How to tame a leopard gecko

[Reptileperson]

I just got my leopard gecko last week. Ive been doing the hand placement evryday. Usully he ignores me and walks a different direction. Today I clesaned his cage so I set him aside. she was kinda squirmy. What should my next steps be, and am I doing things correctly? thanks.

 

[Glass_]

Just leave your hand where he can see it, outside of the hide when they're in it. Try not to move. If he moves in a different direction, then just move your hand in front again. Sometimes it helps to move your fingers a little, and slowly bring your hand closer, but make sure if he's okay with that or you might be bitten(doesn't happen often). If he goes into the hide, don't bother him. You have to show him that the hide is safe and that you won't bother them. If it works, then he'll slowly approach you, lick the ground around you and then you, and either crawl onto you or walk away.

You should make sure that she's acting normally, eating and everything, before you handle them.

 

[Jordan]

Well give them a few days to settle in before trying to handle and tame him.
Just regular handling should get him used to you, there's no certain routine to taming.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Training a Friend

I just got my leopard gecko last week. Ive been doing the hand placement evryday. Usully he ignores me and walks a different direction. Today I clesaned his cage so I set him aside. she was kinda squirmy. What should my next steps be, and am I doing things correctly? thanks.

It WORKS::main_thumbsup:
Take care. Hj
http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=36375
​

 

[Dog Shrink]

Do cold hands make a difference on whether or not your leo will freely walk up onto you?

 

[Jgreen909]

Do cold hands make a difference on whether or not your leo will freely walk up onto you?

Not sure if in the beginning it will matter but I know that once they are used to you it won't matter. With my Loe's now that they are used to me they climb right on my hand soon as it is in the enclosure warm or cold.

 

[Dog Shrink]

Not sure if in the beginning it will matter but I know that once they are used to you it won't matter. With my Loe's now that they are used to me they climb right on my hand soon as it is in the enclosure warm or cold.

About how long would you say it took before your leos were THAT comfortable with you?

 

[Jgreen909]

Honestly I'd say after 3 weeks of at least 15-30 mins of handling a day. One of them is still kinda shy but she is getting better. Don't get me wrong they don't come running to my hand looking to get handled lol but when I put my hand in front of them.

EDIT: I have noticed tho that different morphs act different to handling.

 

[Dog Shrink]

EDIT: I have noticed tho that different morphs act different to handling.

can you elaborate? have you noticed one particular morph preferring handling over another type?

 

[Jgreen909]

Ok, first let me say this is based on my personal experience and is in no way scientific or in any other way factual science. Having said that, I have noticed Hypo's being very skittish and more on the hyper side, most single strain animals seem to take to it fine I.E. Eclipse, Bells, Trempers etc. The more there is to the morph the more hyper then appear to act. Again this is based on personal experience with the animals I have or have had a fair amount of contact with.

 

[roger]

I just got my leopard gecko last week. Ive been doing the hand placement evryday. Usully he ignores me and walks a different direction. Today I clesaned his cage so I set him aside. she was kinda squirmy. What should my next steps be, and am I doing things correctly? thanks.

I'm a firm believe that u should leave it alone for the first week and then daily gently pick it up and stroke it briefly

 

[Imperial Geckos]

These are reptiles, some will calm down to be handled some wont. Its just the way it is, they are not puppies and do not need your "affection" to thrive. THey need food, water, shelter, and heat.

The gecko first needs to understand you are not a predator.

Best thing to do is just pick it up. Take it out of the cage and hold it (not too far from the ground, some will jump)...

Also remember Leopard Geckos are nocturnal, and when/if you wake it up by picking up the hide, it will be scared. Most Leopard Geckos calm down as they get older, some will not and its just they way it is. At least all he is skittish and not "aggressive," which is the word commonly used to describe a gecko that is being defensive.

 

[Dog Shrink]

would you say leos are more of a fight or flight critter? When threated rather flee or become aggressive (beyond just posturing)?

 

[Imperial Geckos]

Leopard Geckos are a flight animal. That is why they have detachable tails, if a predator comes to try to eat them, they can leave their tails behind and escape only giving the predator a small snack or distraction. But when cornered, the gecko will use its last defense, that is to hiss and puff up and strike to hopefully scare off the predator.

However, in captivity this changes a bit because of the conditions given. Space. A gecko only has a limited space to "run away" from you in a tub or tank. Most of us know that as hatchlings and juvies, these geckos will try to "run away" this natural behavior is described as "skittish." When cornered, that most geckos are in captivity, geckos are quick to stand up on their 4 legs, hiss, wave their tails, and strike...this is their last defense to defend themselves from predators or in the case of a captive animals, US! Again this natural behavior is again interpreted as an "aggressive" behavior when in reality they are just being defensive.

The point I'm trying to get across is that these geckos have already scripted in their DNA how to survive! They know how to eat form only being a few days old, they know how to drink water, they run from predators, drop their tails if needed, and bite. THey do all of this to survive!

The truth is most leopard geckos as hatchling are skittish and will bite. Its normal. As they grow they many will understand you will not hurt them and will tolerate being handled. Some on the other hand will just be what they were born to be, WILD!!

I have a couple of "wild" geckos in my collection and they are fun to work with as well as i have some that you can flip them around carry them and all, and they are just as fun too! I just find it wonderful to see geckos how they were meant to be (behavior wise) and i think people should understand....Leopard Geckos are GENERALLY docile, however each one has their own individual behaviors. And i think it is important to understand the geckos natural behavior, you will have an overall healthier gecko, and it can ease the "taming" process.

 

[Reptileperson]

Well the good news is she walked on my hand a few times, sniffed it, and accepted a mealworm from my tongs. So there is some progress, thanks for the tips!

 

[Jordan]

Lol tongs? the mealworms are okay to pick up with your hands you know, they wont bite lol

 

[AlbinoNme]

no way.. Mealworms are aggresive! As soon as you pick i up by the tail, it wips its head around to your finger! it freaks me out! if i hand feed anything its the slow-lazy treat of a waxworm, every now and then..

however.. i am a big chicken so.. (Shrug) lol

 

[Jordan]

haha lol, true they do. I wonder if it is them being aggressive, if so, theyre weak mwuhahahaha lol.

 

[Desdemona]

Next topic: Training Mealworms....

 

[Dog Shrink]

Next topic: Training Mealworms....

I'd like to see that :main_yes: