Help with my new lil one

[SubNoiZe]

sunday, i purchased a new lil gecko from petco:

i put he/she in my tank and it ate shortly after being put in the tank. it just seems to hide ALL the time. if i come into the room and stand in front of the tank to have a look at him/her, it runs into the closest hide. is this normal behavior for the young ones? i have put off holding this gecko since it is so shy.

any tips/advice is appreciated.

 

[Scoots85]

I brought home a little leo a few days ago as well and at first he would run away and hide every time he would see me. After two days or so he's starting to turn from fearful to curious as he starts poking his head out more often to watch me. So it seems your gecko is going through the same thing. And from what I've read here and other places most "new" geckos go through the same thing.

Think of it from their point of view. Imagine yourself stuck in a room with a giant lizard. I'm sure you'd run for a dark corner or hiding spot every chance you could get.

I hear the best way to let them relax and warm up to you is to give them lots of time and space. Let them become accustomed to their surroundings. The more they stress the longer it will take for them to relax around you, so try not to handle them for a week or two.

Also, I always watch my little leo as he feeds on crickets so as to give myself that connection to a belly full of food. Whether or not that really works.. who knows. Either way it's a blast watching him go into prowl-mode and jump on crickets.

EDIT:
Also keep in mind they are nocturnal so during the day they normally won't come out at all.

 

[lepgeckosrock]

The best thing to do (IMO) is to give it atleast 2-3 weeks to get used to it's new tank. After that I would spend time standing in front of the tank and letting it see you putting in the feeders and after it eats just lay your hand in the tank palm up where it can see it and it will soon start to come check it out just don't make any sudden movements. Just remember it can take time I have one that took about 3 weeks to finally get used to me and 1 that took almost 2 months and now I can't go to there tanks without them wanting picked up so be patient.

 

[SubNoiZe]

thanks for the advice. i greatly appreciate all the help.

the lil one is starting to shed, but wont go in the any of the moist hides. i sure hope that it turns out okay...

 

[Euphoric]

My blazing blizzard and my dorsal stripe have never used their humid hide to shed, I just check for any stuck shed (There hasn't been any) and I don't worry about it. I wonder if they do it while I am sleeping.

He is really skinny so your first concern is fattening it up and its young enough that it will be skittish. Just give them time and patience. My dorsal I just got a week ago, and has barked, hissed and even the other day slightly bit me but she is getting a ton better and will even come out now and say hello.

Good luck

 

[SubNoiZe]

the new lil one has been eating up some waxworms the past two days. i keep a steady supply of mealies in the bowl and provide waxworms as treats. i think that it might have eaten a superworm that my bigger gecko didnt eat!

 

[lepgeckosrock]

Be careful with the waxies as they arn't nutritious and it can cause fatty liver which isn't good also the gecko could get to a point that the only thing it will eat is waxies.

 

[SubNoiZe]

Be careful with the waxies as they arn't nutritious and it can cause fatty liver which isn't good also the gecko could get to a point that the only thing it will eat is waxies.

thanks for the word of warning! when all the waxies are gone, i will not be purchasing anymore.

thanks again!

 

[Scoots85]

Do you folks mist the inside of the terrarium with warm water when they are near their shedding cycle to make it more humid (thus easier for them to shed)? I've heard some people do this and it seems to work.

 

[SubNoiZe]

i havent ever misted my tank since i have two moist hides. so far the shedding has gone well...

 

[Sessh&Draco]

My Leo never uses his moist hide but now that he's shedding he keeps encouraging me to rub his back and sides for him to loosen the shed.