male leopard gecko behavior

Question
QUESTION: Hi Tracie, one of my male leos has become very aggressive I am wondering if this is a problem and if it could negatively impact his breeding next season? I don't hold him a lot, about the same as the other 15 geckos I have but he is trying to bite me when I put my hand in the cage and today I held him and he tried his best to bite me.

ANSWER: Hello Dena,

Wow, your male gecko is that aggressive this time of year?  That is pretty surprising.  
Have you changed anything about his tank setup possibly?
It could affect his breeding this spring as he could possibly injure the female that he gets put in with.  How old is he?

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He is about 3, no his tank is the same as it always has been. I am just worried I might need a different male for breeding and don't want to wait to long before I get a new one if that is the case. He was always very docile but the last month or so he is becoming more and more aggressive.

ANSWER: Hello Dena,

Sometimes, with age, that happens to males they tend to become more aggressive for no reason at all.  If he is that aggressive towards you, there is not a whole lot you can do to change that but I would recommend getting another one for breeding.  He would most likely injure your females being that way now especially if he tried to bite you!
That is so strange though as 3 is not that old.  His temperatures are all good, right?  Does he get enough calcium as well?


Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes temps are good, calcium good. I spoke to someone who breeds at the reptile expo today in Tempe AZ and he said it was probably because the females are ovulating and he perceives me as another male possibly and is threatening. I purchased a new male just to be safe but the new male went right for one of the females to breed. maybe this guy is right and this tank is already preparing to breed. Thanks for your help.

Dena

Answer
Hello Dena,

Well, I had thought of that already, with his aggressiveness, but isn't that a little early for them to ovulate already?  I guess they don't really brumate like most.  
I am not sure about him perceiving you as a male threat, but maybe as competition possibly or just in general he is aggressive with higher hormonal levels.  
Do they not breed in the spring?

Tracie