taming your new geckos?

[natalie]

Hi, I just got 2 leopard geckos on Friday. I would like to "tame" them just so I could be able to hold them (for now just want to make sure I will be able to get them in/out of the tank for cleanings and whatnot.. and then I'll take it from there.) One of the geckos is pretty friendly and I'm not too worried about, but the other one seems sort of mean? I'm not sure, I haven't had them long.

I put some gloves on (I am scared of getting bit... lol!) at first and put my hand in the tank. They both kind of sniffed around and licked the glove. The one that I think is very friendly did walk into my hand and let me hold it for a few seconds before walking out. The other one just stared at me like it wanted to kill me! LOL. I need to be able to hold them soon so I can see what sex they are and know if I need to separate them (I know 2 males will fight). I took the gloves off when the not-so-nice one went into it's hide and let the friendly one sniff at my hand. It let me pet a few times and then got skittish and ran away. I don't want to just pick them up because they are so tiny and I don't want to hurt them or scare them. I am trying to get them used to me and comfortable first, but soon I want to change their substrate asap because they are getting stuck on the repti carpet too much!

Sorry this is long but I am looking for someone to give me some tips or helpful tricks to get them to like me and be comfortable enough to let me pick them up easily. I have seen too many videos on youtube where people are picking up their geckos and chasing them around the tank before they finally get them in their hands and I just do not want that kind of relationship with them!

Please help me if you can.

 

[janjgeckos]

If you just got them friday you need to give them some time to settle in and adjust to their new home leave them alone for a few days then start by putting your hand in their cage for a few min at a time to let them get use to you.

 

[natalie]

thank you. yes i am careful not to annoy them. as soon as they walked away from me i did not bother them any more, but they were both out and staring at me. i have been putting my finger up against the glass and the kind of follow it around so i thought maybe it would be ok to try.

i very much want to change their substrate asap though because they are getting stuck on the repti carpet so much. when i feed them they get their teeth stuck and even just walking around they get their claws stuck and i feel so bad for them. Could i possibly just take everything out of their thank, and gently pull up the carpet and then put new substrate in with them still in the tank or would that stress them too much?

 

[janjgeckos]

just take them out and replace it if they keep getting stuck your better off changing it.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Training a Friend

thank you. yes i am careful not to annoy them. as soon as they walked away from me i did not bother them any more, but they were both out and staring at me. i have been putting my finger up against the glass and the kind of follow it around so i thought maybe it would be ok to try.

i very much want to change their substrate asap though because they are getting stuck on the repti carpet so much. when i feed them they get their teeth stuck and even just walking around they get their claws stuck and i feel so bad for them. Could i possibly just take everything out of their thank, and gently pull up the carpet and then put new substrate in with them still in the tank or would that stress them too much?

Hi Natalie.
Read my thread.
This Works well.
Young geckos do not have strong jaw power...
But if you are still afraid of a bite.....
Do the same as the thread, but put on a
cloth gardener pruning glove....
Take care. HJ

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

 

[natalie]

Hi Natalie.
Read my thread.
This Works well.
Young geckos do not have strong jaw power...
But if you are still afraid of a bite.....
Do the same as the thread, but put on a
cloth gardener pruning glove....
Take care. HJ

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

hi!! I did read your thread after I posted my question. I am definitely going to try that soon. Do you think I should wait longer before I try it?? I mainly just desperately want to change their substrate and I also want to know their genders asap. Another thread said you have youtube videos on how to do this? Can you provide a link for that please?? Thank you!!

 

[janjgeckos]

HJ has a video here in the video section here is a link
http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=55921

 

[mascutt]

It sounds to me like you are doing the right thing. But I would let them sniff/lick your hand rather than the glove, so they get your scent. Once they realize you are not going to hurt them, they will be fine.

I don't know if anyone else has ever been bit, but I have been (only when taking food from my hand - Leos have bad aim). It did not hurt. She got hold of my finger, and not realizing at first that it wasn't the mealworm, tried to get even a better hold of it. It just felt like someone with fingernails giving me a pinch.

That's not to say an aggressive bite couldn't hurt.... I don't know. I just know when I did get bit, it didn't hurt.

(Offer the aggressive one the back of your hand to sniff/lick. Then if it does try to bite, there is nothing for it to get hold of). I read this as a technique for taming Tokay Geckos (which are fiercely aggressive and can actually draw blood when they bite.... so if it works for Tokays it should work for Leos who don't really have much in the way of teeth)

Good luck

 

[GeckoGathering]

Training a Friend

hi!! I did read your thread after I posted my question. I am definitely going to try that soon. Do you think I should wait longer before I try it?? I mainly just desperately want to change their substrate and I also want to know their genders asap. Another thread said you have youtube videos on how to do this? Can you provide a link for that please?? Thank you!!

Waiting only prolongs the process.:main_yes:
After they taste water a couple times....
you are on your way to friend ship.:main_thumbsup:
They remember that and your scent.
So best..gloves off....unless adults.
Adults have strong jaw power.
Just keep regular appointments so they
remember through out the time you have them.
Knuckle when they are older too...
Sometimes we startle them from a sleep.
Always come to them from the front.
I have about 50 you tube videos at....
click Subscribe to get new ones as I make them
Good luck. Take care. HJ
http://www.youtube.com/user/GECKOGATHERING?feature=mhw5

Here is the Training one.
http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=55921

 

[natalie]

It sounds to me like you are doing the right thing. But I would let them sniff/lick your hand rather than the glove, so they get your scent. Once they realize you are not going to hurt them, they will be fine.

I don't know if anyone else has ever been bit, but I have been (only when taking food from my hand - Leos have bad aim). It did not hurt. She got hold of my finger, and not realizing at first that it wasn't the mealworm, tried to get even a better hold of it. It just felt like someone with fingernails giving me a pinch.

That's not to say an aggressive bite couldn't hurt.... I don't know. I just know when I did get bit, it didn't hurt.

(Offer the aggressive one the back of your hand to sniff/lick. Then if it does try to bite, there is nothing for it to get hold of). I read this as a technique for taming Tokay Geckos (which are fiercely aggressive and can actually draw blood when they bite.... so if it works for Tokays it should work for Leos who don't really have much in the way of teeth)

Good luck

See I have just heard such different things about the bite that I am scared!! lol. I've heard like you say that it doesn't hurt at all, and then I've heard that it hurts horribly and draws blood. I mean-- I'm sure once I finally do get bit and know what it feels like I wont even care if they bite me again.. I do have a pretty high threshold for pain, but it's just that first one... LOL. I don't know what it will feel like so I'm scared. I am just worried about the one that seems aggressive. But I will take the gloves off! I am more skittish that way though, lol.

I will try HJs water technique -- and hopefully the aggressive one will get nicer!!

 

[natalie]

Waiting only prolongs the process.:main_yes:
After they taste water a couple times....
you are on your way to friend ship.:main_thumbsup:
They remember that and your scent.
So best..gloves off....unless adults.
Adults have strong jaw power.
Just keep regular appointments so they
remember through out the time you have them.
Knuckle when they are older too...
Sometimes we startle them from a sleep.
Always come to them from the front.
I have about 50 you tube videos at....
click Subscribe to get new ones as I make them
Good luck. Take care. HJ
http://www.youtube.com/user/GECKOGATHERING?feature=mhw5

Here is the Training one.
http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=55921

Okay, I will try it every night from now on then for about 5 minutes each. Thanks, I am subscribed to you on youtube =)

 

[mascutt]

See I have just heard such different things about the bite that I am scared!! lol. I've heard like you say that it doesn't hurt at all, and then I've heard that it hurts horribly and draws blood. I mean-- I'm sure once I finally do get bit and know what it feels like I wont even care if they bite me again.. I do have a pretty high threshold for pain, but it's just that first one... LOL. I don't know what it will feel like so I'm scared. I am just worried about the one that seems aggressive. But I will take the gloves off! I am more skittish that way though, lol.

I will try HJs water technique -- and hopefully the aggressive one will get nicer!!

Try the back of the hand thing. Like make a fist so the skin is stretched, then just let the gecko investigate the back of your hand. It should not be able to get hold of any skin then if it does bite

 

[mascutt]

I also agree with the other post about coming at them from the front. I know mine are completely tame and used to me, but I still don't approach them from behind. I make sure they can always see my hand coming first. I tap to wake them if they are asleep. I'm not scared of mine or anything... it just seems like good manners LOL. You know - "Hey, I'm about to pick you up, so don't be startled." hhehehe