How do I "tame" my leos

[IonBaller07]

Does anyone have any tips on how to tame my leopard geckos so I can handle them. I got them about a week and they are terribly scared of me. I can sometimes pick up the fat female becuase shes to lazy to run away. But the little male is a quick little guy as soon as I open the cage he runs to the nearest hide,if I remove the hide he takes off to the next one. Even if I finally capture him hed rather break his own back then let me hold him so I have to put him back. Any tips to calm them down.

 

[Daidra]

When you have a leopard gecko that is that scared,than you have to catch him and hold him anways and he will start to calm down,I have to do this with my hatchlings when I am starting to hold them,I try to hold them 3 times a day for 10 min. and they become very tame in about 2 weeks.

 

[IonBaller07]

Alright sounds good, I do that with the fat one but the little guy is just so hard to get to.

 

[Dani51707]

i suggest not forcing him to let you hold him that will just give you problems he wont get use to you and wont think of you as friendly. the best way i think personally is when its feeding time and not put your hand in slowly for a lil bit let him get use to not going right for him. when its feeding time put a meal worm on your hand and put it in until u get his attention and slowly but surely he will start to lick u to get use to you then work on hold him and when you hold him put your other hand on top of him kinda like cupping him. she he feels safe like being in a hide. they like small areas and dark. hell get use to you soon enough i had an adult male i bought 6 months ago from a breeder and he is crazy over me know. before i use to put my body with in 5 ft and he would take off and hide. now i come in the room and he comes out of his hiding climbing the sides then i put my hand in the tank on other side...and he comes over and climbs right up me and i started with just my hand in every once in a while

 

[GeckoGathering]

Making friends

Does anyone have any tips on how to tame my leopard geckos so I can handle them. I got them about a week and they are terribly scared of me. I can sometimes pick up the fat female becuase shes to lazy to run away. But the little male is a quick little guy as soon as I open the cage he runs to the nearest hide,if I remove the hide he takes off to the next one. Even if I finally capture him hed rather break his own back then let me hold him so I have to put him back. Any tips to calm them down.

Here's a post a while back on it.

May The Force Not Be In You

Quote:
Originally Posted by ponylover86 View Post
I agree, you should never FORCE a gecko to do anything. It just reinforces that being held is not a good thing.

Quote:
I disagree with Shawn here, It's not wise to "force" a gecko to do anything, for the simple fact the only way you could "force" it to stay is holding it tightly.

Wow Shawn, You have another
disagreeing vote about using force.
I train my geckos the same way I train a dog.
No force. Kind, gentle hand, and a treat.
Force can stress them to drop a tail too.

So:****************
Make a fist, wet your knuckle , slide it slowly with your fist
on the floor level until it touches your geckos nose.....or it strikes
your knuckle. Either way the next time it relates your touch and smell to water.
After water..can go to meal worm inners, if necessary.
Usually the water has them climbing on your hand before many
attempts. After relating this way turn the palm side up.
Slowly slide it til it wants a ride. The first couple times
don't lift it out of the habitat. When comfortable with your gecko
and you..........bring it out and directly to your body.
Lightly cup your hands to secure it until it rides surefooted
anywhere it wants to go......
No lip area. See Bonnie's lip bite photo.
The amount of time to get to this point is strictly based on
your devoted time.
Take care... HJ

 

[IonBaller07]

Alright that water Idea sounds cool, I just tried to hold a meal worm in the palm of my hand and sit it on the other side of my cage and te malejust stared at it. Then the worm started to crawl away so I pulledmy hand out to reposition it. At this point I drop my mealworm. I lean down to pick it up and when I comeback up my leo had already ran and hidden.

 

[Dani51707]

but thats a start...your letting him look at your not coming right at him. it will help him know your not a threat. what would you think if something 1000 times your size came towards you...you would hide.. if he sees the meal worms around you hell think your trying to help him catch food .things like that know what i mean

 

[GeckoGathering]

Knuckle Important

Alright that water Idea sounds cool, I just tried to hold a meal worm in the palm of my hand and sit it on the other side of my cage and te malejust stared at it. Then the worm started to crawl away so I pulledmy hand out to reposition it. At this point I drop my mealworm. I lean down to pick it up and when I comeback up my leo had already ran and hidden.

Checking in on you.
The Knuckle part of the info is important.
It does not alow the gecko to think he got the best of you because he can't grab on to the knuckle as he will a finger.
Sissor that worm, rub guts on your knuckle, slide it like water training.
He'll lick his chops and love you for it... Take care. HJ