New Pickup!! Introducing... Humphrey!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Congrats on the new addition.

Love those guys I think if I ever get back into geckos that will be the one, seriously considering it.

[4mb3rNich0l3]

Congrats!! Ive always wanted one of these guys! Maybe someday :p very nicez!

-Amber

[Vypyrz]

Wow! Congratulations. That is one B.A.G. They must be the elephants of the gecko world...

Sent from my Motorola ATRIX using Tapatalk 2.

[Evenstar]

I've been following leachies for a while and would love to have one - I have to be careful because our (very small) local reptile show has two vendors selling them and they are definitely even cuter, if that is possible, in person than in pictures. I have no doubts someday when we have the room, I will end up with an "Arm Gecko" - LOL. Thanks for the pics!

Thanks! They are definitely cuter in person!! Pics just don't do them justice and every time I look at Humphrey I just want to hug him!!

Gorgeous Leachie. Absolutely gorgeous! You definitely have me envying you, haha. My other half would probably let me get one, because it's a gecko and he actually likes the geckos, but if he saw how big they get, I'm sure I'd get the: "No. No more reptiles!"

Stunning male. And his gentleness is very impressive too! Sometimes they can go a little cage defensive, but if yours is being such a sweetie, you've got a major catch there.

I love the way they feel. Like a sausage covered in loose velvet, haha. Great animals. One day, I'll get a leachie. With any luck, a Mt. Koghis locale.

Loving your boy! Just handsome as can be.

Thanks very much! I'd heard they could be somewhat aggressive, but that's one reason I begged so hard to get this guy - he was just as sweet and calm as could be. He spent 2 hours perched on my shoulder last night while I was working online and he just loves to take treats from me and lick my fingers!

Wow! Congratulations. That is one B.A.G. They must be the elephants of the gecko world...

Thank you and they sure are! And they have the dumpy appearance and baggy skin to boot!

[olstyn]

he just loves to take treats from me and lick my fingers!

Awesome gecko, but I'd be careful about that. It's not generally a good idea to create situations where they associate your hands with food - that's inviting bites IMO.

[WarriorPrincess90]

Very cool!! Congrats on him!

[Skittles1101]

AHHHHH I'm so jealous!! I want a leachie...BAD. I fell in love at the last show I went to. I was vending with my buddy and Leapin' Leachies was right behind us. When I get back from basic training, I'm getting one! Congrats

[Vasiliki]

Awesome gecko, but I'd be careful about that. It's not generally a good idea to create situations where they associate your hands with food - that's inviting bites IMO.

Rhacs don't usually get 'nippy' in the same sense that other insect-eating or predatory geckos would. Oh they'll still hunt and whatnot, but they generally don't associate fingers with biting unless you overdo it. The more immediate concern would be that they start to only eat if they're handfed, rather than independantly eating. Hand-feeding for a short time shouldn't have any adverse effects, especially if you're trying to keep them on food during a transitional period. But I'd wean them off that sooner rather than later :-) But, it's a fun experience, and isn't harmful just a few times. Heck, my Garg went off food for a month due to stress. The only way I could get him to eat was hand-feeding for a time. Once he settled, he started to pig out on his own. Now he's the same size as my Crestie, when just 4 months ago he was almost half his size.

But, I wouldn't want a nip from a Leachie, haha. Have you ever seen their teeth? They're impressive!

[Evenstar]

Awesome gecko, but I'd be careful about that. It's not generally a good idea to create situations where they associate your hands with food - that's inviting bites IMO.

Thank you, but Rhac geckos aren't like monitors and many other types of lizards. Being primarily fruit eaters, they don't generally react to hand feeding. It's kind of the same argument as whether or not to feed your BP in it's enclosure or out because it'll associate the hand reaching in with food. We generally say that's a myth and so is this. But I appreciate the advice anyhow!

Rhacs don't usually get 'nippy' in the same sense that other insect-eating or predatory geckos would. Oh they'll still hunt and whatnot, but they generally don't associate fingers with biting unless you overdo it. The more immediate concern would be that they start to only eat if they're handfed, rather than independantly eating. Hand-feeding for a short time shouldn't have any adverse effects, especially if you're trying to keep them on food during a transitional period. But I'd wean them off that sooner rather than later :-) But, it's a fun experience, and isn't harmful just a few times. Heck, my Garg went off food for a month due to stress. The only way I could get him to eat was hand-feeding for a time. Once he settled, he started to pig out on his own. Now he's the same size as my Crestie, when just 4 months ago he was almost half his size.

But, I wouldn't want a nip from a Leachie, haha. Have you ever seen their teeth? They're impressive!

I appreciate the advice. Vasiliki, I agree with you. And I knew that they could "imprint" on feeding by hand so I was a bit concerned about that, but he eats in his cage too. And to be clear, I am not feeding him by hand. When I take him out, I dip my finger in his Repashy and let him lick that drop as a treat for letting me pick him up. I've also allowed him to sample a few bits of fruit when I take out something new to see if he likes it. In the few days I've had him, he's only been offered maybe 3-4 "treats" from my fingers.

He appears to be eating well on his own - at least he tends to make a mess each night, lol...

Also, he did nip me inadvertantly the first night when he grabbed my finger when I offered him a piece of banana. It did not hurt at all and he was certainly not being aggressive - he just wanted his banana. He happily ate the rest from his bowl. I can rub his jaw with my finger and he'll just stick out his tongue and lick. He's incredibly mellow.

Again, I appreciate the advice. So long as he's eating well on his own, I imagine he'll always get the occassional treat from me. That's part of the joy of having a pet.

[Evenstar]

AHHHHH I'm so jealous!! I want a leachie...BAD. I fell in love at the last show I went to. I was vending with my buddy and Leapin' Leachies was right behind us. When I get back from basic training, I'm getting one! Congrats

Leah, I saw that post on iHerp I think!! In fact, because of you, I looked at Leapin Leachies first! So my husband would say it's your fault......

I'd started researching these guys and I was thinking that I'd order one from Leapin later this summer. I was at the Taylor show to pick up rats for the boas and did NOT expect to find my little gem!!

In a year or so, I might be after a girlfriend for him so I'll be looking at Leapin Leachies again, lol!