Skidish

[Ringo]

Does anyone have any good tips on how I can work with my leopard gecko so she wont be so skidish. I know im not suppost to hold them alot and she is just a juvie. When am I suppost to start working with them or do they just kinda grow out of it. As soon as I take the screen lid off she darts back behind the backround I have in her tank.

[herpmajor]

I would handle them about 3 to 4 times a week, and just stay the course. If you handle them too much more than that they can get stressed. Good luck and I hope your Geckos become comfortable with you handling them.

[mlededee]

start slowly with 5 minute handling sessions a few times per week. even just having her out sitting on your lap or on a table next to you will help. as she calms down you can handle her for longer or more often. if she seems really stressed out at any time (flailing around and/or panicking) just put her back in her enclosure and try again later--sometimes they just aren't in the mood or might have gotten caught off guard.

[Kristy]

Here is what I did. I started out laying my hand flat with a couple of waxies, or mealies on my hand in the tank. That gave them the opportunity to come to me and feel comfortable at their pace. Then I would just let them sit on my hand for 5 to ten minutes with no sudden movements. Then after a week or two with that I would gently hold them in their tanks for a few minutes over a couple weeks time. It took a lot of time and patience but there was minimal stress on them as they pretty much set the pace. Worked very well.

Then I would let them crawl on me while I sat on the floor so if they freaked they wouldn't fall too far.

Just take your time and be gentle

[Ringo]

She is doing much better now. I started hand feeding her and that seemed to help alot. I am just kind of afraid to take her out of the tank because I am affraid she will get away. She is really fast. I would like to be able to take her out some and hold her but I definitely dont want her getting away.

[Kristy]

Thats good to hear, she will warm up in no time with you hand feeding her.

Also remember as they grow they tend to slow down a little. Adult leos don't move nearly as fast as babies.

I would recommend holding her over her tank for while until you feel comfortable taking her out.

Also when the weather warms up. Take her outside in a tub and handle her inside the tub. They are so curious about all their surroundings they forget they are being handled. I did that with one of my large females that was aggressive and had her hand tame in two days. That was during the summer months though