I have has my Leo for about 3 months now. And I'm not sure how I should approach handling/taming. I have had people telling me to forcefully pick him up and then have him get used to be held. Or to rub his back till he stops biting/ freaking. How should I approach this? I tried the back rubbing about 5 mins ago and ge bit me :/ so any tips are wanted. Thanks.
Taming and handling help.
- Thread starter ReptileRy
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fsbulldog24
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I wouldnt rub the back because my leo doesnt like his back being touched. I would wait until you have about twenty minutes to waste and just place your hand in the tank palm up. Let your leo come out of its hide and smell your hand. it might take a very long time for it to come out. even if it runs back in the hide, i would just keep doing this until you build some trust with your leo 
Im only 15 so I have ALOT of time. Haha. I have kept my hand in there for over 40 mins and he doesn't seem to notice it at all. Thats why I tried the back touching but he doesn't like that. So I'm wondering if just picking him up would have him get used to it?
fsbulldog24
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maybe try picking him up, if anything i would gently stroke the back of his head, try hand feeding it or using tweezers so its used to your hand being so close.
speedygecko
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I started by placing my hand in the tank at the bottom and letting the leo get to know u...then slowly start moving it closer and the leo will either walk on it or u can scoop he/she up in the front between the two front legs....hope this helps....it just takes time for them to relieve ur not goin to eat them lol
moonlitegram
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I came across a youtube video of a girl describing her process - it went something like this:
For the first week or so of the taming process you lay your hand palm up in the cage near your gecko. Try to keep it still and avoid sudden movements. Let him get used to having your hand near him. Also, always approach from the side and not from above
After you do that try putting some food on your palm and give your gecko time to notice it and eat off your hand. Do that for a week or two.
When he becomes accustomed to eating off your hand you can start to gently stroke him with one or two fingers. Continue to do this for a a number of days. After that, see if you can't coax your gecko onto the top of your palm. Lift him slightly, and let him walk from palm to palm but don't take him out of his cage. Do that for another week or so and then finally start taking him out of the cage.
Seems very involved and you'll need a lot of patience and restraint. But seeems like a pretty good method to build trust.
I think the bottom line is establishing trust. Handling your gecko does this - so the handle him as much as possible theory makes sense to me. But if its a traumatic experience for the little guy every time its not going to build the trust. So at the core - make sure he feels safe every time you handle him.
For the first week or so of the taming process you lay your hand palm up in the cage near your gecko. Try to keep it still and avoid sudden movements. Let him get used to having your hand near him. Also, always approach from the side and not from above
After you do that try putting some food on your palm and give your gecko time to notice it and eat off your hand. Do that for a week or two.
When he becomes accustomed to eating off your hand you can start to gently stroke him with one or two fingers. Continue to do this for a a number of days. After that, see if you can't coax your gecko onto the top of your palm. Lift him slightly, and let him walk from palm to palm but don't take him out of his cage. Do that for another week or so and then finally start taking him out of the cage.
Seems very involved and you'll need a lot of patience and restraint. But seeems like a pretty good method to build trust.
I think the bottom line is establishing trust. Handling your gecko does this - so the handle him as much as possible theory makes sense to me. But if its a traumatic experience for the little guy every time its not going to build the trust. So at the core - make sure he feels safe every time you handle him.
moonlitegram
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One thing I do with my gecko - which im not sure has any effect - is I open and close my eyes alot. This is a trick that works well with cats. 1. Cats show affection by doing this with each other. 2. Predators stare at their prey - so if you're averting eye contact or closing your eyes you're not presenting yourself as a predator.
I'm hoping #2 applies to geckos as well and he gets the point that im not trying to eat him
I'm hoping #2 applies to geckos as well and he gets the point that im not trying to eat him
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