Handling geckos

[gecko4245]

Do you believe your gecko enjoys being handled? Either way can you explain why? (optional)

 

[reps4life]

I believe most learn to tolerate handling, but not enjoy it.

 

[BrightReptiles]

It depends on the gecko. I have some that hate it, but others who will sit staring at you waiting to be taken out. I have one male who is unhappy anywhere unless it is perched on my shoulder..

 

[LZRDGRL]

I believe most learn to tolerate handling, but not enjoy it.

I agree. They're reptiles, not mammals, and don't want to make friends with us or obey and please us. They'll get used to it, but I don't think they long for it.

As it says in St. Exypery's "Le Petit Prince," when you tame an animal, you become responsible for it. It will lose its natural instincts of flight and bite, and if it sits on your shoulder, it's more vulnerable. It probably won't walk away from your dog or cat at some point, either, which can be bad. We interfere with its natural behavior, which makes us the more a care-taker of our animal.

Chrissy

 

[Desdemona]

I personally agree with badhabits, it depends on personality, however it is probably a minority who really want to be held. Some anti-social hamsters will show some signs of scalability with humans if breed in captivity long enough. In even rarer cases wild caught animals will show some human socialability, though usually in limited amounts. I doubt they will love it as much as a dog but a few might like limited amounts even if its just for some interesting stimulation.. not so much "love" in our sense of the word.


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[gecko4245]

Thanks everyone for your input, I personally believe it can cause unnecessary stress, but I respect everyone's opinion.

 

[gecko4245]

It depends on the gecko. I have some that hate it, but others who will sit staring at you waiting to be taken out. I have one male who is unhappy anywhere unless it is perched on my shoulder..

If you don't mind me asking, what makes you think they enjoy it? I am not being smart ok Their face shows very little expression so we really don't know how they feel. My geckos always sat staring at me too but for food,lol I think they know we feed so we are a positive reinforcement.

 

[Chet1028]

My gecko comes out of her hide as soon as I walk into the room and sit down in front of her tank. I put my hand in and wait to see if she wants to come out. Some days she turns and walks away, but most days she will climb onto my hand and right up my arm.
I have no way of knowing whether she enjoys being held, but she chooses to allow me to hold her. Some times I wonder if she looks at it as a way out of the tank and some day she is going to sprint out of my hand and make a break for it. LOL.

 

[Dimidiata]

I think they assocsiate it with being taken out of their taken and given more space to roam or a change of scenery, thus they may tolerate it for a chance to get some "fresh air".

 

[contracteryin]

Ahriman doesn't seem to mind, and will just sit there on me for however long, and maybe wonder around a bit. They don't seem to really care. However, I still only generally hold them to clean the cage and what not.
Neara, she doesn't seem to like it at all (she'll run when I try to get her out of the cage for cleaning and stuff) so I usually leave them alone too.
Liking it or, not, it probably does promote some stress, so I like to leave them alone for the most part.

 

[stager]

I haven't had leos for long but the ones I have don't seem tpo enjoy it. But I did own a reptile that loved to be handled. One of my first snakes was a Burmesse python, when I got him I took him everywhere and spent hours a day with him. When he was older he had his own room and when I came home from work he would come to me like a dog and climb on me. Sometimes I'd be in a rush to go and he wouldn't let go of me. Never had another reptile that enjoyed handling but he definitely did.

 

[thinlizzy]

The Beauty of Reptiles

Hi, stager

I can relate about handling snakes. To condense my post I'll say my favourite was a boa constrictor. Reason why I say this is because I got one when I was nine years old. It was only four feet long, H2T.

It went everywhere with me. I put it on the handlebars of my bicycle (don't confuse with the idiotic song) and we went everywhere. We happened upon a stylists' shop one fine day and the proprietor exclaimed, "Get that nasty thing out of here!!!" In a very high, effeminate voice.

Well, I had my boa until I was thirty-seven. He never harmed a soul though he died from an infection that a rhoad-island-hen had that I fed him. I felt responsible somewhat . . . but all I did was try to understand what he was about. There, IMO, is nothing smarter than a reptile.

Conclusion, there are many times that people will look down, in the wrong way about you because you harbor something they know nothing about.

Best response is just smile, even if they're wrong.

Nothing beats a smile!

 

[Kelkiie]

Cleo loves to be taken out to socialize and run around on my bed, gives her some different scenery, I like to watch her get all curious about everything.
Unless she's acting restless I wont keep her out but I know her body language so it's easier to know if she's okay with it or not. But I really do think it's all depends on the gecko's personality. Some are just more social than others.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I really don't think ANY reptile enjoys being handled... some tolerate it better than others.

 

[M_surinamensis]

Ahriman doesn't seem to mind

Quite a misnomer then. Also, beyond any shadow of a doubt, the single most ominous name I have ever seen anyone give their pet.* No matter which source material inspired it. That is genuinely something special.

*including a bunch of tree frogs named after Lovecraft's elder gods.

 

[thinlizzy]

I really don't think ANY reptile enjoys being handled... some tolerate it better than others.

I think that possibly, in the case of reptiles being negative towards handling boils down to two things

1. were your hands washed before handling?
2. did/or make the reptile nervous via improper handling?

Thanks for considering my above thoughts,
Golden Gate Geckos

 

[thinlizzy]

Handle with Care

Anything LOVES to be handled..retpiles aren't excluded.

The main question would be:

"Does anyone like being mishandled?

Just a point to ponder.

sorry for posting in a row like that. I just wanted to point out that I had a reptile twenty-eight years, (boa constrictor) and I can honestly say she loved the attention of my handling her.

Reptiles are as shy or aggresive, normally as the handler. Excluding capturing one in its own environment. Many variables, then, will certainly be introduced.\

It's crazy and possibly a parodox...I've found that the one you can capture are far greater than ones that were hatched in a cage.

I could be wrong, though. What says you?

 

[M_surinamensis]

Anything LOVES to be handled..retpiles aren't excluded.

I've got some d'alberts I'd love to introduce you to, in a secure setting, with a webcam running. You can give a talk about how everything loves being handled, I can hand you the white lip, you can take it from there. We'll be a youtube sensation.

 

[Dimidiata]

I can get you some 12ft gators and a pygmy rattler. Maybe a mountain lion and a black bear to boost. Oh i know, a wolf fish. Those of course will be the fallow up episodes on youtube.

 

[gecko4245]

Anything LOVES to be handled..retpiles aren't excluded.

The main question would be:

"Does anyone like being mishandled?

Just a point to ponder.

sorry for posting in a row like that. I just wanted to point out that I had a reptile twenty-eight years, (boa constrictor) and I can honestly say she loved the attention of my handling her.

Reptiles are as shy or aggresive, normally as the handler. Excluding capturing one in its own environment. Many variables, then, will certainly be introduced.\

It's crazy and possibly a parodox...I've found that the one you can capture are far greater than ones that were hatched in a cage.

I could be wrong, though. Hat says you?

I guess we will never know but, have you ever thought it might be due to your body heat? Leave a cage open, sit a few feet away, I doubt the reptile will come sit in your hand. When you pull a reptile out of it's cage it has only 2 choices. Try to flee in fear or stay numb in fear and pray not to be eaten. It could also be they associate your scent with food. Just going by what I see.