Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do you handle your gecko? How many grams would you say a baby juvenile gecko should be before handling would cause to much stress? Do you all handle your adults? How and when does the squirming and run away reflez vanish. My geckos I have three currently and another on the way, I handle one; my albino Dorothy, but the others are either too jumpy, or aggressive to handle. I even have one that tail whips me. Dorothy seems like she wants to come out but then she gets freaked out when I hold on to her around her body, she likes to climb but if I touch her or try to hold her it becomes a wrestling match. ANY idea's and I also want to know if the people who have all these leopards like the big collectors and well known breeders, do you handle your animals and if you had the time, would you? Okay I am all done some one please answer these questions,..

I am still wanting to hear your replys, everytime I post on this forum no one answers my posts. But here is a picture of the one who tail whips me!

I'm fairly new to the gecko world and I've noticed and this goes for other repitles like my moms moniters. They don't like to be restrained or held tightly or around the belly. I've noticed with my boyfriends geckos that the one thats friendly gets very sqwirmy when I hold it around the belly. But if i just let her lay on me she is perfectly fine. But the other gecko we have doesn't like to be held or touched at all. He even tail whips. I don't know a lot but thats what i've noticed. So hopefully I can be of some help since no one replied to your messages!! Let me know what you think.

That is a gorgeous Leo

All Leos are different, some tolerate being handled much better and quicker than others. I am up to 11 Leos now, various ages, from a month old to 2 1/2 yrs old.

My hatchlings I don't really attempt to handle much at all until they are about 4 weeks old. For the 1st month I simply let them get use to my hand & stuff. I only get them out to weigh them & clean their setup. It seems like out of the "pairs" that hatched one of them is much more receptive to be handled than the other. It just takes time

I bought 3 new Leos about 2 months ago and of those 3, the 2 females (7 mon. old & a 4 mon. old) settled in and would allow me to handle them within a couple of weeks. Now the male I got (4 mon. old) is still scared to death of me. Talk about a big sissy !! He actually bit at my son about 2 days ago, my son was bound & determined to get him out, the Leo won and I was dying laughing

My adult male has always been easy to handle, my adult female has gotten better about it over the past year, she use to be very jumpy.

A couple of my Leos will let me gently grab them around the middle to lift them out, but the others won't. Most prefer to walk onto your hand and come out that way.

Bottomline is you have to take your time with the skittish ones. Let them get use to your hand, when putting your hand into their tank move slowly as fast movements will startle them. It could take months to win some Leos trust, patience, patience, patience