Backwards behavior from what I expected

[Knibitz]

So I'm a bit surprised and confused.
After researching Leopard geckos before I dove in and got mine I kept reading that when you get them, they will hide from you. That they'll be out and about when you're not there, but hide when you come around. That they'll only come out when you're around if you feed them and then that most of the time, that behavior doesn't ever change.

I seem to have the total opposite!

I've had Zoe for exactly a week now, and ever since I got her she's displayed this:
Most of the time when I walk into my room and check on her, she's in a hide (day or night)
But If I hang out long enough, she'll come out.

Of course some times I'm fishing in her tank to do the daily up-keep of her enclosure, so I disturb her and she comes out to investigate, but other times I'm just in there.

Part of me thinks she's waiting for food, but it's very obvious when she is because she'll get into predator mode. Being very alert, searching the tank, etc.

But other times, she'll come out, look around lazily, and then just lay back down in the open.

This makes me wonder: does she see me as a source of security and protection?
Or do I just have a backwards gecko? :main_laugh:

 

[Jordan]

captive bred geckos that only know humans are good things could show this. i have plenty of geckos that feel secure out in the open now.
though its weird that she's so settled so early. lucky you

 

[MiamiLeos]

It's amazing how a few generations of captive breeding can completely change a species in more ways than one.

 

[Knibitz]

though its weird that she's so settled so early. lucky you

Seriously. I understand my luck completely!
But the second I got to meet her, I knew she was the perfect Leo for me, and I blew my budget because of it. It's payed off
Being my pet, and not part of a breeding project, a lot of why I have her is the "relationship" we can share.
Obviously you can have an extreme relationship with a gecko, but there is some trust values there.
So it just makes me beam when she comes out to say hi when I'm around instead of lurking in the dark shadows of her hides.

 

[Jordan]

Seriously. I understand my luck completely!
But the second I got to meet her, I knew she was the perfect Leo for me, and I blew my budget because of it. It's payed off
Being my pet, and not part of a breeding project, a lot of why I have her is the "relationship" we can share.
Obviously you can have an extreme relationship with a gecko, but there is some trust values there.
So it just makes me beam when she comes out to say hi when I'm around instead of lurking in the dark shadows of her hides.

i understand the relationship. ive got plenty of breeders but ive also got three normals (well hypo's technically) in a big display viv because these were my first geckos and ive watched them grow up as my first ones so i still have a nice friendly relationship with them ... i mean i do with all my geckos but you know what i mean.

 

[Spots]

that's so cute i'm happy that you feel such a great relationship already

I knew I wanted Spots the moment I saw her. and eventually she used to sleep outside her hide and sprawl (seriously...legs and arms is all directions lol) and I could walk by and she would just lift her head, look at me, then close her eyes and go back to sleep lol It was the cutest thing ever

 

[Jordan]

that's so cute i'm happy that you feel such a great relationship already

I knew I wanted Spots the moment I saw her. and eventually she used to sleep outside her hide and sprawl (seriously...legs and arms is all directions lol) and I could walk by and she would just lift her head, look at me, then close her eyes and go back to sleep lol It was the cutest thing ever

yeh, the first gecko relationship is great.

kinda hard to keep it as strong when breeding though for a while.
thats why i keep em awaw from the breeders and in a big display viv, to show i still care and so theyre alwayas there for me to take out and handle.

 

[aburningflame]

Just to chime in kniblit, just because a gecko is part of some breeding project does not mean he is less loved.

i absolutely love the 2 i picked up for a breeding project, theyre small

the super snow and the tang i believe uve seen a video hehe.

i love em

 

[Knibitz]

Just to chime in kniblit, just because a gecko is part of some breeding project does not mean he is less loved.

i absolutely love the 2 i picked up for a breeding project, theyre small

the super snow and the tang i believe uve seen a video hehe.

i love em

I wasn't trying to say that. I'm just attempting to explain that aside from relationship I hold with my there's nothing more in it for me, but with breeders, you have babies and new morphs to look forward to. There's that aspect that I don't share
I know people love their lizards :3

 

[GeckoNub]

Its great that u have a good relationship with your gecko and i understand how you feel

My geckos live in my living room. They see me most of the day every day aswell as my BF, the cats, family that come to visit (my nieces love looking at them or feeding them)...they hear the TV and any music we have on, computer games with us shouting at them and just every day life.

The only gecko i have that "hides" is Yoshi, which i account to the fact he was 8 months old when we got him and had been in a pet shop on his own for most of that time.

My other 4 are totally different. They will come out any time night or day, sit out in the sunshine without being scared of us at all, flap at the glass when we go past, sit watching us, be more than happy to come out...they dont seem wild at all.

Peppa and Daisy were only a couple of months old when we got them and Freya and Bubba were barely a month so i guess for them its all theyve known.

But it is really nice to see them out so much. Bubba normally rests his head on his water dish...Freya lays half in her worm dish (shes a bit crazy bless her) and the others just sit chillin out. I always get excited when i see Yoshi out having a nosey but he soon runs and hides when hes been spotted :main_laugh:

But i like them the way they are Its a lot nicer looking in their vivs and actually seeing them than just seeing a bunch of hides and wondering which one theyre in