Taming an angry Gecko!

[Pepper]

Alright, I posted about a Fat Tailed gecko I rescued a day or so ago, although no one replied in the thread..

Well, the people said he used to be tame, but hadn't been held in a really, really long time. He bit the lady when I went to go get him(but she was squeezing him) So now he's turned in to an angry barking, hissing, biting gecko! He hasn't bitten me yet, (haha was wearing thick gloves) He only hisses and barks/or snaps at you when you pick him up, when he's on your hand he is just fine and walks around and doesn't act aggressive in any way. I take off one glove and set him on my hand so he can get used to my smell and taste me. I feel bad for him though, since he has no toes he can't hold on!!

How can I tame him down, will it just take time and handling?
Thank you!

 

[Adinar]

I train my geckos the same way I train a dog.
No force. Kind, gentle hand, and a treat.
And with very good results.
Force on occasions, may stress them to drop a tail, among other things
blood clots, organ failure and even death.

So my way at Gecko Friendship 101****************
Make a fist, wet your knuckle , slide it slowly with your fist
on the floor level until it touches your geckos nose.....or it strikes
your knuckle. Either way the next time it relates your touch and smell to water.
(knuckle because gecko X has a harder time alligator clipping
than to your finger....getting you startled and causing
quick movement which either makes him feel dominant or
stresses one or both of you to unsureness and prolongs the process.
After water..you can go to meal worm inners, if necessary.
Usually the water has them climbing on your hand before many
attempts. After relating this way slowly see if it
will climb on your hand.
Slowly slide it til it wants a ride. The first couple times
don't lift it out of the habitat.
When comfortable with your gecko and you........
bring it out and directly to your body. your body temp. is
a nice range of highs it will enjoy. And really not want to leave
unless it gets startled from quick motion or grabbed at,
Lightly cup your hands to secure it until it rides surefooted
anywhere it wants to go..
Limit to short amount of time (3 to 5 min.)until it rides
with no restrictions to it....
(usually after a couple times of cupped hand carries)

The amount of time to get to this point is strictly based on
your devoted time for it.


HJ posted this a while back, and I myself have tried this method. It really does work! Hopefully this helps. Also, I'd say give him a little bit of time. Going from one home to another can be quite stressful, maybe once he's had more time to settle in, he should relax.

 

[Pepper]

yeah I'm not holding him yet, I had to do today, because he shed last night and had a few toes with stuck shed so I had to get it off. He hasn't eaten yet..I'm hoping he does so soon.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Barbel]

I have a mean male blizzard that I have been trying to get to simmer down as well, but he is cranky! When I try to pick him up he tail whips and twists around to try and bite me. My boyfriend can get him usually with no problems, I think he just hates me! I will have to try that method.

 

[cat_named_noodles]

Since your gecko has no toes, be very careful about letting it ride on your shoulder, etc., obviously. One of my leos is a petstore rescue with only 4 toenails on all her feet combined. She is a very calm gecko, but will try to explore occasionally, and has fallen off of things before, silly girl.

 

[STUTFL]

Funny, offering water was how I made friends with some of my nippier dwarf hamsters, as well. Also desert animals.
My gecko learned fast that my hand meant heat and a trip to the cricket cage. Of course, then he only wanted to climb up when he was hungry or cold. :tongue3: But we're working on it.


Curious though, does a gecko bite really hurt? Rodents make me nervous because the puncture wounds can last a very long time if you get an angry one that holds on. But geckos don't seem very ... toothy. :tongue3: I was never nervous about mine biting me - maybe I should be. :laugh4:

 

[OhMyGecko]

Bite him back? let him know who's boss.

 

[Pepper]

I would think it would hurt as the gecko did draw blood on the lady when she picked him up O_O

 

[STUTFL]

Wow. :laugh4:
I got bitten once, but not nearly that hard. Guess my guy's heart wasn't really in it. That or he's just a wimp.

 

[Holly12]

LOL I have been bitten by mean geckos alot but I have to be very thankful that my 2 girls are very tame and do not mind being held once in a while but my Pearl when I frist got her fom the pet store when she was 2 mounths old she would bite and hiss at me she was a ham lol but now she is all sugar.

 

[little98dime]

My male tried to bite me once with zero reaction from me aside from a laugh. Being a mechanic, I have very strong, fat, calloused fingers and hands. For him it was like biting a rock I assume.

 

[STUTFL]

STUTFL bit me just about as hard as he could today, because he saw me holding a mealworm and missed it. He just clamped down and kept shaking his head, trying to either get rid of me or saw my finger off. :tongue3:

Anyhow, I don't think he's got as much bite to him as yours, because it didn't even leave a mark. Maybe it's secretly a dinosaur they were trying to pass off as a gecko ...?

 

[little98dime]

Thin skin maybe?