Does leopard gecko recognize their owners?

[khe]

Does leopard gecko recognize their owners?

 

[Latlaw]

My husband claims that mine know my voice from his and they seem happy and excited when they see or hear me . . . . .but I dunno.

 

[MichaelJ]

I'd like to think so! I see a difference in their reaction when I hold and talk to them, versus a stranger.

 

[STUTFL]

Mine will crawl right onto the hand of a stranger from mine - never had anyone try to get him out of the cage, but I suppose if they were patient they'd get the same effect. Anyone's guess whether he knows the difference or not, but I think he's just as fond of my netbook as he is of me.

 

[shadowdragon619]

i would think they might know you by scent. and my geckos are in my room, so i figure they're used to me being in there all the time...they're just jealous b/c my "cage" is bigger than thiers, lol

 

[gothra]

Some of mine definately seems to recognise my scent as a no-threat/familiar being. Usually, when I put down my hand in front of them, they'll crawl up my hand without evening thinking; but when I have friends come over to visit, the geckos either stay in their hides, or will just come and lick their hand then walk away.

**This may sound weird, but I think Marly can differentiate between me and my husband...there are so many times when my husband enter the gecko room, Marly will wave his tail at him (sometimes even jumped to the front of the glass trying to attack him - this usually happens after mid-night). Whilst he never did so to me. There are several times when he was sitting nicely on my lap, then suddenly turns to stare at my husband, then started waving his tail at him, lol.

 

[GrimmyX15]

Possible. But My jackie recognizes me by licking my fingers or scent. If i have to let her know that im here to handle her, i will tap on glass then she will wake up and comes out. I pick her. if i put her in my dad or any stranger, it will squirm and try to get away. funny.
hahah.

 

[Palor]

It seems possible, I have a few who will come out of hiding when I come into the room, but they don't seem to like my room mate. I figure they know i am the bringer of food and pettings.

 

[mascutt]

I have been curious about the same thing. But mine is new. I knew she definitely recognizes my scent because she is no longer skittish around me. She does not go away from my hand, and doesn't move if I pet her. Only when I hold her in my hands does she try to escape (out of the tank that is). But, since my wife won't hold her, and my kids are away at college and, thus, have not yet met her, I can't tell. When they come home and try to hold her, I will be able to add what I see

 

[L-G-C]

Well I think they do cause when I have family over they always want to see my pets and so I'll bring them out but the geckos never want to leave my hand to crawl on them...

 

[BGalloway]

Definitely! My leo is shy about walking on strangers' hands, he really tries to avoid them if they wear strong perfume or cologne. So he most definitely recognizes people by scent. My friend's leo reacts to voices; she recognizes her mama's voice and will come running out of her hide, but stays hidden unless the new human sticks around and moves toward her cricket tub. Leos can be pretty smart.

 

[im faster]

i say yes..

when my gf or i hold leo he will sit near our hearts and just stay put..
anyone esle he tries to crawl off

 

[gecko girl]

my gecko seems to know me by voice.she will lick me but not my friends i think she knows me by voice also. i'll say her name and she will turn and look at me

 

[Daylight_Thieves]

Totally Agree!

All of my leopard geckos recognize me when I sing or talk to them. Especially the youngest, Bandit. He will come out of his hides when I sing or talk to him and I am the only one that he won't try to crawl away from when I hold him.

The other two are newer to us so it will take some time to get them used to the singing. However, yesterday I went to take Geekow out of her cage and when I put my hand in the cage she licked my finger and hopped onto my hand. Then she looked at me like, "I'm ready, you can take me out now!" T'was very cute!

 

[jermh1]

I am a teacher and have geckos in my class, they can tell me appart from the kids, hands down. with the students they are usually on an endless crawl, and when I grab them, they usually stop and relax. even when I reach into their tanks, most of the 1yr+ geckos just ignore me, even if im trying to pick them up. when some of the students go for one, they run and hide.

 

[theWERM]

I could be wrong but I heard that reptiles and birds have similar memory to babys and remember certain things

 

[prettyinpink]

Maybe. But I think it's more of how we hold them, they get used to that and if someone else holds them not the 'right' way it's different to them. So that might seem like they 'know' us.

Although I'd love to think he knows me LOL.

 

[Lady Hyena]

I believe they can. Out of my 16 7 of them allow others to take them out or go to others. the other will only allow me to take them out or they refuse to go to others and if i place them on them they try to get away. they definatly know my scent and voice. 2 of them come right up to the glass when i start talking to them, they wont do this for anyone else. Komodo, one of my males, will not allow anyone to handle him other then myself. He didnt get his name from his looks;D He's known for biting others when they try to handle him. He's my angel tho. Allows me to pick him up, carry him, take him out, anything. But its hard saying i suppose since we cant talk to them ^^ I believe tho they can: D

 

[bromide]

mine usually doesnt go on strangers hands if i hand him to them. but if i hand over my gecko to my mom or brother, he goes on their hands. i think it's because he knows our scent.

 

[Taquiq]

My Geckos feel more comfortable around me then anybody else that holds them. I guess they start to recognize your scent or something and then they get used to you and feel more comfortable. They are always skittish around other people and they will allow me to hold them more freely than most other people.