Gecko taming?

[Inter5tella]

I haven't had my gecko long, about 2 or 3 weeks;

1. I'm unsure of how old they are? I think about 2 months or so old, maybe a bit more.

2. I was attempting (I say attempt as I gave up) to clean the terrarium, so i lifted his cave while he was inside, and tried to grab a couple stray mealworms and poop near him, and accidentally poked his back (not tail, torso) and he squeaked. As such, I tried to put his cave back, only to have him squeak/squeal more. Have I messed up the taming process? Or is he just being a typical juvenile?? I want to be able to hold him and such when he gets bigger.

 

[Neon Aurora]

Young geckos are always really defensive. It just comes with being tiny and helpless. I think it's easiest to just get them used to you while they're younger by doing stuff(cleaning, whatever) in the terrarium. As they get older, they call down. Of course, every animal is different. Some don't mind being touched and handled when they are young and some are too defensive. Normally, though, they all become more relaxed as they grow.

 

[Inter5tella]

Young geckos are always really defensive. It just comes with being tiny and helpless. I think it's easiest to just get them used to you while they're younger by doing stuff(cleaning, whatever) in the terrarium. As they get older, they call down. Of course, every animal is different. Some don't mind being touched and handled when they are young and some are too defensive. Normally, though, they all become more relaxed as they grow.

Well, I talk to him a bit every day when I wake up, and I feed him with tongs and talk to him then, but when I do stuff in the terrarium, he's usually hiding in his cave, so that doesn't do much.

 

[Neon Aurora]

Well, chances are your gecko will calm down as it gets bigger and older. Many people have had success handling young geckos, so it's up to you what you do. It's not like there's only one way to tame a gecko, it's different for different people and different animals. =) I'd say you haven't messed up the process or anything, just be gentle and patient. Feeding with tongs is a good idea, because it helps build the association between you and food. It'll just take time.

 

[Inter5tella]

Well, chances are your gecko will calm down as it gets bigger and older. Many people have had success handling young geckos, so it's up to you what you do. It's not like there's only one way to tame a gecko, it's different for different people and different animals. =) I'd say you haven't messed up the process or anything, just be gentle and patient. Feeding with tongs is a good idea, because it helps build the association between you and food. It'll just take time.

alright, i'll keep at it then; I just dont want him to hate me

 

[DrCarrotTail]

It's totally normal for them to scream and carry on and even try to nip at you until they are around 15-20g. They usually calm down considerably once they're around 30g. As long as you're gentle and not mean to him he should get friendlier and friendlier as he grows

 

[Inter5tella]

It's totally normal for them to scream and carry on and even try to nip at you until they are around 15-20g. They usually calm down considerably once they're around 30g. As long as you're gentle and not mean to him he should get friendlier and friendlier as he grows

Will do! Wish I could weigh him somehow, but I don't see that happening considering he won't let my hand anywhere near him lol. But yes, I am incredibly gentle with him, other than accidentally poking him all I do is talk with him and feed with tongs. I must ask though, as I dont know if I should make a topic for it but; I live in ohio and its started to get quite cold; How should I go about keeping the ambient tank temperature around 75? I do have a heat lamp with a moonglow bulb, could I perhaps hook it up to a lamp dimmer to keep it around 75 constantly? As I imagine on its own it would way too easily overheat the 10 gallon

 

[mcwendle]

I have a little albino boy who used to scream and lunge at me every time I was in his tank. Now, whenever I'm in the room. He comes out to stare at me and waits for me to come "visit" him. I now reach in and he comes over and eats out of the bowl as i hold it for him. Then he has no problem walking onto my hand with a full belly ready to come out and visit. I'm the food guy, so yeah, after a while they associate you with bringing goods.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

As long as the room your gecko is in stays over 65 and there is a fairly enclosed hide over the under tank heater he should be fine. I lived in an apartment one year that was barely over 60 during the day and night and used a 40 watt bulb over my geckos' tanks. If your bulb makes it too hot you could suspend it higher over the tank or dim it to get the tank to a better temperature if you feel he needs it.

My babies get picked up whether they want to or not. I have to clean and feed them and they have to be moved for that to happen! Most of the time they're hungry and I'll sit them in the palm of my hand and show them the worms I've set out for them. Once they see food they tend to forget they're being held and start snarfing down worms. Again, as log as you're gentle the little guy won't be scarred for life. Their nipping and screaming can be startling but it doesn't really hurt until they're over 40g and by then they usually calm down enough to stop thinking you're the devil

Here's a couple pictures of feeding time:

 

[Inter5tella]

As long as the room your gecko is in stays over 65 and there is a fairly enclosed hide over the under tank heater he should be fine. I lived in an apartment one year that was barely over 60 during the day and night and used a 40 watt bulb over my geckos' tanks. If your bulb makes it too hot you could suspend it higher over the tank or dim it to get the tank to a better temperature if you feel he needs it.

My babies get picked up whether they want to or not. I have to clean and feed them and they have to be moved for that to happen! Most of the time they're hungry and I'll sit them in the palm of my hand and show them the worms I've set out for them. Once they see food they tend to forget they're being held and start snarfing down worms. Again, as log as you're gentle the little guy won't be scarred for life. Their nipping and screaming can be startling but it doesn't really hurt until they're over 40g and by then they usually calm down enough to stop thinking you're the devil

Here's a couple pictures of feeding time:

aww.. my little guy is much smaller than them though
guess ill have to pick him up tomorrow, the uth wont stay on with the electric tape I attached it with, so I need to take him and everything out to flip over the tank. any suggestions on other tapes to use??

 

[DrCarrotTail]

I used gorilla tape (super strong duct tape) to attach my heat tape to my rack. Most of the commercially available UTH have a sticky side that works super well. They're not insanely expensive - usually $15-20 so I'd suggest getting one of them over sticking heat tape to the tank. Heat tape gets pretty hot and needs a thermostat to regulate it properly to make sure it won't burn your gecko.

 

[Inter5tella]

I used gorilla tape (super strong duct tape) to attach my heat tape to my rack. Most of the commercially available UTH have a sticky side that works super well. They're not insanely expensive - usually $15-20 so I'd suggest getting one of them over sticking heat tape to the tank. Heat tape gets pretty hot and needs a thermostat to regulate it properly to make sure it won't burn your gecko.

Well I am using a UTH
The thing is I saw posts on here saying I should put aluminum over the sticky side in case I ever need to move the pad, so I attached it to the tank with electrical tape on each side. I suppose ill try gorilla tape, I have some on hand from an anime cosplay project anyway

 

[Herbiebug]

Important thing to remember about taming is that it is all about the average encounter with you. One scary time when a freak out happens is not going to roll back all your training. Their memories aren't that long and they don't hold grudges because of the rare incidents when it wasn't a happy time (for whatever reason). As long as the majority of the time your gecko's close encounters with you are gentle and safe, taming progress will continue to be made.

 

[Inter5tella]

Important thing to remember about taming is that it is all about the average encounter with you. One scary time when a freak out happens is not going to roll back all your training. Their memories aren't that long and they don't hold grudges because. As long as the majority of the time your gecko's close encounters with you are gentle and safe, taming progress will continue to be made.

ah ok, that keeps me hopeful as he usually comes to look and see me when i talk to him in the morning, and he gets excited when i feed with tongs