Can overhandling hurt them?

[AntMan612]

I've heard stress is bad for leos' health. One of mine quacks in protest when I hold her for more than a few seconds. Should I give up on trying to tame her? I'm afraid that handling her for too long might cause her too much stress.

 

[GeckoRing]

I wouldn't give up. How long have you had her? It takes months sometimes for a gecko to adjust to a new home. Once she is eating fine and looks comfortable with her surroundings I would hold her for a few min. each day. Maybe start by just putting your hand in her cage so that she gets use to you. I have a male we purchased from TUG in 06....yes, two years ago, He just started letting us pick him up without freaking. I had given up on him. I know he doesn't enjoy attention, so he is not one we hold much, but it is nice to be able to check on him without him flying to the nearest hide! Funny thing is that his name is Barbosa, and he is afraid of his own shadow!

 

[fallen_angel]

LOL that's cute I'm glad he doesn't fly to the nearest hide anymore!!

 

[AntMan612]

It's good news to hear that sometimes it takes a couple of years. I will be more patient, as long as no one feels that getting freaked out emotionally (or physically) will damage them. I've had Izzie since June 2007; she must be about a year old now. I just wish she would be more like her cagemate, Lizzie, who I've had for the same amount of time. Lizzie once came over to taste my hand and tried to crawl up my arm when I was merely adjusting her food dishes.

 

[Ccrashca069]

Never give up on Leopard geckos. I have on a couple nd then they surprised me. I have some that took a while to let me hold and handle them. Every once in a while one of my females will make noises at me but nothing like how she used to be. It just takes time is all.

 

[BettaDragon]

My gecko Yukina used to hate me. She's now the most affectionate of all my geckos. Don't give up. They do get friendlier the more you handle them.

 

[lepgeckosrock]

My oldest one Wally will shriek alot when he is actually being picked up or I just have him in or on my hand but what I do instead of holding him that way is I sit in my recliner and let him crawl around on my chest and stomach and when he starts to find his way off of me put my hand up like a wall and he just changes direction. He will do that for a half hr or so and then just sit at times he has even went to sleep on me. I think part of it might be feeling insecure about not being completely on something solid

 

[AntMan612]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try letting Izzie crawl on me more often; she's a fast one though! I used to think leopard geckos were slow little creatures.

 

[Ccrashca069]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try letting Izzie crawl on me more often; she's a fast one though! I used to think leopard geckos were slow little creatures.

Thats what they say about turtles also. They can be pretty darn fast when they want to be :main_laugh:

 

[david13]

ya when io saw my leo run across the floor for the first time.. i was like HOLY $#*%!!!

 

[fallen_angel]

LOL they are too much fun

 

[AntMan612]

It's so funny how they sort of waddle away at high speed.:main_laugh:

 

[bitterbeauty]

ya when io saw my leo run across the floor for the first time.. i was like HOLY $#*%!!!

LOL!!! Yeah the babies are super fast! I am always afraid they are gonna jump off my hand and get hurt!

 

[bubblez825]

My leo is about 9-10 mos. now and I just got her a week and 1 day ago. I have had her out alot and I am trying to get her used to me. I've been holding her since the day I got her, and now she doesn't try to fly off my hand when I touch her or move. She still needs a little bit of work though. She jumps at every loud noise and still doesn't really like to be pet that much. AND she tries to do the flying trapeeze off my hands once in a while lol. I'm the only one she will let hold her too. She has calmed down alot though. Just keep working on her and she'll warm up to you.

 

[DLS Reptile]

Yes, to much handling can stress them out. Especially when they are being restrained. I never grab my geckos, but always let them crawl on my hand first. This lets them do what they want...A gecko will let you know when he/she does not want to be handled anymore. They will usually start to become flighty and nervous trying to run away... Hope this helps...

 

[gothra]

It's so funny how they sort of waddle away at high speed.:main_laugh:

Yeah that's super funny! They're so cute and chubby, which doesn't match the lightning speed! :main_laugh:

I have one that is very cautious of everything. I had him for 1.5 years now and I'm only able to get him to walk on my hand at the moment. If I lift him off ground, he gets very uncomfortable and will want to get off. When I first got him, he used to peck and bite my hand if I'm too close to him! There were a couple times he even jumped up in mid-air trying to scare me away (which he succeeded)!!

 

[AntMan612]

Yes, to much handling can stress them out. Especially when they are being restrained. I never grab my geckos, but always let them crawl on my hand first. This lets them do what they want...A gecko will let you know when he/she does not want to be handled anymore. They will usually start to become flighty and nervous trying to run away... Hope this helps...

I guess I don't completely understand the risks of "stress" to a leopard gecko in terms of long term health effects. For humans, I know chronic stress can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, etc. But, has anyone ever had a gecko become sick because of too much stress? (Ignoring cases of negligent owners.)