Handling a gecko help needed!

[ketz]

Hey everyone,

Well I've had my leopard gecko for about 5 years, and I've yet to really hold her. I can hold any type of snake perfectly fine, but there's something about geckos small legs that make me think they're fragile. I'm scared to death of her dropping her tail or even just running off. Whenever I've let her climb on my hand and then I try to move her, she just takes off running.

I don't want to take her out of her cage and try to handle her on the couch or something because I'm scared she might just take off and hide or hurt herself. I see people at the reptile shows that just pick up the geckos like nothing, or the geckos that just like to chill on someones arm or lap and I wish I could do that. I'm not timid about her hurting me, more that I'll do something wrong and hurt her or she'll get scared and run off.

Any tips for me? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MrLeoGecko]

there far from fragile if there well suplemented. i realli wouldnt worry leo's dont want to drop there tail unless they feel very thretend my bedroom's pretty empty so i let a few of mine roam round for 10 minuites obviosly supervised they carnt run very fast anyway so there not going to escape i accidenly grabed one of mine by the tail and nothing happend apart from the grunting lol and also ive seen some breeders pick there animals up by the tails for checking sex and what not but yeah dont stress after all people have animals to show them love and attention its pointless just leaving them be all the time.

 

[Friedbread]

Try handling her in closed in space where if she takes off, she can't get anywhere dangerous or get lost. Maybe you could make a pen from cardboard boxes and duct tape.
I usually scoop mine up gently from underneath and slowly so they know what's going on. They don't like to be grabbed from above. Once I have them in my hands I hold them with my hands still in their tank so that if they run they won't fall far and I can judge what kind of mood they're in. Leos can be fast but they generally won't be at top speeds unless they're scared. I wouldn't worry about her getting too far as long as you are in a safe area where she can't get lost under furniture or leave the area. Having confidence is the most important part. If you're nervous, you're more likely to spook her as well.

 

[snowgyre]

Leopard geckos are bundles of muscle. You already know how to handle snakes, so you can take those same principles when handling your geckos. I wouldn' worry about it. ;-) Geckos are tougher than you think!

 

[Taquiq]

Yes I have been to Reptile Stores where they just completley grab them out of the tank. But they hatch 400+ geckos a year.

 

[MrLeoGecko]

to me it doesnt matter if they hatched millons a year it still isnt right

 

[got spots?]

Mine actually dove about 3 feet off the ground before I broke the fall half way through but she jumped again. As long as you give them right supplements they r ok

 

[STUTFL]

Mine takes flying leaps all the time, and he used to live in a house with three young boys. Yikes! They used to "stick" him to the wall, thinking he was one of the sticky geckos. :tongue3: Leos are sturdy, that's why they're such popular pets.

When I keep my hands cupped around him, though, he's very calm.

 

[aslchick1]

I had the same problem (worried about mine being fragile and me hurting her). The first couple times I was afraid to put any pressure around her to even grab her. I would hold her in her tank literally and when she would squirm I would drop her (maybe an inch or so only) because I was afraid of squishing her. They will let you know if you are hurting them or doing something they don't like though.

I would start off by touching yours and getting it used to being around people though before you try to take it out of the tank (as you said you've had it 5 years). I've heard it's best to start holding them as a juvenile if you're going to so they grow up with it. My gecko's about 2 years old now (had her for 1) and she almost never tries to sprint off. They are little escape artists, but usually move slowly (unless they get startled).

The most important thing is that yours trusts you. I know when my hyperactive sister scared my gecko, Saphira, she darted straight for me under my crossed legs where she felt safe (instead of under a cabinet or something).

If you have a friend that's comfortable handling them that helped me a lot. I watched how he handled her and how they interacted, was amazed how much didn't hurt her, and got comfortable doing the same.