Sooooo scared...

[modestmouse]

I pick up my leo daily now, he is now about... 3 months & maybe 2 weeks... He seems so scared when I got to pick him up!!! Any tips as to how I could maybe appear a little less 'scary' to him. I realize they need time, I gave him that... LOTS of it... But I don't want him to be anti-social when he does get bigger... Maybe should I wait a little longer before holding him daily? Sometimes when I hold him he is really calm, but other times it seems he just wants to run.

Basically I am wondering if I should give him more time, I mean, if he gets to be about 5 months old & I have hardly handled him, will that make him less nice?

 

[puppiesandkitties]

It helps in my opinion to have him housed with a cagemate that doesn't mind being picked up. Just make sure it is his size to avoid getting beaten up or ate up. Geckos recognize when another leo is picked up in their face. I tamed a lot of mine like that. They would look up, watch me play with their clutchmate in their sight, and put him down. They then start to realize that since their friend came back alive, he may too. Also, it is good to have your hand in the cage. Sometimes extend your hand to him and he may walk in it.

Another good way is to have food in your palm, so the gecko has to walk all the way in your hand to get the food.

 

[jaredm3624]

I have a little hypo snow that screams and bites at me all the time. I keep putting my hand in her tub, and just letting her get my scent and stuff. She seems to get a little less angry every time I do it. One day I'm sure she will just walk up to my hand.

 

[gage]

just keep puting your hand in the tub untill she gets used to your hand and then just touch her abit and then pick her up

 

[modestmouse]

Well I am proud to say that we both made huge progress today! I picked Stogey up & let him wander on my hand for a little while, then I let him down onto the wood piece in his tank (he usually scurries away as soon as I do this) he kind of sat there & contemplated what to do next, so I put my hand beside him & he walked into it!!! I held him for a bit longer & then set him back down on the branch, again, I put my hand beside him & again, he willingly walked into my hand! (Mind you he has never just "walked" into my hand, as stated earlier, as soon as I put him on the wood, he scurries off & hides & when I wish to handle him, I end up just scooping him up.) This, I think, is a huge step into our gecko-girl friendship! Boy am I pleased with myself! =D =D

 

[dim&shell]

I completely agree with puppiesandkitties I have also noticed, that the 2 I have that I caged together at first only one would come out and the other would run a mile and hide but since starting to handle the one in front of her she has began to get a lot more interested - curious