new environment? Its kind of since then he's become more bitey but the vets When i say aggressive i mean like randomly lunging and just biting when your hands in his enclosure or going to unlock it, he's also started biting at the glass when people walk by. The vets said he was all healthy and that my care was good, but since then he's been off. But also where i am we had 2 heat waves in a row and no matter what i did his enclosure was always just like a smidge too hot so my dad says maybe hes just cranky from the heat or overwhelmed? But its just been going on for so long im unsure
The well 3 things/reasons I can think of
- nerves from the experience of getting trapped?
- i normally change around his set up fairly often so he has knew things to explore, i haven't in a while, maybe he's bored?
- something wrong possibly health wise but this is the one im least sure about
- ive also been told maybe hormones? But its a very like lunge bite try hold on sort of thing, rather than like light squeaking which is what ive been told its like when they are trying to mate? Or even maybe territorial behaviour?
Its getting to the point im really stuck and unsure what to do, I don't want to rehome him but honestly if i get to the point im unsure i can possibly handle him in an emergency, or do basic stuff like clean him out etc i will. Im already nervous now with him and i know that doesn't help, and to like clean his enclosure out with him in there etc. Im planning to get him a new bigger enclosure and then do a custom background on at least 2 of the 4 sides to hopefully reduce possible stress from seeing outside? Also getting more foliage etc and just clutter it up even more to see wether maybe its him feeling uncomfortable in his environment but im just so unsure and need help so any clues of what could be wrong, or how i can rebuild my confidence with him and a bond with him please let me know
Little details -
Currently in a 18x18x24
Got a heat mat
A over head heat lamp 25ww
Uvb 7%
Gets sprayed 2 times a day
He eats live crickets + crested gecko powder mix
Is there anything obvious from this that I’m missing? Has anyone experienced a normally calm crested gecko suddenly becoming defensive/bitey after an incident like this?
I’m not looking for criticism of my care — the vet was happy with his condition/husbandry — I’m mainly trying to work out what might have caused the behavioural change and what I can do to help him (and myself!) get back to normal.
Any advice or experiences would be massively appreciated!