Crewdog00
James Skar
- Messages
- 405
- Location
- Brookfield, CT 06804
I though I would post a guide for what to do with a new arrival. If you ordered a Leopard Gecko and had him shipped to your home or picked one up from a store, this guide is how I personally rescued one from a pet store, and got him unstressed and use to his new home.
First things first...I setup his new tank with 2 hides, substrate, water and food. I used mealworms on day one because the I was afraid the Crickets would add stress to the new home. I have sure my temps were within range, and that the background was on the tank as well. Once I was completely setup, I placed the box I transfered him in, into the tank. I opened one end and allowed him to walk out on his own.
Day One: Setup Tank, and left him alone completely. Moonlight Bulb on, and no interaction at all. In my basement with no traffic or noises.
Day Two: I fed him 10 fresh mealworms, and 5 crickets. Left him alone completely. No traffic, no interaction, no watching at all.
Day Three: By day three he was finally walking around his new setup all by himself. I then fed him 15 mealworms, and 5 crickets, which he hunted by himself. While feeding him I sat outside the tank for an entire hour, not moving and allowing him to see me. I left him for an hour and then came back and watched him for 2 hours. Allowing him to see by as the "food person".
Day Four: I still haven't handled him at all since Day one. I waited for him to see me, and he came out of his hide knowing I was outside the tank. I then placed 10 Crickets, and 10 Mealworms, which he ate like crazy. I then put my hands against the outside of the tank and he would walk over to the glass and he knew I wasn't a predator. Once he stopped running away from me and came out with me in the room. I then put my hand in the tank and allowed him to walk up to my hand, and smell me/lick me. I kept still and then took my hand out. I put my hand back in the tank for a total of 5 times, and each time he felt comfortable to walk up to my hand, and just touch and lick.
Day 5: I fed him again, and while he was out searching for food, I placed my hand in the tank, and this time, he walked onto my hand. I picked him up for about 2 minutes and allowed him to lick my fingers, and smell me. Then I placed him back in the tank, and dropped two fresh mealworms right in front of him like giving a "dog treat".
After a stressful life, and missing a tail... 5 days from the first time he met me, he seems to be adapting very well, and getting use to me. I think if you take your time, and do what I did the trust goes up a lot faster. Again if you look at my first 5 days of interaction, you will see I held off until he was comfortable with me just being the room, and then allowed him to accept my hand for transportation. If you Gecko doesn't walk up to your hand dont' go after him.
Just my personal experience. Hopefully this will help someone who has a new arrival.
First things first...I setup his new tank with 2 hides, substrate, water and food. I used mealworms on day one because the I was afraid the Crickets would add stress to the new home. I have sure my temps were within range, and that the background was on the tank as well. Once I was completely setup, I placed the box I transfered him in, into the tank. I opened one end and allowed him to walk out on his own.
Day One: Setup Tank, and left him alone completely. Moonlight Bulb on, and no interaction at all. In my basement with no traffic or noises.
Day Two: I fed him 10 fresh mealworms, and 5 crickets. Left him alone completely. No traffic, no interaction, no watching at all.
Day Three: By day three he was finally walking around his new setup all by himself. I then fed him 15 mealworms, and 5 crickets, which he hunted by himself. While feeding him I sat outside the tank for an entire hour, not moving and allowing him to see me. I left him for an hour and then came back and watched him for 2 hours. Allowing him to see by as the "food person".
Day Four: I still haven't handled him at all since Day one. I waited for him to see me, and he came out of his hide knowing I was outside the tank. I then placed 10 Crickets, and 10 Mealworms, which he ate like crazy. I then put my hands against the outside of the tank and he would walk over to the glass and he knew I wasn't a predator. Once he stopped running away from me and came out with me in the room. I then put my hand in the tank and allowed him to walk up to my hand, and smell me/lick me. I kept still and then took my hand out. I put my hand back in the tank for a total of 5 times, and each time he felt comfortable to walk up to my hand, and just touch and lick.
Day 5: I fed him again, and while he was out searching for food, I placed my hand in the tank, and this time, he walked onto my hand. I picked him up for about 2 minutes and allowed him to lick my fingers, and smell me. Then I placed him back in the tank, and dropped two fresh mealworms right in front of him like giving a "dog treat".
After a stressful life, and missing a tail... 5 days from the first time he met me, he seems to be adapting very well, and getting use to me. I think if you take your time, and do what I did the trust goes up a lot faster. Again if you look at my first 5 days of interaction, you will see I held off until he was comfortable with me just being the room, and then allowed him to accept my hand for transportation. If you Gecko doesn't walk up to your hand dont' go after him.
Just my personal experience. Hopefully this will help someone who has a new arrival.
Last edited:
He's lucky to have an owner who cares about him. How long have you had him?
