i dont think shadow likes me..
- Thread starter ReptileRy
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jerrymb
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I rescued a gecko about 4 weeks ago that was badly abused for several months. Right from the start he was freindly and let me hold him. Which I though was odd considering how badly he was treated before I got him.
jerrymb
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I'm no expert but maybe move slower when you're near the tank or reaching into the tank. I never just reach directly into the tank. First I open the screen top on the tank and let my gecko see me doing that. Then I walk away for a few minutes and come back and slowly reach into the tank. Mine seems to react much better to slow movements on my part as opposed to reaching into the tank fast.
jerrymb
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Maybe he's stressed out by something? Too much light?
jerrymb
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My tank is in a dark corner of the room. During the day it's fairly dark near the tank and at night I have no light above the tank at all. Just the heat pad under the tank for heat.
acharpenter
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Perhaps step 1 is getting over your own fear of being bitten. Then you may be less apt to jump or have sudden movements.
Moving sudden and jerkily as you have described more often than not looks like the same movements their prey does.
If you can teach yourself to not jerk away and be skittish - I would think your Gecko would become more accustomed to your presence.
Maybe just once or twice or more per day, just place your hand in the tank near your Gecko - hold still and let him check you out for 5-10 minutes.
He will more than likely bite you a couple times at first while you are doing this but sooner or later, he will become accustomed to your hand and not consider you food or a threat that he needs to attack.
Moving sudden and jerkily as you have described more often than not looks like the same movements their prey does.
If you can teach yourself to not jerk away and be skittish - I would think your Gecko would become more accustomed to your presence.
Maybe just once or twice or more per day, just place your hand in the tank near your Gecko - hold still and let him check you out for 5-10 minutes.
He will more than likely bite you a couple times at first while you are doing this but sooner or later, he will become accustomed to your hand and not consider you food or a threat that he needs to attack.
Wowoklol
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Offer it food by hand. Make so it associates your hand with a good thing(FOOD!) rather than just some big strange thing picking it up. How long have you had it? Let it get settled in a bit. Leave it alone for a while maybe. Do the food thing. Dont even try to pick it up, just offer it food by hand. The thing is scared of you. You have to try harder to make friends. How do you make friends with a gecko? Alot like humans! FOOD!
PaladinGirl
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Wow your little guy is really fiesty and spirited! I feel your pain, I can tell you really care about him. It is hard when you do everything you can for something, even if it's just a little lizard, and it still rejects you. Wait till you have kids if you don't already; I suspect not because I have a feeling you're a young man hehe (or woman, because I know women named Ryan) 
Anyways, I'm telling you, it will get better! Just put your hand in there a couple times a day, but be patient. He will get used to your presence and get tame, I just about guarantee it! Like I said, Toon was pretty much the same way. Now she begs to be held!
Anyways, I'm telling you, it will get better! Just put your hand in there a couple times a day, but be patient. He will get used to your presence and get tame, I just about guarantee it! Like I said, Toon was pretty much the same way. Now she begs to be held!
Wowoklol
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Yeah give him some time.. Take it slow. Let it settle in a bit more before I'd even start any sort of handling or what I recommended earlier.. Just let it get used to seeing you walk around and change water/food bowl.
Rolltide30
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It took me about a week of placing my hand in the tank with Crush before he would climb onto my fingers. I have had him about 3 1/2 weeks now and I still have to scoop him up at times, but once he is in my hand he crawls up and down my arm.
ProGeckoServices
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thanks so much everyone for the help, and angie, btw im 15 haha. but yeah im taking it slower now, i have had my light off for the day and hes not jumpy anymore
Hes jumpy because their nocturnal and do not like light. The one hide you have in the cage is inadequate for addressing his needs, He needs two at the very least, and one of them must shield out most of the light.
I don't think the daytime light is a problem unless it is super bright and your gecko has no where to shade from it. To earn trust from your gecko, the key is to let your gecko know what you are doing or about to do; and you need to do it VERY slowly in front of him.
I still think the gecko will calm down as it gets older just be patient, and maybe try slowing down your movements as some other people suggested. Hand feeding might be a good idea, but it might be a pain unless you have like a half hour every day to do it with your gecko. Some geckos that have been hand fed will not eat food on its own for the rest of its life
just be patient, and maybe try slowing down your movements as some other people suggested. Hand feeding might be a good idea, but it might be a pain unless you have like a half hour every day to do it with your gecko. Some geckos that have been hand fed will not eat food on its own for the rest of its lifeVisit our friends
