Handling Young Gecko

[Fred Tucker]

My albino gecko Apollo has been eating very well and seems to enjoy his new habitat. He's about four inches long. I have had him for a little over two weeks and he is still considerably jumpy when my hand is in the terrarium. I am being patient and not handling him yet. I realize some geckos never like being handled but I was just curious how long it took some of your geckos to warm up to you?

*Fred*

 

[Kylerbassman]

My female, about a month and a half, but she was an adult when I got her and I'm pretty sure she was handled before me. She really does love being held now and will even come to me to be held and stare at me if I don't hold her. My male on the other hand still doesn't like being held. He is getting better over time with me, but It's been 4-6 months and he still gets stressed out. Some just are more docile then others

 

[DrCarrotTail]

IMO they get calmer as they get bigger. I'm paranoid and almost never handle my geckos much until they're a good 40g or bigger. The little ones always tend to be so jumpy they worry me that they'll take a nose dive and hurt themselves. If I do have to handle them - I weigh and give them a good once over each week - I take their bins out of the rack and sit down on the floor next to them so I can keep them close to the ground.

 

[Fred Tucker]

Thanks for the reassuring input, both of you! I actually just hand my hand in the terrarium and he decided to walk on it so I ended up holding him for a bit just above the bottom of the terrarium. I will remain patient and let him decide when he wants to be held.

 

[NikkiC223]

I have a 5 yr old Leo that I rescued. He wasn't handled too much but I am slowly starting to handle him and he is getting used to me more and more. Just be patient with him and he will warm up to you

 

[LIZARDLOVER]

I personally don't like waiting til they're bigger, cause they're still unaccustomed to handling... which means they could be prone to biting... which is more severe at that size. I start handling slowly and short periods of time as juvies, just make sure you're close to the ground (on your knees or sitting cross legged) so that they don't have far to fall if they decide to take a leap of faith.