Why Does My Leopard Gecko Lick Me?

If your leopard gecko has ever licked you when handling it, you may have wondered why it exhibits this unusual behavior. Reptiles generally aren’t known for showing affection like dogs or cats, so what would make a leopard gecko lick a human?

Here’s the quick answer: Leopard geckos lick their owners out of curiosity, to gather information about an unfamiliar scent or taste, not as a sign of affection.

Leopard Geckos Use Their Tongues to Explore Their World

They Have a Strong Sense of Smell

Leopard geckos rely heavily on their sense of smell to gather information about their surroundings. Their forked tongues allow them to detect chemicals and pheromones in the air with precision. When a leopard gecko flicks its tongue, it picks up microscopic particles and brings them to special sensory organs in the roof of its mouth called the Jacobson’s organ.

Here, the chemicals are analyzed, providing insight on potential food sources, predators, mates, rivals, and optimal habitats.

According to herpetological researchers, leopard geckos likely have a sense of smell that is several thousand times more acute than humans. Their tongue is a versatile sensory tool that allows them to effectively hunt prey, identify safe areas, find mates, and generally orient themselves in their terrestrial environment.

When a leopard gecko licks a human hand, it is utilizing its remarkable sense of smell to gather detailed chemical information about that individual.

Licking Allows Them to Gather Chemical Information

When a leopard gecko licks a person’s skin, it picks up traces of that individual’s distinctive scent. Human skin contains fatty acids, salts, sugars, and proteins that impart a unique chemical signature.

By licking, the gecko can analyze this chemical information to determine identity, diet, health status, gender, and even emotional state.

For example, the gecko may be able to detect if a female human is pregnant or going through hormonal changes associated with menstruation. It can pick up on sweat composition which provides health and dietary information.

Leopard geckos can even sense fear or stress responses in humans by detecting subtle chemical cue changes. So licking allows a gecko to literally “taste” a wide range of details about an individual person.

This helps them categorize humans in their environment as safe, threatening, or neutral presences which is important for their survival.

Reasons a Leopard Gecko May Lick Its Owner

Exploring an Unfamiliar Scent

Leopard geckos primarily use their tongues to smell. Their tongues gather scent particles from the air and ground that get transferred to an organ in the roof of their mouth called the Jacobson’s organ. From there, the gecko analyzes these scents to gather information about its surroundings.

When a leopard gecko first meets a new person, it will use its tongue to lick their skin and gather their unique scent. This allows the reptile to become familiar with this new individual.

Leopard geckos are very scent oriented, so they rely on licking to identify objects and people in their environment. It is an essential part of how they perceive the world around them. So licking is a gecko’s way of exploring someone new.

The more a gecko licks an owner, the more familiar and comfortable it becomes with their presence.

Gathering Taste Information

A leopard gecko’s tongue also allows it to analyze tastes. When licking human skin, your gecko can determine if you have traces of food or other interesting tastes on you. Geckos are naturally curious creatures, so they will lick new things in their environment to satisfy this curiosity and gain information.

In captivity, leopard geckos are fed a diet of calcium-dusted insects like crickets and mealworms. If a gecko licks an unusual taste on their owner’s hand, they may believe it is prey. So they will repeatedly lick in an attempt to consume what they perceive as food.

This tasting behavior allows geckos to gather knowledge about their surroundings.

Interacting With Their Environment

Leopard geckos also lick as a way of interacting with their environment. In the wild, leopard geckos use their tongues to navigate the terrain, feel for vibrations, and map out spaces. When licking their owner’s hand or arm, they are examining a novel surface or object.

This is helpful for understanding more about aspects of their enclosure.

Additionally, leopard geckos have rudimentary “lips” around their mouths that allow them to have some tactile feedback when licking objects. So they may receive satisfying sensory input from licking human skin.

Their exploratory licking allows them to become more accustomed and comfortable with handling and interaction.

Does a Leopard Gecko’s Licking Indicate Affection?

Leopard geckos exhibit some interesting behaviors that can seem unusual to owners who are new to caring for these popular pet lizards. One of the most common behaviors that often puzzles gecko owners is when their leopard gecko licks them.

Is this strange licking behavior a sign of affection and bonding between owner and pet? Or does it indicate something else entirely?

In general, most experts agree that when a leopard gecko licks its owner, it does not necessarily mean the gecko feels a close bond or affection. Unlike dogs who lick their owners as a sign of attachment and devotion, lizards have a different set of motivations for licking behavior.

There are a few main reasons why a leopard gecko may lick its owner:

Exploring Scents

For leopard geckos, licking is an important way they gather chemical information about their environment. Their vomeronasal organ senses pheromones and scents by picking up chemical signals when the gecko licks objects in their habitat.

So when your gecko crawls on you and starts licking your hand or arm, it is simply tasting scents and pheromones to get more data about you.

Gathering Mineral Information

In the wild, leopard geckos get certain key minerals like calcium from licking rocks and soil. When they lick human skin, they may be able to detect traces of sodium and calcium. So licking you helps satisfy their drive to find minerals.

Their keen vomeronasal sense detects the mineral content when they lick your skin.

Hydration

Leopard geckos do not drink water like other animals. They get moisture from their prey. But between feedings, a gecko may lick droplets of water, leaves, or moist surfaces to get extra hydration. Licking human skin provides a bit of hydration from sweat and oils.

Shedding Aid

During the shedding process, leopard geckos will lick their skin to help loosen the old skin. By licking your skin, they may be trying to speed up and assist the shedding process.

Protection

Sometimes geckos will lick their owner as a defense mechanism. The licking puts their scent on you, which can deter other geckos from considering you a threat. Licking helps mark you as part of their safe space.

While licking alone doesn’t indicate strong bonding or affection, that doesn’t mean your leopard gecko dislikes you. Over time, gentle handling, hand feeding, and positive interactions can create trust and a more secure connection between owner and lizard.

But licking specifically seems to stem from their innate exploring, tasting, and survival instincts.

The next time your leopard gecko licks you, appreciate that this unique behavior allows the gecko to safely investigate you and the environment. With proper care over time, a close interspecies friendship can form between gecko and handler.

Just don’t expect the licks alone to mean your gecko wants to cuddle.

Is It Safe to Allow a Leopard Gecko to Lick You?

Risk of Salmonella Exposure

Leopard geckos can potentially carry salmonella bacteria in their digestive tracts without showing any symptoms. If they lick you, there is a small risk that the salmonella could be transmitted to you and make you sick. However, the actual risk is very low if you practice proper hygiene.

According to the CDC, reptiles were linked to just 2% of all salmonella cases from 2017-2019. And out of those, leopard geckos were responsible for only a tiny fraction. So while salmonella exposure is theoretically possible if a leo licks you, your chances of actually becoming infected are extremely slim.

Proper Hand Washing is Key

To minimize any risk at all, simply wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling your leopard gecko or allowing it to lick you. This will remove any germs that might be present. You may even want to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer nearby your gecko’s habitat.

It’s also a good idea to disinfect your gecko’s tank and accessories regularly. And avoid kissing your leo near the mouth area. 😊 As long as you practice basic cleanliness and hygiene, letting your leo lick you should not pose any real health problems.

So go ahead and enjoy those cute leopard gecko kisses! Just be sure to wash up afterwards as a sensible precaution. With proper care and handling, the pros of bonding with your leo almost certainly outweigh any minuscule cons. 👍

Should I Discourage My Leopard Gecko From Licking?

Leopard geckos licking their owners is a common behavior that is often harmless. However, there are some cases where you may want to discourage licking.

Potential Reasons for Licking

Leopard geckos lick for a few main reasons:

• Exploring their environment – Licking allows geckos to gather information about smells, tastes, and textures.
• Showing affection/social bonding – For some geckos, licking is a way to interact with their owner.
• Mistaking skin for food – The salt on human skin can make geckos think they’ve found a meal.

Licking alone is not a major cause for concern. However, there are some situations where discouraging it may be better.

When to Discourage Licking

You may want to stop your leopard gecko from licking if:

• The licking becomes excessive or obsessive. Nonstop licking may signal stress or nutritional deficiency.
• Your gecko starts nipping or biting skin. Nips can break the skin and should not be encouraged.
• You use skin products like lotions or perfumes. These products can be toxic if ingested.
• You handle your gecko after touching toxic substances. This includes cleaning products, pesticides, gasoline, etc.

Discouraging licking is also smart if you want to eliminate chances of salmonella transmission. Though very rare, geckos can potentially pass this bacteria to humans through their mouths.

How to Discourage Licking

If you need to curb licking, here are some tips:

• Wash hands before and after handling your gecko to remove tempting scents.
• Redirect with a distraction when licking starts, like a favorite toy.
• Limit handling after applying lotions, perfumes, medications, or toxic chemicals.
• Say a firm “no” and gently push your gecko’s head away when it licks.
• Wear gloves or long sleeves when handling to cover skin access.

With consistency, most geckos will learn that licking leads to no reward. However, you may always get an occasional curious lick, so gentle redirection when needed is important.

When Licking Is Okay

In most cases, occasional licking during handling is harmless. Let your gecko lick when:

• The licking seems like exploratory tasting, not excessive.
• Your hands are clean and free of lotions, perfumes, etc.
• Your gecko is not nipping or biting skin.
• You do not try to hand feed or encourage the behavior.

Using good hygiene and gentle redirection, licking can be minimized when unwanted. Just be patient – changing this natural gecko behavior may take time and consistency!

Conclusion

In summary, leopard geckos do not lick their owners as a sign of affection or bonding. They lick primarily out of curiosity and their natural instinct to explore the world around them with their tongues.

While occasional licking generally isn’t dangerous, proper hand washing after handling your gecko can prevent salmonella exposure. You don’t necessarily need to discourage licking behavior unless it happens excessively or appears stressed-related.