Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I HAVE A MONTH OLD GECKO, WELL FROM WHEN I BOUGHT HIM. HE LOOKS ABOUT 5-6 INCHES. HE NEVER WANTS TO BE PICKED UP, I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS NORMAL. I HEAR YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY WITH HIM AND POSSIBLY PUT HIM ON YOUR SHOULDER AND STUFF. I TRY PETTING HIM AND HE RUNS OFF, I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HIM FOR HIM TO HATE ME SO MUCH. LOL

PLEASE HELP ME OUT MY GECKO IS VERY UN-SOCIALABLE, WILL HE GROW OUT OF THIS OR WHAT?

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS AND POSSIBLY HELP ME OUT WITH MY LEO. GECKO'S

BOUKIS1@EXCITE.COM

It's normal. After all, he's about what, not quite as long as your hand? (unless you have tiny hands?)

Think of it this way - How would you feel if a Giant came along, who's hand, from the bottom of his palm to the tip of his middle finger, was longer than you are tall? And here he comes, wanting to pick you up and pet you!! lol I don't know about you, but my pants would be turning a certain Brown color!!!

And don't forget that he's a reptile - not a mammal. Reptiles aren't all too big on social manners. And yours sounds like it's probably a juvenile.. As they get older, they calm down. Usually.

~~Dusty Windom
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So Many Alleles, So Little Time...!
@
~~The Gecko Barn~~

My male was the same way for the longest time after I got him. He let him handle him and play with him at the pet store but as soon as I got him home it was a whole different story, the only time he wanted to be held was right after he shed and that was only if I held him inside his tank. I'm sure yours will calm down with time and patients. My male is a little over a year now and its taken him almost this long to get used to the idea of being held. Now I pull him out of his tank when he wants to come out and believe me he'll let me know when he wants out to sit with me. When yours does calm down watch out for the nails on bare skin, its not very comfortable seeing as mine likes to crawl up and down inside my shirt sleeve. Mine also had a bad habit of biting me when he didn't want to go back in his tank but he doesn't do that anymore. Just let your leo adjust to you and look for signs that it wants to be held. Both of mine usually try to crawl up the sides of the tank to let me know that they want my attention. So like I said just give it time and pay attention to it outside the tank for now, also trying giving it a few pieces of food by hand to help earn its trust. One more thing, I know this will sound crazy to most people but it does help, try mimicing your gecko when it sticks out its tongue out to lick its lips. I mimic my bearded dragons and geckos both and they seem to trust me a lot more for it seeing as no one else can handle any of them.

Leopard geckos are prey animals. That is, one of their main purposes in life in the wild is to provide food. Of course, they are'nt that keen on it.

Whenever your hand comes in from above, it casts a shadow on the ground, and your gecko's mind screms "PREDITOR!" and, of course, he would run, since leos have a stronger flight than fight instinct. If they have no place to run to, (ie. you have them cornered or have taken away their hides) they will hiss and probably try to bite you. They're trying to look dangerous, so that way your "killer hand" wont mess with them.

How do you prevent unneeded fear and stress, yet still handle them? easy. First, try to incorperate your hand with a good thing (food) whenever you feed him, make sure your hand goes in the cage. I dont know how good a leo's sence of smell is, but I also like to rub my finger around the rim of a mealworm bowl (if you feed them mealworms, if not the water bowl) so that way, he is around your scent while he eats. Next, after he has settled into his new home for a bit longer, turn the lights out and make it night. He should come out. before he heads out of his shelter, however, make sure your hand is in the cage. keep it perfectly motionless. For a few weeks do this. dont expect him to go bounding up to your hand like a dog, but after a while, he will learn your hand is not a threat. eventually, he will get curious, or will totally forget about it, and step up onto your hand. For the first few times, even though it is exciteing, keep your hand still. Just let him crawl over it. After a while, slowly life it a few inches off the ground.he will probably jump off, but dont worry. The next night, go a little tiny bit higher. dont go any higher than his body length untill he will stay in one place on your hand. Eventually, you will be able to lift him right out of his cage. Just remember to be slow and predictable, and not make any sudden movements. even putting your hand into the cage at normal speed will send most off running.

Remember, always lift from under the belly- dont have your hand come from overtop like a hawk. Make sure his feet always have somewhere to touch, they tend to panic when they feel air under them.

Good luck, and happy herping.

As was said earlier, you need to remember that they aren't mammals and won't really appreciate petting. Petting from a gecko's point of view is more like a predator poking him - and no one likes to be poked. You should try to approach him from below instead. Only hold him for a couple seconds at first, you can increase the amount you hold him little by little and eventually work up to several mins. When he's comfortable with being picked up you can "play" with him by having him walk from hand to hand, or let him crawl up to your shoulder on his own. You might want to be over something soft the first couple times, just incase he takes a leap.