spud is a giant gecko, specifically a rhacodactylus leachianus leachianus x rhacodactylus leachianus henkeli (in case any of the other rhac nerds out there are wondering ).

he has a pretty good temperment--can be skittish at times which at his size is quite a handful. when he was younger i had to get him out and hold him in a wad of paper towels for a minute or so until he realized he was being held and should freak out--at which time he would launch a nice huge poop at me (and i do mean launch!). he has calmed down a bit since he has matured which i appreciate.

he has never growled (they can growl, bark, squeak, etc. and are considered the most vocal of all the geckos) or bitten or made any aggressive movements toward me. when he gets wound up or panicky (ready to go back home and into a hide) his nails/claws can be scratchy, so i usually keep a towel or old shirt nearby when i hold him in case this happens. then i just scoop him up in it and place him back in his home, avoiding the frenzied climbing geckos nails. (i do have kind of sensitive skin though that scratches easily so i'd imagine for a lot of people this wouldn't even be an issue.)