Scaredycat Leo's/Squeaking/etc.

[Arconna]

Alright, so I have these new leo's and the former owner was telling me that the male was "INSANE". He apparently squeaks and is not prone to handling at all. He's just at the end of the sub-adult phase, almost adult, so I was wondering if he'll grow out of this or if there is something that I can do to help him get better with handling. When I got my beautiful Jungle male from Golden Gate Geckos, he was just at the edge of the sub-adult phase as well and I remember him being a little finicky when it came to being held, but now that he's an adult he's actually really very easy to handle. Doesn't run or freak or anything.
So anyone have experience with this or is it something I'm just going to have to deal with because he's not going to change?

 

[Grinning Geckos]

The more you work with him, the better he'll get. That being said...some geckos are just more prone to being a freak than others. You can get him a lot more calm than he is right now with some work, but he may never be tame.

 

[GeckoMandi]

My female is like that, I got her around 4 months old and she doesn't like to be held or messed with period. Sometimes she will sniff my fingers, but that's as far as she wants to go.

 

[GeckoAZ]

Hang in there...I have a female that is a bit jumpy and didn't like to be held. It took a while of putting my hand in the cage and letting her get used to it and know it wasn't threatening. Now.....she climbs on my hand, up my shirt and sits on my shoulder. She likes to be out....she is quite nosey. I have another that I am working with, he is going to be more work, but will be worth it. Good luck!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Patience is the key. Offer your hand several times a day for awhile, flat on the bottom of the enclosure with your palm up. Eventually, she will get used to it, and then you can begin to scoop her up. Just let her sit on your hand for awhile. Patience, patience, patience...

 

[Arconna]

Well just to update, he is getting better. He'll sit on my hand now, but if I so much as touch him or anything he bolts. So he will sit there and for the most part doesn't bolt if my hand is in the cage. That's a start

 

[leopardgecko95]

iF HE EVER BECOMES MEAN AGAIN YOU CAN GET A GARDEN GLOVE AND HANDLE HIM

 

[brandy101010]

iF HE EVER BECOMES MEAN AGAIN YOU CAN GET A GARDEN GLOVE AND HANDLE HIM

I would not recomend that. That would probably just scare the crap out of him lol. Its not like they can do much dammage if you got bit. Nothing a little neospoorin and a band aid wouldn't help.

 

[gothra]

When you put your hand in its tank, always move very slowly and in front of him, so that he can see what you're doing. If you put your hand down quickly, then he might think you're predator and trying to get him.

When he gets used to you, you'll have a hard time get him off your hand, lol. I have some geckos that tend to walk backward to stay on my hand when I try to put them back in their tank!

 

[Arconna]

This guy has not bit me yet, nor made an effort to. Mostly all his does is run away or if I try to grab him gently so I can move him he squeak's. I've had some success though. I've been able to coax him onto my hand when moving him to a clean tub and not had him bolt. He's getting better but it will take a lot of work. I had no hand in raising him so it's mostly just being gentle and not intentionally causing him any harm or annoyance.

But, no biting from any of my leo's actually...well except when I would feed by hand and they would 'miss'...though I think the one time Noodles missed it was on purpose...

 

[GeckoMandi]

That's good you are making progress, I got the new blizzard and had him a week today and he doesn't like being held at all, but I'm slowly trying to bring him around to it. He did try to snip at me a couple times the first couple days but now he licks me so at least I'm moving up on some level.