Gecko Autonomy

[June Jupiter]

I've had a young gecko for about an full week. I know that I should wait a couple of days before handling her. My question is I don't want to frighten to drop her tail when I make my attempt to pick her up . Any suggestion on how to begin handling your Leo ? I know she is now associating my presence with food. So I've been talking to her and placing my hand flat in the terrarium to see if she would climb aboard.

 

[The Snark]

Slow. Very slow. No sudden movements. Eventually it will come to accept you but any fright can cause them to drop their tail, even if it becomes completely used to your presence.

 

[SamuraiSid]

Tong feed with your unused hand in the enclosure. Slowly over time move the tongs above your hand so the gecko has to climb on the hand to get the food.

I advocate to never hold the animal, but instead, think of yourself as a perch for the animal to grasp onto. Ive had great success using this philosophy with many young geckos and one savannah monitor.

 

[June Jupiter]

Thanks I've seen breeders at shows just grab but I don't want to take any unnecessary risks

 

[The Snark]

Thanks I've seen breeders at shows just grab but I don't want to take any unnecessary risks

...Just grab... I do that all the time to completely wild ones. So what if the tail comes off. Just gives the cat 2 things to play with and eat. However, if you want healthy contented animals, SS summed it up quite well. As does his signature.