how to prevent tail drop!!

[eric]

ok all you veterans how do you prevent tails from dropping on hatchlings? i read a post about a gecko that dropped its tail when trying to cup/pick up the gecko from the deli cup any tips for us?

 

[godzillizard]

sometimes I'll cut a paper towel roll or toilet paper roll (just the cardboard part!) in half lengthwise, so it makes a half-pipe shape, then use 2 of those to create a ramp for the hatchling to walk safely down and into its new enclosure...voila, you don't have to touch the fragile hatchlings

 

[gcsreptiles]

Most leopard geckos, young and old, don't easily or readily drop their tails. If they are stressed and waiving their tail around try to leave it alone and come back to it later. If that's not an possible, just make sure you avoid grabbing the tail, be gentle and don't be afraid/ nervous/ spooked yourself. Try coaxing the gecko up on your hand instead of trying to grab it.

 

[eric]

Good stuff guys!! Thanks

 

[spykerherps]

I don't know , I was stomped a few days ago when I went to check on a gecko that some one was interested in and opened the tub to find he had dropped his tail. I have had it happen with hatchlings that were housed together a little to long but this guy was by himself. in a closed reptile room. so don't know what scared him....

 

[rubym]

I used a measuring spoon to scoop my little guy up and place him in his new home. He screamed at me when the spoon first came near him but he stepped up on it. He seems to be a screamer though, lOl. He also jumps at you with that little mouth wide open.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I just pick them up and put them in their new enclosure. I've never (knock on wood!) had one drop it's tail.

 

[Ccrashca069]

I just cup them in my hand head first.

 

[shadowx362]

what i do with "scary cats" is put the container they were in and place that in the new cage and just let them walk out by themselves. I have never experienced a gecko loose its tail I have just boughten geckos with out them. I guess my geckos are pretty stress free because when I use to keep em in the closet one hatchling jumped off my hands and it fell on the grown and ran into a hole that was on the lower part of the closet wall. I used a vacuum to suck it out and I found him in the basket were all the waste goes and he was not harmed or anything else. He lived happily ever after........

 

[ssscales]

The other day I went to grab our first Leo hatchling (first time handling a hatchling lizard). I was gentle and did not even grab her, but basically scooped her up and cupped her in my hand. In her squirming around she dropped her tail!...

After that incident, I just tilt the tub they hatch in, inside the tub they are going in and don't even touch them!...lol They just crawl out on their own, no muss, no fuss!...

 

[HepCatMoe]

lol @ vacuum story!!