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handling

lister8 Aug 31, 2007 09:46 AM

anyone got any tips on handling my 3 month old leos for the 1st time?

any help appriciated

Replies (3)

Alanna Aug 31, 2007 01:09 PM

When i started out i was given some great advice (Well it worked for me anyway) and that was to place your hand a couple of inches in front of the Leo and let the Leo approach you. He/She will more than likely lick your hand at first but will eventually climb on board.Only handle them for a few minutes the first couple of times as this will be new to them also but i would encourage you to handle them only a couple of times a week. On the flip side some dont like to be handled at all and you must bear this in mind also. Watch there behaviour when handled and this should tell you if they like it or not.

geckogrl6 Aug 31, 2007 06:38 PM

That is the way to start. Best to just stick your hand, and let them climb on you at first. Do not try to pick them up. When the ground starts moving, your leo will quickly jump off your hand and may be slower to climb on next time. Do this as in the last post, a few times a week. The next week, start to move your hand, just little, and very slowly, while your leo in on it. After a week of that, you can start to gradually pick it up off the ground. Be careful though, as young leos IME are prone to leaping, and a fall from too high will hurt them. Try to keep your hand in front of them so they can't jump off the edge. Eventually they will learn to feel secure, even when the ground is moving. Just remember to move real slow, and they'll be fine.
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1.0 Hypo stripe, Het RW from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino from Petsmart (Cloud)
0.1 Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko from Petco (Beatrice)
0.1 Stripe female (rehabilitated rescue)(Pepper)
0.1 Jungle het RW hatched by me! (Jungle Bunny)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko from Petco (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko from Petco (Rainbow)
0.1 RW Stripe hatched by me! (unnamed yet)
0.1 Leucistic rescue (unnamed yet)
2.1 Ball Pythons
RIP Peaches, Ghost, Bill
Adopted out: Goldie, Leucy, "Q"
Hatched: ~50

lister8 Sep 01, 2007 09:18 AM

thank you both SOOOOOOOOOO much! i have wanted a reptile ever since i was like 5 and started handling my grandads ones when i went down their (hes a reptile vet). its great to finally have them and even better to have nice people like u guys around to help people out when there bummed.

thanks again

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