#Handling Questions

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

swift tinsel
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Hi, just a few questions regarding handling.

How do I get my gecko used to being handled? She’s definitely not at the point where I can remove her from the enclosure.

The only way I can get her in my hands is during feeding time where I kind of have to bait her into my hand. I’ll hold her in my hand and feed with tweezers on the other hand.

I can tell she starts to get scared (I think?), once her feet start to feel spikey. Is that right? I’ll always let her down on her own. She usually goes somewhere and hides after. Why is this?

I’ve always wanted to get to the point where she’s chill and I can handle with ease outside the enclosure. I feel like at this point it’s just boring watching from a distance and only feeding with tweezers a few times a week.

Any advice is appreciated!

dry depot
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unfortunately leopard geckos arent the best animals to get if you want something to handle all the time! they tolerate it at best and many simply never even get to that point NQA

fickle magnet
split kite
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Like thecicadas system mentioned leopard geckos and reptiles in general really aren't the best pets to get if you're wanting something to hang out with and take out of their enclosure 24/7.

a few things.

  1. If she isn't wanting to step up by herself then she may just be a gecko who doesn't really want to step up / come out of the tank and that is fine. Not every gecko is going to tolerate it regardless of how long you have had them and that needs to be respected even if it's a little bit sad to face. They are not an animal who sees it as affection or anything of the sort so it's a toleration of us at best.

  2. Don't hold her while feeding. keep her in her tank to feed her. C: Handling while feeding can heighten the risk of regurgitation

  3. Sounds like she probably just isn't vibing with it.

They really are as most reptiles are, a watch and observe kind of pet.

swift tinsel
# split kite Like thecicadas system mentioned leopard geckos and reptiles in general really a...

I understand. I really always thought these types of reptiles were the type to be handled based off videos online and other people just handling theirs in their free time.

When I said I hold her while feeding, it’s never outside the enclosure. I place my hand down inside the enclosure and have her climb on. Really that is the only time I get to touch her and interact. I have never actually taken her out of the enclosure before because 1. Im scared to 2. She’ll prolly run away 3. She ain’t vibin with it

She used to come up to the glass and prop herself up, but I’m legit scared she will fall out the front with the glass doors open. It’s unfortunate that it’s not what I expected from these reptiles, but at last they are easy to care for and cool to watch when I do see her for 10 minutes a day lol. Most of the time she’s in one of the hides and then comes out when lights go out…

split kite
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yeeee it's sad to say but i suspect most of the videos and stuff online are people not... doing choiced based handling unless they actually show themselves doing it.

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i think most people kinda just. scoop their gecko up without even considering if the animal wants to or not.

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if you don't already have one- get a camera to watch her run around in her tank maybe :3! they're super helpful

swift tinsel
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That’s actually a great idea

split kite
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the wyze og is my favorite camera

swift tinsel
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Most days I usually never see her. Only feeding days for a short time.

split kite
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i just have it and an sd card for it so i can watch days on days of footage of my geckos right on my phone whenever

swift tinsel
split kite
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it's possible her claws were diggin into your hand

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mine don't choose to come out / step up often in their new tank designs so i haven't really handled mine much in the last year

swift tinsel
split kite
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she'll be okay Giggle ❤️

dry depot
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if it makes you feel any better, my boy i only feed once every 5 days and i dont handle him but maybe once a month just for a weigh in, and hes happy as can be HSHSH

split kite
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they associate us with things 100% and can recognize their owners voices and such. but they don't have the same sort of brain as mammals or birds do where they actually develop love or that sort of bond for their human.

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I'm sure they bond with us in their own way though through associations just not the lovey way.

swift tinsel
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I see

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I wish there was just a way for me to make a connection with the reptile

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hence why I asked about handling

split kite
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I sing to my 4!

swift tinsel
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😂

split kite
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mine come out now when i start singing

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and will just sit there and watch me Giggle

dry depot
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boba oh i should so do that HSHSH

split kite
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i've sung to them since i've gotten them

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i sing you are my sunshine in a soft low voice to em

dry depot
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STOPPP THATS SO CUTE

swift tinsel
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Usually how it goes: I walk in the room, sit down and start talking to her. I’m trying to look around for her, and eventually see her head pop out from somewhere. She will just stand there and stare at me for so long, if she notices I got food…She comes out. If she doesn’t see food, she goes back in💀

split kite
swift tinsel
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lol mine will do the same thing

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Just sit there and stare at me

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Oh no food? Back inside I go!!

dry depot
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adrian does that too if hes awake HSHSH

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sleepy man is SO good at tuning me out 😭 it took me like a solid two minutes of clacking my tongs to wake him up to feed today

swift tinsel
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Sleepy boy 😂

dry depot
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one of my favourite videos of him is of him not caring at all if I vacuum right next to him

swift tinsel
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Oh wow

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Really sleeping through that one 😂

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Once mine is on the basking spot when the lights go out…I startle her by opening the door to the room

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is that even a normal thing? For them to come out after the lights go out??? Like you’d think they would go and bask on the rock when the light is on..not off lol

split kite
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yeh

dry depot
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leos are crepuscular, meaning theyre out during dawn and dusk :)

split kite
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they're crepuscular in the wild which means they come out at dawn and dusk . in captivity they act more cathemeral meaning they're out whenever they please.

swift tinsel