subject: Handling Leopard Geckos the Safe Way [print this page] Handling Leopard Geckos the Safe Way Handling Leopard Geckos the Safe Way
Handling leopard geckos can be tricky when you are just starting out. They are not only skittish at times; they can also be very fragile'. To prevent unwanted damage to your beloved pet, here are some handling tips to make sure you and your lizard stay happy companions.
Getting the Skittishness Out of the Way
To solve the skittishness, you need some patience. If your lizards are very new and young, you'd do best to leave them to get adjusted to their environment first. Just let them explore their tank and get used to their new home. Once they start calming down, you can start trying to introduce yourself. You can start by placing your hand inside the tank. You don't have to grab them yet you could just let them walk over your hand and get used to the idea of you being there.
Hand over Hand
Next you can start some hand over hand walking. If your lizard is comfortable enough to stay on your hand, you can have them walk from one hand to the next. To play it safe, you may want to sit on the floor when you do this, just in case the lizard gets away from you. They don't have sticky feet so they might not be able to hold on to you and fall if they make a mistake. You may need to grab them at this point. This should be done very gently and do not attempt to grab them by their tails! Try to get them somewhere near the shoulders and just gently put pressure using your thumb and index finger. If you can do the hand over hand exercises regularly, handling leopard geckos becomes that much easier.
Tail Mistakes
The reason why you should never grab them by the tail is that they can detach their tails as a defensive measure. Even if they don't see you as a major threat, grabbing their tails can activate a defensive instinct that will cause them to detach. They will grow back but will never look the same. They will usually become more bulbous and in a less appealing color. Seeing that these lizards are prized for their appearances, this is certainly a big concern for any keeper. Plus, the tail is an important part of the lizard's food storage. Without their tails, they can become prone to starvation.
Size and Age
If you are not sure when you should start trying to introduce yourself to your pet physically, try going by their size and age. Try to wait until the lizard is about 6 inches in length before trying to handle them. Don't try to handle newly hatched lizards as they are more prone to panicking and survival instincts will kick in, causing unpredictable behavior and unhealthy stress.
Final Reminders
Don't be too firm or too quick in your movements. Try to always be calm and positive. Any negatively perceived actions can fire up the lizards well honed survival instincts and there are just so many stresses that can be avoided by just staying calm.
