Trying not to give up...

[Gecko977]

I bought Luigi over a week ago and there are practically no signs of progress as far as him being used to me. I've done what everybody told me to and he looks at my hand just waiting in the tank and then goes and hides. I have to chase him to get him out and when I take his hut out and can get him in my hand he tries to dart away. I know I have to be patient but I would think there would be at least some signs of progress. What do I do? The only thing he does it come out of his hut when I drop a cricket in the tank. That's literally IT!

 

[AmberJean86]

A week is a very short period of time. Don't push him into liking you, or he won't trust you and it will take even longer. I'm not a gecko expert, but I know animals in general. My one turtle took 6 months to open up to me. Patience!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Agreed. "Patience, grasshopper".

 

[triplegex]

Are you trying the "hold your hand in the tank and he will walk onto you" method?

 

[Gecko977]

Are you trying the "hold your hand in the tank and he will walk onto you" method?

Yes. I didn't want to stress him out. A few times I have scooped him up but he hated it so I stopped. I put my hand in the tank close to him tonight after I let my hand set in there a bit and his tail started to wag fast and I thought he was going to attack haha. I wasn't scared but he only does that while eating

 

[Franklinj480]

also gotta keep in my mind that reptiles aren't going to cuddle up with you like your dog would

 

[triplegex]

how big is your gecko? sounds like a little baby. I'm gonna be blunt and probably get chewed out but every time I have wanted to hold a squirmy leo of mine I scoop them up and make them tolerate it, yeah they squirm and scream and throw a fit but just let run around on your lap a bit and hold him in your hands and he will calm down. pretty much right now he knows if he squirms or scream or whatever you will leave him alone just show him your gonna hold him anyway.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Some people (myself included) watched some youtube videos and thought they could just go out and buy a leopard gecko, and have it rest on their hand or play on their bed right away. Unfortunately many of those that film those videos have had those geckos for quite awhile. And not all leopard geckos turn out to enjoy handling.

I went through the same disappointment stage once with my first geckos, thinking "oh darn, my leos are not letting me hold them, wth". But after some patience, a month and half later I had to clean their tank and voila, I picked them up and they were fine. Sure they didn't seem to want to get picked up initially, but once picked up, they licked, roamed, and laid on my hands. I was afraid they'd run and jump off but they never did.

So as others have said, patience! For now, just enjoy them as pets inside a tank. Every time you feed them, put your hand inside the tank and move very very slowly. Lay your hand down near them and let them walk over it or lick it. Eventually they'll associate you with food, as in you opening the tank top means food is coming. They'll get used to you soon enough, and when that happens, you should be able to start handling them no problem. I think people have also mentioned to you that younger geckos are skittish, there's not a lot you can do about that.

Anyways good luck!

 

[SDCowboy]

I don't mean this to come off the wrong way, but why do so many folks new to leos just insist on holding/handling their geckos to the point of complete frustration when the animal doesn't want to? They aren't really "touching" pets. If you really are that set on a pet that you can hold and handle, a cat or dog are much better choices. Gecko's are much more looking pets, like fish.

 

[Thorgecko707]

Every animal is different. Any living creature you think of, some like contact and some don't.

 

[kevinb]

It takes time. My females love to be held but my male freaks when you go near him!

Kevin Bullis

 

[Wowoklol]

Cup your hand over its head and create a bit of a "hide" with your hands. Can calm jumpy geckos. But you should really give the thing a month or so to settle in. There are good reasons it's advised to let the lizard get used to their surroundings. Its scared dude. Imagine you were plucked from your home and some alien kept reaching into your bin with weird looking arms and hands. You had no idea why he was reaching for you. Possibly to eat you. You'd be trying to run away too.

 

[sunshinegeckos]

I have had Bella for over a month and she still is getting used to me. I don't handle her often yet. Usually just to get her out to clean her tank. She still hisses and barks at me but once I have her she is pretty calm but it has been a process. Please do not chase your gecko because that just stresses them out more. He might never get used to being handled but with patience and practice he might.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

I don't mean this to come off the wrong way, but why do so many folks new to leos just insist on holding/handling their geckos to the point of complete frustration when the animal doesn't want to? They aren't really "touching" pets. If you really are that set on a pet that you can hold and handle, a cat or dog are much better choices. Gecko's are much more looking pets, like fish.

Part of the attraction people have to leopard geckos is the fact that they are more docile in nature, and can be handled in a limited way. I honestly don't think leos would be anywhere near as popular if they acted like anoles that can not be handled at all.

So it's perfectly understandable that people expect to be able to handle their leopard geckos. What the OP needs is simply some patience and to learn less is more, as bugging his leopard gecko less just might reward him with more handling time later on.

 

[jerrymb]

I guess I got very lucky. From day one my gecko loves to be held. He sits on my shoulder like a bird as I walk around the house.

 

[Gecko977]

Today when I fed my gecko and changed water,cleaned tank etc. he didn't seem scared of my hand. I was scared to do this but I just reached right in and grabbed him! He didn't squirm,he took a seat on my finger and didn't try to escape! I walked around with him and he just layed on my hand! I managed to get a few pics. So now that there are some pictures does anybody know what morph he is?

 

[triplegex]

That's great! glad he is calming down! he is a little normal

 

[Thorgecko707]

Highyeller.

 

[artes]

He's cute! I'm glad he's taking to handling now!