Leopard Gecko quirks, also tips on getting them used to you.

Hey all I've had my 1 year old Blizzard Eclipse Miko for 2 weeks now and to say it's been eventful would be an understatement.

In the first week I had to take her to the vets because she was impacted from the reptile centre I got her from and also the attack of the vicious gutloaded Locusts. Now everything seems great I've switched her onto crickets and occasional mealworms and her impaction has been sorted.

Anyways on topic, she has these little quirks one of them is her poking her head out of her hide to watch me on the computer and if I'm around when she needs to poop, she goes to do it then notices me and decides to chill in the corner... Shes a shy pooper. What quirks do your Leopard Geckos have?

And one final point, she eats off my hand and licks it but wont actually walk over it or anything, I'm trying get her used to being handled as shes not properly been handled before. Anyone got any tips?

I have to say that none of my lizards are very social yet (unless there is food!).

One thing the geckos do that always cracks me up is "slo-mo mode". For example, if I walk in the room at night and put a light on, they want to go hide, but they don't want to attract attention, so they'll start creeping toward a convenient hide in slow motion. lol "If I move slowly enough, she won't see me..."

Lol. Miko does the exact same "you didn't see anythinggg" mode I call it. When I'm on the computer I see in the corner of my eye her slowly walking around trying not to catch my attention lol

Lol! My newest gecko does that! I'll be sitting there and she's like crap you caught me out, and then I'll look away and I can see her slowly creeping back towards her hide, like nope xD its so funny, none of my other geckos do that and I have 8 lol

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It's so funny when they do that. Last night I saw Miko wag her tail really fast when she was about to eat a cricket. She reminds me of my dog :main_laugh:

I think it depends on the gecko too. Our Mardu is a pig and LOVES exploring. If you put your hand in there, even just to replenish water or calcium, he tries to climb up your sleeve <3

My other one, a two year old, is just really shy. She's also albino, I've learned, and I think her eyesight is just awful. So she is randomly skittish and freaks out over shadows. I doubt she'll ever be very tame, poor dear . She does that, "You didn't see anything!" walk all the time!

I'd just keep trying to get them used to the sight of you and continue trying to feed them by hand. Then maybe graduating to light handling every few days, hopefully they'll enjoy the time out! We also fed our friendly guy outside of the tank, and since he's such a piggy, it was easy for him to quickly learn that being handled meant he was going to eat!!!

JennyBeen said:

I think it depends on the gecko too. Our Mardu is a pig and LOVES exploring. If you put your hand in there, even just to replenish water or calcium, he tries to climb up your sleeve <3

My other one, a two year old, is just really shy. She's also albino, I've learned, and I think her eyesight is just awful. So she is randomly skittish and freaks out over shadows. I doubt she'll ever be very tame, poor dear . She does that, "You didn't see anything!" walk all the time!

I'd just keep trying to get them used to the sight of you and continue trying to feed them by hand. Then maybe graduating to light handling every few days, hopefully they'll enjoy the time out! We also fed our friendly guy outside of the tank, and since he's such a piggy, it was easy for him to quickly learn that being handled meant he was going to eat!!!

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My friend's Leopard Gecko Chi is like that, he even cuddles up to him and falls asleep. I wish I could be that close to Miko.

Aww bless her! I think Miko's sight isn't 100% either, she tends to miss her food a lot and all it takes is a cricket to move left or right and she goes back into her hide like nothing is there. I've had to start pulling a leg off the crickets to give her a chance.

I have tried feeding her a wax worm from my hand but I don't think she could see it well as she was nibbling my finger instead I was like "Miko, what on earth are you doing?" maybe I'm tastier food lol.

Yes, this sounds a lot like my two year old, Esper. She has almost no interest in food like my other one does. To make sure she eats, we leave mealworms in an escape proof container in there for her all the time. And even then, she only eats one every few days...she's very inactive and spends most of her time in her hide (not sure what she does at night, of course). I know she can't be terrified of coming out, as she'll walk across her tank to get water every day...she's all about the water! She also moved to the moist hide when she needed to shed, so I at least feel like she knows what's there and uses it when she needs it.

However, I don't handle her much because of how skittish she is. She's licked my hand twice maybe, but then just goes back into her cave. It's a little saddening, and I will keep working on it, but I do think it's true that some are just more outgoing than others!

JennyBeen said:

Yes, this sounds a lot like my two year old, Esper. She has almost no interest in food like my other one does. To make sure she eats, we leave mealworms in an escape proof container in there for her all the time. And even then, she only eats one every few days...she's very inactive and spends most of her time in her hide (not sure what she does at night, of course). I know she can't be terrified of coming out, as she'll walk across her tank to get water every day...she's all about the water! She also moved to the moist hide when she needed to shed, so I at least feel like she knows what's there and uses it when she needs it.

However, I don't handle her much because of how skittish she is. She's licked my hand twice maybe, but then just goes back into her cave. It's a little saddening, and I will keep working on it, but I do think it's true that some are just more outgoing than others!

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How long has she been like that?

Wow you actually see her drink? I never see Miko drink but she is urinating and it's white... she must have a party when I go to bed!

Yeah I suppose, persistence is the key. Soon they'll tolerate us as we're the food people! Miko is quite skittish but then again I haven't had her long and to be quite honest she seems like bit of a diva lol.

I actually only got Esper a few weeks ago...almost a month now. So she could be being more delicate due to her newness, I suppose. In any case, I've been doing the best I can to give her her space, but we've not made much progress when it comes to taming (though I've not pushed her much). It doesn't help that she's so apathetic about food!

And yes! She really likes water. Every evening she walks across the tank for a drink, and drinks like a cat. It's pretty funny to watch. I'm glad she does though, because otherwise I might not see her much at all! My other one I never see drink though, but he also eats enough that I feel like he must get his moisture from the worms he eats. I do keep a bottle cap of water in with him all the time though, and spray down his moist hide as well so he has wetness if he needs or wants it.

So keep at it! I've heard it can be helpful for them to just get used to your smell, if you leave an old shirt or blanket in with them and keep just leaving your hand in the tank without going after them so they get used to your presence. If you can create a positive associate between you and food, more power to ya! Good luck