hand training a day gecko

[bd0795]

tips? i got him two days ago and i've fed him crickets so far. he's at the point where i can take him out of the viv and he'll roam around my room comfortably. in fact, i can approach him anytime he's out and he'll allow me to stroke the area between his shoulders to mid-back (as long as i'm not rushing towards him like a rabid predator). so far, he's been awesome. a lot more mellow and laid-back than i'd thought.

only problem i have is picking him up to put him back in his viv. he doesnt run away from me. instead, whenever i try to slide my hand under him he just turns the other direction. so, every night i have to awkwardly shuffle my hand underneath him until he decides to climb on all the while trying to be extra careful around his skin. any tips to lure him onto my hand? i tried honey but he doesnt even go for it.

 

[rtbaum]

I've had mine for two days as well, I'm happy to be able to enter the room with out them hiding. They are lined geckos, what is yours?

 

[bd0795]

I've had mine for two days as well, I'm happy to be able to enter the room with out them hiding. They are lined geckos, what is yours?

p. grandis. i have a thing for green things lol

anyone know safe solutions i can use to clean the glass walls in viv?

 

[acpart]

To catch him, try sliding both hands under him from 2 directions, or cover him with your hands and then slide one under him.
Cleaning the glass: mist with water from a britta filter to avoid the deposits from tap water. Clean with a paper towel and vinegar in a spray bottle. You can also use some hydrogen peroxide to clean off the poop.

Aliza

 

[rtbaum]

p. grandis. i have a thing for green things lol

anyone know safe solutions i can use to clean the glass walls in viv?

I use vinegar for wiping down my glass...works like a charm!

I'm having fun my little guys, today they took up residence in their respective cork tubes. The tank had developed a few fungus gnats...That has been very entertaining!!!!

 

[IrishEyes]

My female P. grandis is like that--tame enough to pet and eat out of my hands or from a syringe or dish I'm holding. I never let her out of the viv, though. With 9 toy-breed dogs, most with huge prey drives, it just isn't in anyone's best interest for her to be out and about. The male, though, he's a freakazoid. If he sees me moving from several feet away, he dives for cover behind the sansiveria.

 

[bd0795]

lately it seems that a lot of the "tame" p. grandis are females and its the males that are jumpy. im starting to wonder if my gecko is a female.

also, do geckos refuse food if they're full? I've been feeding him 2-4 crickets daily. after that, he doesn't accept anymore. he'll strike at the crickets (i feed him by hand), but he wont take them. instead, he flings them off my fingers and i have to pick it up and dispose of it.

also, can i spray the vinegar solution onto a paper towel and wipe down, or do i spray the glass and then wipe down? reason i ask is because im afraid of the leftover residue and how it'll irritate the gecko's skin?

edit: thanks for the replies

 

[rtbaum]

I wet the paper down and wipe the glass. I have to say that I have them in a planted tank with misters and a humidistat, it mists whenever the humidity hits a minimum of 70%. I have a fan and the tank gets misted about 2-4 times a day. I haven't really needed to clean the glass, it all becomes food for my plants and springtails.

 

[bd0795]

and by "it" you mean the solution residue?

my viv is planted as well--using non-fertilized organic potting mix. i mist 2 times a day and it seems enough to keep my gecko content.

edit: also, my gecko basks spends hours basking in front of my window (my room gets A LOT of natural sunlight). he spends more time outside his viv than in (he enjoys roaming around my room). my concern is that he isn't getting enough uvb from the lamp. instead he prefers basking in the sun--is he getting enough vit d3 this way? or are uvb lamps essential, no matter what?

 

[acpart]

If he's basking in the sunlight that's coming through the closed window, he isn't getting any UVB that way.

Aliza

 

[rtbaum]

I wet the paper down and wipe the glass. I have to say that I have them in a planted tank with misters and a humidistat, it mists whenever the humidity hits a minimum of 70%. I have a fan and the tank gets misted about 2-4 times a day. I haven't really needed to clean the glass, it all becomes food for my plants and springtails.

Actually, I meant any debris tends to wash off the glass when the misters go off. I find that every once in a while I will need to wipe the glass down with the vinegar, the last time was when I applied moss mix. The geckos are a new experience, so far their deposits have rinsed off readily and are free fertilizer.

 

[bd0795]

If he's basking in the sunlight that's coming through the closed window, he isn't getting any UVB that way.

Aliza

is it the glass, or screen that blocks uvb? anyways, thanks for letting me know.

edit: is it weird to bring a gecko to the vet? lol im thinking about making a visit because im concerned for my pal's health. he's been a lot more calmer now, but idk if that's because he's becoming tamer, or lethargic (sick). what are the symptoms of a sick gecko? behaviors? couple days ago, the only place he'll allow me to touch was his back. today, i was surprised when he allowed me to stroke his head while he was munching on a cricket. he's just...a lot less skittish. his movements seem more composed...best way i can describe his behavior is that he's become a lot lazier and more of a couch potato. i find that endearing, but i dont want to confuse a symptom of illness with contentment. other than that, he's eating well, he hasnt changed color. i'll post pics to show his colouration and a video to show u his behavior.

also: humidity - 60% (in tank)/ 53% (outside) temp - 96/82/74 (bask/medium/cool)/70

im new to this gecko thing, so if there's any other information you need, please let me know.

one more thing: whenever i hold him, he does this pathetic whimpering sound. its quite cute actually, but im afraid that im hurting him or stressing him?

 

[acpart]

I think it never hurts to make a vet visit if you're concerned. One thing to realize is that many geckos only get brought to the vet when they're literally at death's door (most geckos behave normally till they're really ill for self protection) so when a newly ill gecko is brought in, it often looks a lot healthier than what they're used to seeing. Obviously if there is an infection or lesion they notice that. If your gecko is eating and somewhat active, and if the temperatures and humidity are correct, you may want to wait a bit and give it more time, because it's probably OK in that case.

Aliza

 

[IrishEyes]

is it the glass, or screen that blocks uvb? anyways, thanks for letting me know.

Both. The screen will apparently block up to 50% of UVB rays, and the glass usually blocks it totally, since it's treated to do just that.

 

[bd0795]

Hey thanks for the replies, some updates:

Went to the vet and said nothing seems wrong apart from "papery skin". She said he is either a little dehydrated or going into a shed and told me to up the humidity. Was nice enough to make it a free visit, so I was grateful.

I was real worried this past week of but today i saw him in the middle of a shed, which dissipated my anxieties. He had some trouble, so I grabbed some tweezers to peel off his hardtoreach places. was a cumbersome job trying to pick at very tiny flayed skins, little bastard bit me on several ocassiond when I accidentally grabbed his toe lol Hes all bright and lively again and as mellow as ever.