Okay, my new leopard gecko is about 6 months old, and I got him last Thursday. I want him to get to the point where he will sit on my shoulder, and take food out of my hand. How should I train him to let me pick him up and do what I stated above?
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Training geckos
OublietteSavant
Feb 04, 2006 05:04 PM
Replies (5)
ginebig
Feb 04, 2006 05:57 PM
Practise, practise, practise. The more often you hold him, the sooner he'll adjust to it. Once he'll sit calmly in your hands then try it on the shoulder. Not sure it would be safe to wander around with him up there, but the more trust he gains in you the easier it will be. As for hand feeding, some do and some don't. Just keep trying. Good luck.
Quig
OublietteSavant
Feb 04, 2006 05:59 PM
Thanks. I got him to stay in my hands for like 3 seconds today. Progress!
ginebig
Feb 04, 2006 07:00 PM
Oh, did I mention You'll need patience 
? They settle down eventually.
Quig
BlueLeo
Feb 06, 2006 08:46 PM
Whenever my geckos crawl up onto my shoulders they always decide to proceed and climb down my back. Then i try to get them and can't reach. It's sort of a pain.
palehorse67
Feb 04, 2006 09:16 PM
The method that I used with our Leo is the same as the one I used in training my horse. Always put them back in their cage when they are calm. If they freak out and you immediately put them back in, they will learn two things: 1) This person makes me freak out and 2) If I freak out, I get put back in my cage. So, a good thing to do initially is take them out for only a few moments and if they remain calm, put them back in the cage gently. Then extend the time until they stay calm. If they do freak out, try to have them calm and relaxed before you put them back in that way they they can associate being handled as a pleasant experience and not a stressful one.
As far as hand feeding, we do all our feeding with long tweezers. Echo took right to it because it was easier for her to see the cricket, worm, etc. Maybe you can start this way and graduate to hand feeding.
Good luck!
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1.0 Leopard Gecko (Echo)
1.1 Cats (Sunny Bunny & Cosmo the 3-Legged Wonder Kitty)
2.0 Dogs (Gunnar & Ridge)
2.1 Horses (Lakota, Reggie & Tash)
Freshwater Aquarium w/ nice peaceful community of 9 Neons, 5 Head & Tail Lights, 5 Whiteclouds, 1 Albino Cory Cat, 1 Spotted Cory Cat, Golden Snail, Ghost Shrimp & Pleco.
