Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have had rey for about 3 weeks now and he still wont let me hold him. i try to pick him up or put my hand flat in the cage he snaps at me!!!!!!!!when he looks like hes about to bite i take my hand out cause he bit me once and it didnt hurt but i thought maybe it was just a wrning. im afraid its gonna hurt! im a wuss!!!! can anyone help me get him to love me??

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~~~~~~~HEATHER~~~~~~~

Awww, don't worry. Your gecko is still very young(from what I can tell in the picture) and they can so skittish at a young age. I know exactly how you feel because I have a baby albino and man... every time I put my hand near him either wants to eat it or hiss at me and screeches a little. I had read about this alot before so I decided that I'll just only attempt to handle him frequently, but until he's ready to fully be handled(which could even be hardly ever because sometimes leos just want to be left alone) , I'll just let him be his own "gecko". I hope this helps and make sure your gentle when you go to hold him(I'm sure you are). Take care and have fun!

-Britney

He is bigger- another couple months should make a big difference. He should naturally calm down. Some babies are more skittish/screechy than others. I think it's a defense instinct to help them survive in the wild. I've had babies that were the screechiest, most aggressive biting babies you can imagine turn out to be really freindly and good natured as adults. Babies that size really shouldn't be handled much anyway. Best thing to do is just wait it out. After a while he/she will notice that you aren't hurting it, just providing it with food, and it will calm down.
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Sarah Stettler aka Starling
Sarah@stargecko.com
StarGecko.Com COMING SOON! Star Quality Leopard Geckos
Specializing in Hypotangerine Tremper Albinos

Heather-

Listen to Sarah's advice. I know its tempting to hold him, but you shouldn't.

The only time you should handle your leo is when you have to take him out and put him elsewhere when you have to clean his enclosure. Thats the only time you should handle them.

Dont stress him out, just let him be. You want to keep baby geckos stress free as much as possible.

Shayna
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Shayna
www.LeoLoversLizardLounge.com

And even that is something I avoid by picking them up while they're in their humid hide and just sticking the whole hide into another container. It gaves them added security.
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chickabowwow

3.2.2 leopard geckos (Rosie, Locke, Lisa, Caesar, Tommy)
and 1 more egg a' cookin'

Interestingly enough, that's exactlly how I take Jak out of his tank to clean it. I use those ziploc tuperware conatiners for a humid hide and just take that out and put it in anohter container as well. I haven't been able to handle Jak much, but he's still young, though I did get to hold him for a good 10-15 minutes the other night, he seemed to be having a blast crawling around on my hands, was good to see.

looks like a drug-sniffing gecko! lol great!

When I was at Unique Animal Expo show few weeks ago, I went off to see some of the greates leos. They had a lot of them with all sizes. The juveniles that are less than 6 in. long were very protective, and always hissed whenever I tried to handle them. Your leo is very young, and he's doing this to protect himself, since they're quite vulnerable to predators. Once they grow up to 6 in. long, they'll get tame, and occasional handling will be tolerable for them.

Tim
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Extinction is forever. Endangered means we still have time.

Protect the global wildlife.

What a cute little guy you have! I have to say when they get all puffed up like that it makes me want to laugh. They look like they are all big and tough .. then you can watch the throat inflating about 1000 times a minute because they are so scared. The people who made Jurassic Park and the sequels should have watched leopard geckos more, to get it right!

The others are correct about waiting to handle him/her. Little ones are screetchy and completely paranoid. They are just sure your hand will grow teeth and eat them.

If you are ever bitten by the little one, do NOT let yourself drop him/her. It startles you, but does N-O-T hurt. Babies biting feel like a 3x5 index card being flicked on your hand. Seriously.

Have patience now, it will pay off so much!

>>i have had rey for about 3 weeks now and he still wont let me hold him. i try to pick him up or put my hand flat in the cage he snaps at me!!!!!!!!when he looks like hes about to bite i take my hand out cause he bit me once and it didnt hurt but i thought maybe it was just a wrning. im afraid its gonna hurt! im a wuss!!!! can anyone help me get him to love me??
>>
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>>~~~~~~~HEATHER~~~~~~~
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Andrea A.

i have 2 smaller geckos that hiss and try to bite but you have to remember to them your hand is bigger then them and poses a threat but in time like my adults will calm down and get use to you in time.

thank you guys so much. when i had my other leo niles he let me hold him a bit. not for too long tho i NEVER held him out of his tank but hed let me pick him up i guess i'll just have to wait heres a new pic hope u like it!

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~~~~~~~HEATHER~~~~~~~

np
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chickabowwow

3.2.2 leopard geckos (Rosie, Locke, Lisa, Caesar, Tommy)
and 1 more egg a' cookin'