Is is possible?

aquaplantae · #1 12-22-2008, 10:59 PM

greetings all.

would like to ask few question. is it possible to tame adult WC Gekko vittatus (white line gecko)? if yes, would anyone explain how to do it?

just got two bites on my index and middle finger, while handling them.

thanks.

Saille · #2 12-24-2008, 03:35 PM

Heh, you're dealing with a skittish species, and on top of that, a wild animal that wants nothing to do with humans, especially considering what its probably been through. Your best bet is to keep handling to a minimum with WC animals, and see if tong feeding insects can help the gecko learn to associate you with "food" and so it won't be quite so frightened of you. This will take time and patience!
So yes, the wild caughts are difficult at best to get tame.
Don't grab at them, especially at their heads, because they'll bite as defense!
I tend to try and "herd" them into something to transport, such as a paper towel tube. Sometimes you can handle them from there, sometimes they'll just stay in the tube because they're frightened.
Basically, its like taming any wild thing. It takes time and a lot of trust that you won't kill/eat them before they can learn that you're just a big warm climbing tree for them.

aquaplantae · #3 12-24-2008, 11:07 PM

thanks for the explanation Saille, really appreciate that.

in Indonesia's local forum, there's few who can tame white line and tokay. they usually use cigarette filter as something to be bitten by those geckos. and while the gecko bite the filter, the owner start to handling them and watch pretty close to the gecko's mouth, so as the filter won't be swallowed.

btw, are g.ulikovski n g.smithii as skittish as g.vittatus?

Saille · #4 12-24-2008, 11:57 PM

I sure don't know about the G. Smithii or G. ulikovski, as I haven't kept either of those species. Hopefully someone who has these will pipe up soon!
As for the cigarette filter, that put a crazy image in my head of smoking geckos.

I would give the tong feeding a shot. Another thing I did at first was, I would put some Crested Gecko diet or fruit nectar at the end of a spoon, and my white lined would attack the spoon, then look all confused because it tasted good, and he'd start licking it. He got used to me being a source of food and learned to stay out rather than run away when I came into the room. I always handle him minimally but gently when I do. They're actually fairly smart animals, they can learn that you are not there to hurt them after a while, but you must be gentle and respectful of them and their space. I have seen some Tokays that can be tamed as well, but these guys do take patience and they're not particularly "cuddly" pets.

aquaplantae · #5 12-25-2008, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saille

As for the cigarette filter, that put a crazy image in my head of smoking geckos.

I know as funny and crazy as it is, but it really worked. please see the link that I paste (the language is in Bahasa Indonesia, but I think you should be able to tell from the picture), and look for someone with the nick "debars". he sure is a fancy collector of tokay and he has tamed quite a number of tokays.

here is the link ReptilX.COM - Login

Saille · #6 12-25-2008, 12:50 AM

Awww, I need to be a member in order to view any threads, can you save the pic and post it as an attachment?

aquaplantae · #7 12-25-2008, 01:22 AM

okay the posted picture is not mine. I simply take it from ReptilX. it's a local reptile forum from Indonesia. anyway, let the picture speak for itself. lol

Saille · #8 12-25-2008, 01:36 AM

THAT is one of the funniest (and most sick and wrong) things I have ever seen!
HAHAHAHAHAAA!!!

aquaplantae · #9 12-25-2008, 01:12 PM

see what I mean. I told u so.

Dyesub Dave · #10 12-25-2008, 02:31 PM

Great .... the Tokay looks even meaner now with the smoke in it's mouth!!

While my white lines aren't really tame the female is out a lot checking on her numerous eggs. One time when I opened the enclosure she jumped on my shoulder. I thought 'OH GREAT ... NOW HOW WILL I GET HER BACK IN'.

She proceeded to scurry around the top of my back and onto my other arm. I extened my are into the enclosure and she scurried back in. WHEW !!

That's the closest that I've been to handling my white lines. However the female seems to watch what I'm doing all the time and really seems to be studying me!!

Dyesub Dave.