Leopard Gecko still scared ...

[Scalekat]

I have had Heidie for almost 2 months now and she is doing really well. The only problem im having besides her weight gain (she's fat) is her being really scared of me. It is so hard to clean her tank and do what needs done if i cant touch her. I have tried laying my hand in the tank and not moving it for days on in but she wont go to my hand on her own. When i pick her up she tries to run away so i only go from hand to hand a couple of times then put her down. I really want to hold her like i have seen on videos. Does anyone have any good ideas here. Were not bonding. Oh yea dont know her age but now she is a good 6 1/2 in long. Thanks

 

[XoVictoryXo]

2 months isnt long enough to form a good bond, so dont feel too bad, it will come! gaining a geckos trust takes some time.
Try hand feeding them with tongs (yummy worms like phoenix/butter/silk) a few times a week. they will associate you with food which means you are a trustworthy person. Try handling them in the morning/day time when they are sleeping and less active. Dont overdo it with trying everyday. I watched a bunch of videos on youtube with handling them, How to Care for a Leopard Gecko : Handling a Gecko - YouTube
They also say there are 3 types of geckos, Slow and friendly docile ones, hyper walkers, and Biting shy type.

 

[cassicat4]

Some geckos too are just not good with handling. My male, for instance, is not big on it. He's quite skittish, definitely won't come to my hand or eat out of my hand or tongs, and when I pick him up, I have to be sure I place him on a flat surface (the bed, my lap, etc.) and not restrain him, or he will freak out and try to bolt. It's just his personality, and I have to respect that by not handling him as much and when I do, to do it in short bursts and in a way that works for him.

You may have to try several different methods of handling to see what your gecko will tolerate. While no gecko will ever "like" being handled, different geckos have different tolerances for it and some will learn well enough that you're not a threat, whereas others never really seem to get over that mentality.

 

[bud1988]

Its also a good idea to make sure your hands are nice and warm when you go to handel your gecko. My Leo crawls right into my hand and I am abel to lift her out of the tank. When she is out, she will just lay on my arm or hand (whichever is warmer ) and just relaxes.

It did take alot of time and patience for her to be that relaxed tho. You just have to gain trust and don't be loud or fast when you go to get your gecko out.

 

[Scalekat]

Thanks for all the good advice. I never thought about warming my hand. Will try it tomorrow. Guess i was trying to hard. Really kind of scared of her like she is of me. One other thing is Heidie sleeps in he warm hide almost all day. Is it okay if i raise her hide to get to her? When i have done this she cowards down kinda. Is this okayto do or not? Learning so much with this site and i want to be a good parent. Hehe

 

[bud1988]

Thanks for all the good advice. I never thought about warming my hand. Will try it tomorrow. Guess i was trying to hard. Really kind of scared of her like she is of me. One other thing is Heidie sleeps in he warm hide almost all day. Is it okay if i raise her hide to get to her? When i have done this she cowards down kinda. Is this okayto do or not? Learning so much with this site and i want to be a good parent. Hehe

No you shouldn't do that unless its urgent that you get her out. That will make them feal stressed / scared. Its kinda like if someone came up to you while your in bed and just ripped all of your covers off LoL (but a human would just get mad) :biggrin:

 

[Scalekat]

That made me laugh...Saw that on you tube and tried it once, wont do it again. Will wait till she is out laying flat. I'm learning !!!!!!!!! Thanks

 

[cassicat4]

Thanks for all the good advice. I never thought about warming my hand. Will try it tomorrow. Guess i was trying to hard. Really kind of scared of her like she is of me. One other thing is Heidie sleeps in he warm hide almost all day. Is it okay if i raise her hide to get to her? When i have done this she cowards down kinda. Is this okayto do or not? Learning so much with this site and i want to be a good parent. Hehe

I actually have recent personal experience with this, and can tell you that it's not a good idea. I lifted the warm hide off of my adult female Leo (whom I've had since she was a hatchling and is therefore very tolerant of me) by accident, as I didn't realize she was in it (she normally would be sleeping in her cold hide at that time). In doing so, I accidentally gently brushed her back with my hand, and she freaked - her tail started waving like crazy, she started breathing really quickly, her eyes went huge...and absolutely nothing would calm her down. She was suspicious of everything in her enclosure and of me. She wouldn't eat that night, and the crickets were even rewarded with constant tail-waving. It took her a couple days to get back to her normal self. I have never seen anything resembling that behavior from her before, and I know I'm going to be a lot more careful in the future as a result.