ACK!!! Our first in home critter!! (alligator, lizard, about)

[jobert]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

This morning when we saw it I freaked, the kids captured it and in the scuffle it lost part of it's tail.

The child doing the handling picked up the still wiggling tail with one hand and the critter in the other. The critter had it's mouth open so the child put the tail in it's mouth and it bit it. Bit it for a long time.

That's effed up. I hope 1000 ft tall aliens never land on our planet, or they might do that to us.

[ROY DUBOSE]

just be glad it wasn't a possum!

[austinnerd]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

The child doing the handling picked up the still wiggling tail with one hand and the critter in the other. The critter had it's mouth open so the child put the tail in it's mouth and it bit it. Bit it for a long time.

Hmm, commentary on forced self cannibalism aside, I think that making the comment that they "bite" based on the fact that something small was shoved into it's mouth might be a bit of an overstatement. In that context of course they bite, something small was in it's mouth. The fact that your kiddo was able to handle it and despite the fact that it lost it's tale and was then forced to consume part of itself it still didn't bite THEM is the more telling factor I would say .

[malinois]

That is the Mediterranian house gecko (aka. Leopard gecko around here). They're harmless to humans, tasty and fun to cats and spiders, flies and other small bugs fear them. They're nocturnal and appear most often in the garage. You're not likely to see them but you will see plenty of their scat (aka. poop) along the edge and corners of walls and on the walls.
They will bite, like any living creature when it feels it's life is threatened. Again, they're harmless and really are cute.
I'm assuming you're not from around here? Find an Anole if you're real curious about man eating lizards. Just don't get one near your ear or nose. That's their favorite food, hehe

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Wow, please don't call peta!

The gecko lived. End of story. We didn't "force" it to cannibalize itself. It BIT, it didn't EAT.

WE DIDN'T KILL IT
Please read the whole thread before jumping.

[mm57553]

The geckos and other lizards don't bother me. During the summer, there are always a half dozen or so hanging out on our living room screens at night. Actually, I think they are kind of cool. We also see chameleons and have one of those spiney brown lizard things living under our deck. My kids have named him Fred. But Fred's pretty quick, so they've yet to catch him LOL! (They are only 5 and 2, so the chances of them actually catching him are slim to none, so don't go calling PETA or anything).

Now the bugs...

I will absolutely freak out anytime I see one of those tree roaches. I mean FREAK OUT. And if I ever see one of those red-headed, mutant centipede things, I'm moving.

[MattV]

[quote=austinnerd;13553805]
The anoles are pretty cool as well. They like to scamper across the deck rails. They'll run for a bit, stop, do "push ups", extend their red neck sack out a bit, and then scurry off again and then repeat. Loads of fun.
quote]

ahahah, great post. I never knew they were doing push ups.

Anoles are loads of fun........be good to them.

[G Grasshopper]

Nature has done a great job with the gecko. The tail breaks off easily because it is the most likely part that will be seized by a predator and the real trick is that it keeps wiggling for a while. That keeps the predator thinking that it is the real prey, when the real prey is getting away. The tail grows back, but it never looks quite the same. So when you see one that has lost its tail and grown it back, you will be able tell. The open mouth of you gecko, by the way, was probably due to stress and possibly trying to be threatening. When you put the piece of tail in its mouth, it would have reflexively bitten down, but that doesn't mean that it would have eaten it. An animal that feels it has just been attacked and has shed its tail to escape will not be thinking about eating. It will be thinking about escape. Lizards of all sorts will bite, but small ones like yours have such small teeth, they will not penetrate human skin easily. Experiences like this can be great learning moments for kids, even if you don't like the critters!

[Driftwood1]

Our kids adore these little guys and play with them alot. Be nice to them, they are harmless and beneficial.

[hoffdano]

[quote=oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots;13554731]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

The do NOT bite. OP - I absolutely do not believe you.
/quote]



Ok, so you don't believe me. This morning when we saw it I freaked, the kids captured it and in the scuffle it lost part of it's tail.

The child doing the handling picked up the still wiggling tail with one hand and the critter in the other. The critter had it's mouth open so the child put the tail in it's mouth and it bit it. Bit it for a long time.

Sorry, I didn't catch the whole act in time or I would have done my "it's God's creature" role, "be gentle". However, the Ghandi part of me is going by the wayside. Snails turned me into a murderer.

Furthermore I don't seem to feel apologetic for it either. (the snails). Hate me if you must.

Your original post made it sound like it bit you. Even if it did - it wouldn't hurt.

Really what you saw was - "if you put something in its mouth it will bite it"