luring out an escaped gecko?

[Kohana]

Hi everyone!

A couple days ago, I made the big mistake of letting my father feed my gecko because I was coming home really late that day. Well, he left the top of the sliding screen about 3 inches open. I came home and noticed she was gone, she must've climbed up the plants that were hanging on the back side of the tank and got out. She also must have fallen about 3 feet..

I scavenged my room for 2 hours trying to find out every possible spot that she could be in, and I couldn't find her. As I was inspecting the pipes underneath my heater, I noticed a hole. I immediately knew she had climbed in the hole.

So long story short, I came in my room yesterday to check the hole and I saw her head sticking out. So I tried to lure her by tying a worm to a string and dangling it in front of her. She came out but as I tried to grab her, she scampered away.

Does anyone have any suggestions about how I can lure her out? She seems to stay in that hole alot and seems very frightened.

Thanks in advance!

PS: Yes, I did use the search function but couldn't find anything regarding an escaped gecko.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Lucky you at least know where she's hanging out! Think about an animal trap.. a trail of worms that would lead her a little further out in the open. A 6qt plastic shoebox ready to pen her in. If you don't think you can catch her in your hand from there, a thin piece of cardboard like a tablet back will slide discretely under it, then flip it over. Set the whole thing in her tank, take off the cardboard and she will hop out in her cozy home. There's other ways too, Im sure. Good luck

 

[Dog Shrink]

That's kinda what I was thinking also... a live trap. Make sure you keep your door shut just in case you have other pets you don't want to find her before you do or for her to get into the rest of the house.

 

[acpart]

Check out this article in Gecko Time by a fellow forum member. I tried the suggestions and they worked to "trap" a 3" long SW banded gecko that had been running around my living room for 3 months: http://www.geckotime.com/finding-an-escaped-gecko/

Aliza

 

[BiKA]

Me too had an escape leo last week.i searched the whole apartment upside down but in vain.There is only one spot that i can't flip over,my custome made tv console.I notice there is a hole underneath between the cabinet and the skirting.What i did was i put a small bowl of mealworms in front of the hole for over night.Next morning to my surprise,all those mealworms were gone.i keep doing the samething for 3 days in order for him to get used of feeding on that bowl.The 5th day,i took a paper box and cut a small entrance hole at the corner like a door entrance which only able to push inward but not outward.(easy to go in but difficult to come out))I push the paper door slightly inward with a bowl of mealworms inside the paper box and place it againts the hole.I will check the box every 15-20mins.After few attempt he finally falls into my trap.Back to papa again,save and sound.It works for me,hope it will works for you too.

 

[Kohana]

Thank you everyone for the quick responses! That is one thing I love about this site

I will try both methods, both on different days and I will keep you posted! Hopefully I can get her back safely, wish me luck!

 

[Dog Shrink]

LUCK... it'll work out. Just be patient. Remember she's just as freaked as you are right now.

 

[bebetee]

Hey Kohana!

How did everything go? Were you able to get your gecko out?

 

[Kohana]

Hey Kohana!

How did everything go? Were you able to get your gecko out?

Thank you for asking! YES we were able to find her using the box technique. Took about a week but we finally got her back home safely.

The only thing I'm worried about is that I put some worms in her cage and she has not eaten them. Do you think it'll take a few days till she goes back to eating again? You'd think that she'd be hungry after all those days she went without food..

She doesn't seem to be sluggish or anything, she's very allert and moving around.

 

[bebetee]

Kohana! That is wonderful that you got your leo back!! =)

But don't worry about her not eating right now ..she's is probably just VERY stressed out ..from everything. If she is still pooping and moving around and not acting sick I wouldn't worry about it to much right now, give it a few days

please keep me updated!!