handling?

[tom_P_is_a_G]

hi I've had my Leopard gecko, Echo for just over a month now and he seems to be settling in perfectly. I got him as a hatchling and he has really grown on me he eats well and is pooping every night. but I was wandering about a few things when handling him, he seems happy to be handled and sometimes falls asleep on my shoulder or hands but when I want to handle him he is usually asleep or hiding in his hide, so is it okay to lift up the hide and get him out or is this not? thing is whenever he is out its to late or he runs back in when I slide the glass across, so is it okay to lift up his hide or what?
Also how many times would you advise handling him, I would do it every day if I could but I feel this may cause him to much stress however he doesn't show any sighs of being stressed when being handled, he has never hissed or tried to bite me?
any advise will help thanks

 

[hmarie186]

Do not lift up his hides unless you absolutely have to (like if you had to give meds or something health related). That is their security and it could stress him out to keep doing it. I only handle mine in the evening when he's out and about. I offer my hand and if he wants out he will climb on it and if he doesn't then I don't force it. Sometimes he doesn't want out for 2-3 days. Let him decide. Empowerment for any animal is important.

 

[tom_P_is_a_G]

ok thanks

 

[Kiara1125]

My leo's name is Echo too! If I need to handle my leos and they're in a hide, I pick up the hide and set it on me, then I wait for them to crawl out onto my hand. My hide's hole is in the top, so I can do this. It all depends on what type of hide you have. I take care not to stress out my leos, and hmarie186 made some very good points.

 

[Kroda13]

Do not lift up his hides unless you absolutely have to (like if you had to give meds or something health related). That is their security and it could stress him out to keep doing it. I only handle mine in the evening when he's out and about. I offer my hand and if he wants out he will climb on it and if he doesn't then I don't force it. Sometimes he doesn't want out for 2-3 days. Let him decide. Empowerment for any animal is important.

This is what I do as well. If Tree is in one of the hides I leave them there. I will put my hand down while Tree is exploring and sometimes he/she climbs into and will tolerate me for a bit. I never pick Tree up unless he/she crawls in to my hand and even then I don't normally take them out of the tank.