Too often?

[leoman5654]

Ok so i have two leos and i like to handle them as much as possible but i know they dont like it too much so i only hold them once a day. Is this too much stress for my leos?

 

[KHGeckos]

If you notice it get's a little jumpy then cut down holding it a bit. start with just putting your hand in the enclosure and getting to know your hand. take baby steps if anything. it's all up to the gecko's reactions that lets you know if your holding it too much. some love being held, some make it almost impossible to hold. good luck.

 

[leoman5654]

yah i have one that hates to be held and i cant quite tell if my other one enjoys it or just tolerates it. how often do you hold your leopard geckos?

 

[lizardlove]

I'll hold mine, well, whenever I feel like holding her. Twice a day anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes is common for me. She's very, very calm and has no problem climing over my hand, up my arm, around my neck, etc. Of course if she ever shows a sign of being nervous I put her back, but she's usually very comfortable.

 

[leoman5654]

i have never let mine crawl anywhere but my arms because i read wherever they walk you have to wash. so what i am asking is do you just have to wash wherever your gecko walks on you? i would find it annoying to have to wash your neck whenever you hold your lizard.

 

[IonBaller07]

While theres a thread already, mine is comfortable when shes out of the cage walking on me or sitting in my hands but when I pick her up she gets mad and when I release her back into the cage she looks as if she wants to kill me, but in between she seems to enjoy herself.

 

[lizardlove]

I highly doubt you have to wash wherever she walks. That's like saying that wherever your dog touches you, or your cat rubs up against you, you have to wash. It's a bit silly, and although it may kill germs I think few people other than a germaphobe would go to that extreme. They say dogs are more likely to pass salmonella than geckos.

However when you're handling your gecko it's good to at least have clean hands, because we wouldn't want to pass bacteria we accumulate in our daily lives to the animal, whose immume system just isn't up to par with our own.

 

[Haligren]

I highly doubt you have to wash wherever she walks. That's like saying that wherever your dog touches you, or your cat rubs up against you, you have to wash. It's a bit silly, and although it may kill germs I think few people other than a germaphobe would go to that extreme. They say dogs are more likely to pass salmonella than geckos.

However when you're handling your gecko it's good to at least have clean hands, because we wouldn't want to pass bacteria we accumulate in our daily lives to the animal, whose immume system just isn't up to par with our own.

Geckos eat bugs that can eat dead meat given the opportunity. I'd imagine their immune systems are probably better than ours overall. There are very few illnesses that can be passed between lizard and human. Save for salmonella and possibly some other bacterial or fungal infections.

 

[Vyeguy]

I handle each of mine atleast once a day for 1-20mins depends if i get pulled away. I was supprised with the female i bought at an expo this weekend. She took to being handle right away but the two my better half picked up run the second I put my hand in there tank. Both of Lex and Logan love to be out of thier tanks now that my cats are gone i let them run around on the floor or on my couch and bed.