Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought my first leopard gecko a couple of weeks ago. After giving him some time to settle in, I've begun handling him and am quickly falling in love

I've tried to find out what color phase he might be but I haven't seen any pictures that look like him. He's still a baby, so maybe he's going to change a lot. When I got him, he had a bright orange body with two black saddles along his back and his tail was alternating bands of black and white. Since then, the black has been turning into a pale purple color. I can't imagine it's an uncommon morph, since I got him at Petco. Could someone tell me what he might be?

Also, I have a corn snake which I enjoy taking out with me for the day every once in a while. Is this at all possible with my gecko? From the research I've done, I've gotten the impression that it's very important to leave them alone to sleep all day. I thought he could maybe curl up and sleep in my pocket, if nothing else, but maybe even that'd be too stressful. Is this something that any of you like to do, or is it completely unreasonable to expect of a gecko? I'm not sure if they even calm down enough to be able to carry around without having to constantly be ready for them to leap or skitter off of you.

Anyway, just curious what most of you do. Sorry for the long post!

Kimberly

My friend used to take his Leo and Beardie out, but they were old, OLD lizards. So that doesn't help, haha, sorry.

I wouldn't take them out together. Alot of snakes eat lizards. So I think you would be inviting trouble there.
My wife has had everything from hatchlings to adults sleep on her arm like she is holding a baby. They just need time to get comfortable with you. If they start stressing out put them away.
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Brian
www.thewindycitygecko.com

I recently read in the Leopard Gecko manual that Leos eat there shedded skin. Besides leos eating it for nutrients, It says "In the Wild, eating the skin probably reduces scent markers that attract potential predators such as snakes and predatory mamals."

So this is straight from the book, just to be safe, Snakes and Leos are not a great combination, sorry.
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Normal - Male - Ninja
High Yellow - Female - Ninjete

Sorry if I was unclear. I didn't mean I wanted to carry my gecko around WITH my snake. Just that it's something I sometimes do with my snake and wondered if I could do it with the gecko also (at different times).

Thanks for all of the replies, though!

Hahahaha! Sorry guys, I just had to laugh at that string of posts. Just goes to show how cautious everybody is here. Oh man!

Kelly
The Critter Shack

Just be careful, all it takes is one strike from a hungry snake.

I use to have a ball phython but then my house burn down and well you know what happend.
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Normal - Male - Ninja
High Yellow - Female - Ninjete

I always see snakes being held. If you wish to hold your leo, try doing it more torwards night... Only a little in the day. Leos in general dont like being handled, but the only reason they would is because your warmth. Snakes like being held for the same reason, thats why they get a tight grip around your arm, warmth for the whole body. My female leo lays on my arm.
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Normal - Male - Ninja
High Yellow - Female - Ninjete

DarkBlades loves to post more than me, how cute is this.

Hahaha! That's true, but you have to enjoy his enthusiasm!

Kelly
1.1.7 Leopard Geckos
1.2.2 Hedgehogs
1.0.0 Mediterranean Gecko
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.3 Green Anoles
Blogs:
tcsleopards1.blogspot.com
tcshedgehogs.blogspot.com

Nice to meet you Kimberly!

Im actually fairly new to Leopard Geckos too and have learned ALOT from this forum but I will answer what I know, im not a expert but I can give you reasonable answers.

About what Morph your leo is...

First and for most, most of the baby leos I have seen all look the same. With Bands on there bodys or some with no pattern at all. On the other there is some ways..., in the book, "The Leopard Gecko Manual", it says that High Yellow babys have patches of yellow on there leg(somewhere on, the pits maybe?). But as said, its hard to tell, there are 3 diffrent kinds of High Yellows at that.
There are a few ways to find out what morph your Leopard Gecko is, the best way to know for sure is to find out what his or her parents were. And in reality, its the only way. Petco, where you bought your Leo may have that information, or atleast what morph he is in general.
Also, you can guess. My Male leo, was given to me, hes, dark, green, and after a little research I found out that he was most likely to be a Normal common Gecko. I could be wrong but I highly doubt that, he looks exactly like a common.
My female was alot more clearer, shes a high yellow(vavairum breeded). High Yellows are the Most common morph out there. A very pretty, but common morph.

And about Handleing your Leo...

I heard somewhere on the net that Leos in general really don't like being heald BUT, they do like the warmth of your body but thats about it.

ON the other hand, all leos have there own personalaty. For example, my female is use to being held(the person I adopted her from, held her alot and probably why she doesnt have a problem with it). Ever see that picture of the Super Giant on http://www.leopardgecko.com, Ron laying on that guys Arm? My female leo does that.

And to leave you with a last note, if want to get your leo to be use to being held, do it at night when he or she is in the mood. Leos aviod light, they are nocturnal animals and like to sleep during the day. That doesnt mean once and awhile you can't take them out during the day but its just more recommended.

Good Luck
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Normal - Male - Ninja
High Yellow - Female - Ninjete