| Handling a new leopard gecko can be a problematic | | | | Remember never to move too fast or handle your |
| undertaking, especially for people who don't have a | | | | animal roughly. It could be stressed and injured. Avoid |
| lot of previous experience in dealing with reptiles, or if | | | | touching the head or tail, as these can cause your |
| you're someone whose experience is universally with | | | | leopard gecko to startle and bolt. Touching only the |
| larger ones. However, it's not really all that | | | | body will enable you to keep your pet from feeling |
| complicated. | | | | threatened. |
| When handling any animal, you're going to want to | | | | Threatened leopard geckos will drop their tails, |
| take things slow, and that applies as much to geckos | | | | causing injury and the site of a potential infection. |
| as to any other. When you first get the gecko, hold | | | | Avoid this by never holding your gecko by the tail, |
| it only for short periods of time, or not at all, | | | | and only handling it in the gentlest way you can. Herd |
| depending on how calm or nervous it is. An animal | | | | your lizard into your hand rather than grabbing it, and |
| that's extremely nervous should probably be left | | | | when you do pick the lizard up, cradle the body, |
| alone for the first little while in order to let it get | | | | putting the least pressure on that you can. |
| used to things. | | | | Leopard geckos are hardy, durable animals, but |
| Your lizard should be able to adjust to its new | | | | they're still very small and could be damaged by too |
| environment before it has to deal with additional | | | | much pressure, especially when they're babies. The |
| stress. Remember, it's hard for such a small animal to | | | | more used to you your gecko is, the easier it will be |
| realize that you're not a predator, given the size | | | | to handle it without fear of escape. |
| difference between you. Take things slow to help | | | | New or young geckos will be quite nervous and |
| yourself gain your gecko's trust. | | | | skittish in the beginning, but will calm down as they |
| When you think the gecko is used to its | | | | become accustomed to your presence. Handle your |
| surroundings, you can proceed to touching it. Don't | | | | animal on a regular basis to keep it from losing its |
| just grab at your gecko, however. After all, leopard | | | | accustomization to your presence. Daily handling is |
| geckos are prey animals for many other species, and | | | | not too much, if you want to make sure that your |
| a shadow from above tells them they're in danger! | | | | lizard stays friendly and sociable with humans. |
| Instead, slowly place your hand inside the cage, like a | | | | Reptiles can "forget" their tameness and require |
| piece of the scenery and allow your pet to get used | | | | socialization all over again if they're allowed too much |
| to it and to climb on it. The gecko should be willing to | | | | time without contact with humans. Gentleness is |
| walk across your hand inside the cage. Once it gets a | | | | always paramount - don't forget just because your |
| little more used to you, it'll be easier to gently close | | | | gecko is getting older. It's still much smaller than you |
| your hand and hold it. | | | | are and quite easy to damage. |