So my geckos hate me?

[leo21]

I've had two juvi leopard geckos for about a month now, and they get along great with each other but they pretty much freak out everyone i get near. One gecko, Sindibad, won't come out of hiding ever, and if on the off chance he does he sprints off. The other stares at me but if i put my hand in the cage he also freaks out. They were impacted when I got them and still not used to be handled so i think this may have tramatized them because I had to put them in warm water which required catching, but they're all better now but think i'm super scary . Does any have any suggestions?

 

[Haligren]

I would try to slowly introduce yourself to them. Try putting your hand in their tank for a few minutes everyday. Try to move slowly and quietly. Also I believe that feeding them repeatedly makes them associate good things with you anyway. It may take a while but eventually they should get used to your presence. You can then try to move your hand towards them gradually and hopefully they'll start to crawl over your hand. At which point you can try lifting them, always over the tank of course, until they seem calm enough to be carried.

Like I said, it's a long process but you just have to be persistant.

Good luck!

 

[Adinar]

Unfortunetally they soaking them might have hindered their progress, but keep at it! They will come around eventually. Some of mine were a little spazzy when they were tiny little things, but as time went on and they got a little older they mellowed out.

Keep in mind though, you've only had them 4 weeks. The stress of a new home/enviroment, big scary new giants to deal with, health issues... that's alot for the little ones all at once. They don't realize all you do is in their best interest. Plus some take longer than a week or two to adjust to everything, so all is not lost.

Good luck.

 

[froggz]

Food. Associate your hands to food, and give it time. I usually start off by dropping mealies into the bowl from a short distance. Juvies are also very "energetic" compared to adults. As they grow they will calm down.

I also talk to my geckos, alot. New geckos usually get set up in my bedroom where I spend a good deal of free time. I actually don't have any of my geckos in my living room or dining room to reduce their stress. Most have either their own room to share or share mine.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Hand Training

MAKE GECKO FRIENDS....WORKS
Take care. HJ

http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=36375​

 

[STUTFL]

Food. Associate your hands to food, and give it time. I usually start off by dropping mealies into the bowl from a short distance. Juvies are also very "energetic" compared to adults. As they grow they will calm down.

I also talk to my geckos, alot. New geckos usually get set up in my bedroom where I spend a good deal of free time. I actually don't have any of my geckos in my living room or dining room to reduce their stress. Most have either their own room to share or share mine.

I try not to have my hand associated chiefly with food, because then my hand *becomes* food. :laugh4: "Warm Thing" or "Portal out of the Cage" seem like safer associations if you want to keep your fingers. :tongue3:

 

[leo21]

thanks

thanks for everyone's replies!