Am I Misinterpreting...?

[Golden Gate Geckos]

This is a pretty cool thread! Although I do not believe that our geckos feel emotions like love, I do think they respond to our love for them. I have a few geckos that really don't care to be picked up and held, and the majority are pretty laid-back and tolerant of my affection... but I do have a few that actually scratch on their enclosures when I come into the room. I would like to believe that it is because they want to be picked up and loved on, but it could simply be that they are conditioned to want 'out' because they know I will take them out and hold them.

At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter... because I do love my geckos and the fact that they want me to pick them up tells me that they are responding to my love, whether they can return it or not. Loving a gecko is not a conditional kind of love.

 

[Haligren]

At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter... because I do love my geckos and the fact that they want me to pick them up tells me that they are responding to my love, whether they can return it or not. Loving a gecko is not a conditional kind of love.

Very well put. That's what I was trying to say earlier but I don't think I chose the right words.

 

[STUTFL]

Yep. We are the geckos' dogs. And we're cool with that.

 

[STUTFL]

Wow! Thanks for posting that article. It's very interesting as well as encouraging. I always had a haunch that reptiles were smarter than we thought - they're just different is all.

Well, I'm fairly certain my gecko is smarter than I am. Which isn't saying much. But still. :tongue3:

I can see him cock his head and "ponder" when he comes across something new. And as you all know, leos have surprisingly expressive eyes. Which is just another reason I like tiny velocirapto- eh, geckos. I don't care whether he loves me or only tolerates me, he is COOL.

 

[VampyricAngelX]

Yep. We are the geckos' dogs. And we're cool with that.

haha so true. I was telling my mom today how spoiled my Dante is. He's got a 55 gallon to himself and it's staying that way even though I want to put a few females in it. He gets taken out almost any time he tries his escape attempts, and his food is brought to him (tong fed, or mostly just dropping them in front of him). One day he was laying on his hammock as I fed him, the only part of him that needed to move was his head.

And it's times like those that make me wish my life was that easy XD Big house, lounge on hammocks all day & have food brought to me :main_laugh:

 

[greedo11]

My leo Greedo is pretty affectinate - when it suits her!! She isnt subtle, if she wants attention she stands on her back legs against the glass, chin up and scratching the glass. If I come in the room and shes not up for conversation she will slowly move into her house or turn away so her arse is facing me. This suits us both fine as we both know where we are!
I do think geckos can be affectionate. There has been a couple of occasions when ive been ill or upset and Greedo will be less active then normal and snuggle up to my neck and lick it when I get her out.

 

[STUTFL]

If I come in the room and shes not up for conversation she will slowly move into her house or turn away so her arse is facing me.

Exactly what mine does. :laugh4: They're certainly not subtle.

 

[STUTFL]

haha so true. I was telling my mom today how spoiled my Dante is. He's got a 55 gallon to himself and it's staying that way even though I want to put a few females in it. He gets taken out almost any time he tries his escape attempts, and his food is brought to him (tong fed, or mostly just dropping them in front of him). One day he was laying on his hammock as I fed him, the only part of him that needed to move was his head.

And it's times like those that make me wish my life was that easy XD Big house, lounge on hammocks all day & have food brought to me :main_laugh:

:laugh4: What a life he's got. That reminds me of Jack Handey's "Deep Thoughts" ... one of them is:
"I wish outer-space guys would conquer Earth and make people their pets, because I'd like to have one of those little basket-beds with my name on it."

 

[Chibii]

I know it looks cute, but you can see easily when they don't like it. When they lift up their tail and head instantly they don't. But as your gecko seems to enjoy it so its OK.

 

[bubblez825]

I agree with what GG said abt the geckos recognizing our love for them. One of my geckos, Starlight, will scratch on the glass when she wants out, or if I stick my hand in the cage she will run over and climb onto my hand. if its too hgih off the floor she will take a running leap at my hand. then she will climb up and sit on my arm till i take her out of the cage. its adorable!! :smitten:

 

[GeckoGathering]

Geckos Ahhhhhh Yes

haha thank you =) i do truly love both of my babies.. came home from work today (cracker barrel) and i was starving after a 7 hour shift (from 6 am.) and the first thing i did was come home and feed my babies... I DIDN'T EVEN PEE YET! ahahaha they better love me as much as i love them. =)

Wow.......
Seems like real Gecko Dedication to me.....
Especially if you held off eating and peeing for the whole shift.
Gecko Lover for sure. LOL
Take care. HJ​

 

[Astrael]

I know reptiles don't have the same emotions, as so very much is different. But I do believe they're capable of enjoying time spent with us. Our one female was extremely shy in the beginning, now she wants to come out of the tank between 2 and 4 times a day. She'll ignore food to climb on my hand. More then once I've been cleaning or putting something in the tank and she'd just jump onto me and climb out of the tank and wander.

I know our bearded dragons can't stand being stuck in their tanks all day. They wander the house, sit in windows, or explore the nice fenced in back yard. So, we let the leos explore as well, though watched far closer (so far just the living room and our bedroom). They seem to enjoy the stimuli. And they seem to enjoy petting a bit when it suits them. When they don't want it, they'll avoid it.

So, I believe they do enjoy spending time with us, even if it's just us meeting their needs, they see us as the best means to being comfortable. They trust us to meet their needs (and wants). Which is what we want them to feel, I believe. Thus, I think it's a win-win for both parties.

 

[serialzombie]

My female leopard gecko, Rasha arches her back and puffs her body when I pet her. I'm convinced she doesn't like being pet. That she's trying to look big and scary.

I'm wondering if anyone is of the same opinion.

I've held other geckos that don't seem to mind at all.

 

[STUTFL]

Fear responses translate pretty well between species. If it looks like fear, it probably is.

 

[serialzombie]

I guess I won't be petting her anymore then. :/

 

[gothra]

I guess I won't be petting her anymore then. :/

Rub her on the side or under, they don't mind it. I notice they just don't appreciate touching on their tubercles.

 

[STUTFL]

I imagine they'd quite like anything warm on their tummies. :laugh4: