Minimum amount of time.

[Gecko977]

What is the minimum amount of time a healthy new gecko should be left alone. I just got Luigi yesterday and when he comes or I see him in his hut I just want to hold him and practice handling. What is the time I should wait before handling?

 

[SDCowboy]

They don't need to be handled but you can start handling them right away if you really want. I'd give him a week or two first though.

 

[Gecko977]

Okay but tonight could I take him out a small bit and let him crawl around my bed and my arms and legs? He isn't stressed now or anything. He's all sprawled out over the heat pad

 

[SDCowboy]

Okay but tonight could I take him out a small bit and let him crawl around my bed and my arms and legs? He isn't stressed now or anything. He's all sprawled out over the heat pad

If you want. It's not going to hurt him. Just make sure you keep an eye on him.

 

[lovelovelove135]

Personally, I would let him get settled in first for at least a week before handling him. Also, I would keep him in the cage for now when handling. He's still really small right? They can be pretty fast. But if you must handle him, try to let him come to you. Let him get used to you first. You just got him yesterday and he's still settling in. Just put your hand in the tank and if he doesn't come, then don't force him.

 

[Gecko977]

Okay I'll see what he does when he wakes up tonight. He's about 3 1/2 inches estimate.

 

[sunshinegeckos]

they are fast little buggers when they are tiny lol I would give him atleast a few days. He might not look stressed now because he is being left alone but they can get stressed easily when handling. Maybe start with putting your hand in the cage and she how he reacts

 

[lovelovelove135]

Oh wow he's tiny xD Just be patient. I'm not a very patient person, but I managed to be patient with Sonny and it's really rewarding to see her attempting to climb the walls to get to me when she sees me come into the room haha Actually...at first I used to just scoop her up. She's was fine with it for a while, but then out of nowhere, she'd go into these wagging tail fits if my hand was ever in the tank, so I went through the slow method (just laying your hand there everyday until they come to you) and now she wants to climb on me all the time ^_^ It only took her about a week to come and get used to me. Like I'll try to hand feed her, but instead of going after the worm in my fingers, she climbs up my hand xD and I'm like "No! Eat the worm!" haha So patience is key

 

[Gecko977]

Got it Patience....I have none but these are long lived pets so I want to start out right.

 

[lovelovelove135]

Got it Patience....I have none but these are long lived pets so I want to start out right.

Good Don't start out like I did xD I was like come to my hand already! and I'd just scoop her up...she didn't really mind it for a while, but eventually she didn't like it much (like I said before). Did the process the correct way and now she loves to sit on my hand to warm up :3

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Remember young leos are mostly very skittish, so don't be discouraged or upset if you don't get to pick them up right away. They get more docile as they get older. I have a couple of young ones, probably 2 months old, and they have gotten used to my hand being in their tank. But they still don't want to be picked up yet, I can tell as they'll walk onto my hand but when I left the hand a bit they run off.

But then my 9 month old leo is perfectly fine with me picking her up. She doesn't run when I go pick her up at all, and once on my hand she just does her thing, roaming around slowly licking every so often, but never skittish.

So yeah, patience. A leopard gecko that'll live a long life is one that's healthy, well fed, and stress free.

 

[gothra]

Personally, I would let him get settled in first for at least a week before handling him. Also, I would keep him in the cage for now when handling. He's still really small right? They can be pretty fast. But if you must handle him, try to let him come to you. Let him get used to you first. You just got him yesterday and he's still settling in. Just put your hand in the tank and if he doesn't come, then don't force him.

This is exactly what I would do. :main_yes:

 

[Gecko977]

I think I'll just be satisfied with watching his behavior for now because it sounds like letting him get adjusted is extremely extremely important so I'll follow directions. I have to move something in the tank tonight so I might see if he'll crawl on my hand.

 

[Gecko977]

Well I had to move a hut in the tank and when I did he came scrambling out unsurprisingly. I sat there with my had in the tank for like 20 minutes when he finally started to lick my fingers!He crawled under my hand(i didn't have it flat) and let me touch his back with the palm of my hand! Then I moved my hand he jumped for a second then made his way back to a hut and on the way brushed his leg against my finger and didn't show fear!

 

[lovelovelove135]

Well, that's a start! Just let him lick your fingers, it lets them get to know you better haha My leo licks my hand all the time. I put my hand in, she licks it as a confirmation that it's me, and climbs on ^_^ It's good you didn't force him or anything. Just take it slow. I know you're eager to hold him, but that time will come soon You're lucky you've got a nice little guy. Some people have some pretty nasty geckos; they'll hiss, bite, run away as fast as those 4 legs will carry them, etc. So, good luck!

 

[Gecko977]

Had to clean poop off of his hut this morning(believe it or not his bathroom spot is on top of his house!) and he just crawled out.I did it quick because it's day time but I approached him with my hand and he ran of course. But the I accidentally got him cornered and just as I was about to move my hand he licked a finger and crawled right up in my hand! Then he got off and went back in his hut. Also I gave him a cricket this morning(I fed him yesterday morning with 3 crickets but I want to feed him at night so I gave him 1 cricket this morning to tide him over til' tonight)and I got to see his tail almost vibrate and then he pounced!It's hilarious to watch.

 

[Gecko977]

I just peeked in and he was awake. I took his hut out and managed to get him on my hand!I sat down on my bed and he crawled up my arms my shirt and then got off and snuggled up next to a pillow!He didn't show distress but he was glad to get back in the tank and in his hide

 

[geckoluver4evr]

Aww, that is so sweet! My geckos favorite place to rest are my knees. If my legs are bent, she'll scurry right to the top like she is thqueen of the world. The she'll turn around and slowly crawl back to my hand. I love geckos. Can't wait to hear more stories about Luigi.

 

[Gecko977]

Aww, that is so sweet! My geckos favorite place to rest are my knees. If my legs are bent, she'll scurry right to the top like she is thqueen of the world. The she'll turn around and slowly crawl back to my hand. I love geckos. Can't wait to hear more stories about Luigi.

Well I hope your ready for this one. I took him out last night and he was darting all over my bed. I tried holding him the way you do with feisty geckos(I think ElapsidSVT posted it in your thread about your gecko you were having trouble handling) and when I did that Luigi squirmed then turned around and bit me haha. He latched onto my finger with his little jaws.It didn't hurt but it suprised me. Luigi was feisty yesterday.

 

[geckoluver4evr]

Awww, he nommed you?! Wow! Pepper at least never bit me! He was probably just in a bad mood. At least it didn't hurt you. He'll come around .