Is is possible?

[aquaplantae]

Is it possible?

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]

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]

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]

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.:biggrin:
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]

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

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. :coverlaugh:

here is the link ReptilX.COM - Login

 

[Saille]

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]

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]

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

 

[aquaplantae]

see what I mean. I told u so. :rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

[Dyesub Dave]

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

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'. :yikes: 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 !! :roll:

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. :biggrin:

 

[aquaplantae]

thanks for sharing your experience dave.

now, every time I have to handle my white line, I always use a glove. the glove is made of some kind of fabric (something like wool). it still bite me, but at least it wont cut my finger to bleed anymore. I can still feel the pressure from their jaws, even though I use that glove (the glove is kinda thick). :biggrin:

 

[aquaplantae]

@ Saille
I tried your technique on using honey to tame white line, and guess what? it really works. now my white line seems to come to my hand every time I put mine in their enclosure. and the most terrific thing is, that they don't bite anymore.

now I can touch them and let them crawl over my hand without worrying of the bite. and for sure they don't try to get away from me. even when I accidentally squeeze/hold them to tight.

for those who interested in how I do it, please check this out:
before entering their enclosure I will prepare all the things that I need. you do need honey of course, a small bowl for the honey, a small plastic spoon or a straw that is sturdy enough to handle white line jaw. take few drops of honey with spoon or the straw with your left hand, then try to take the white line slowly with your other hand. be careful not to frighten them. when they already securely handled in one of your hand, try to feed them the honey. they'll like it, and before you know it, they already associate you with something delicious and feeding time. for first timer, I recommend to use gloves though, in case the white line get a little nervous.

anyway, big thanks to you Saille

ps. I'm getting another gecko, one pair of Gekko smithii and one pair Cyrtodactylus (though I don't know what species is it).

 

[Saille]

I'm so glad that the honey nectar thing has worked for you! You will have to keep it up though, as they can "go wild" again if you go for too long between treat times. They are a really fun species to work with, I am looking forward to hearing how your smithii end up being personality wise too!

 

[Sk3d]

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

my geckos smoke unfiltered. lol.

 

[Sk3d]

Also, I've talked to a guy at the NorthWestern Berks Rep Expo that breeds G. Vitatus and he said you can do it if you handle (with care) from birth. Problem is they're not sexable until 6-8 months and even then you can have a "False Female" for a few months. So, unless you start breeding them and have a few extra terrariums lying around, the answer is probobly no.

 

[Dyesub Dave]

Actually ... the two babies that just hatched for me at the beginning of the year don't seem skittish at all. I've been taking them out every couple of days and they seem calmer than my baby cresties. So perhaps acclimatizing them when they are young is the key? Time will tell. ;-)


BTW - I may try the honey thing with the adults but I'm always afraid of losing them in the house!!

Dyesub Dave. :biggrin:

 

[siz]

HAHAHAHAHA hilarious photo - you'd think the keeper would use a smoke that hasn't been..smoked though.

 

[aquaplantae]

HAHAHAHAHA hilarious photo - you'd think the keeper would use a smoke that hasn't been..smoked though.

for me, no way!!! :rofl: I definitely smoked it first. lol

 

[aquaplantae]

BTW - I may try the honey thing with the adults but I'm always afraid of losing them in the house!!

well Dave, first I used to share your concern. once it got loose in my house, I would've never been able to find them again. especially if they decided to run to my lawn. woosh, it will be gone forever. maybe you'll need another assistant to handle them. lol.

 

[Saille]

My juvie got loose and was free in the house for about a week. I caught him in the doorway to my kitchen from the living room at about 1 AM. He is much faster than the adults I have! I just threw a tupperware lid over him and got him that way.I was lucky!