| Looking after a leopard gecko doesn't just mean | | | | it on the substrate. Let your leo climb on and walk on |
| making sure that it has adequate food, water, light | | | | your fingers and hand and enjoy your body warmth. |
| and heating, though of course those things are | | | | Leave it at that the first few times, and then |
| important. It also means treating it appropriately | | | | progress to lifting it out of the tank. |
| when you want to interact with it. For most people, | | | | Careful with how you pick it up. |
| handling their pet is a big part of the fun of having it | | | | Leopard geckos are small, delicate creatures, and |
| in the first place (it's unclear how that applies to | | | | that goes double when they're young. It's better to |
| people who own fish), so it's safe to assume that | | | | put your hand in the tank and let your leo run onto it, |
| you will want to pick your leopard gecko up once in a | | | | but if you have to pick it up for some reason, grasp |
| while. Here's how to go about it: | | | | it gently around the mid-section with as many fingers |
| Start young. | | | | as will fit, and lift it slowly, keeping the other hand |
| All pets get more used to being handled over time, | | | | under it. |
| but much more so if it begins when they are still | | | | Careful with the tail! |
| young. There's no age that is too young for one of | | | | Obviously, a leopard gecko should never be lifted or |
| these delightful geckos so long as it has grown | | | | restrained by the tail, as doing so might trigger it to |
| comfortable with its environment and is relaxed. | | | | decide to detach it. However, leopard geckos can |
| Think about how you seem to it. | | | | also drop their tails simply when they feel threatened |
| In the wild, geckos are solitary creatures, so there's | | | | or cornered, so proper tail-care means trying to |
| no reason that they should enjoy being touched by | | | | ensure that your leo never has a reason to feel |
| another living thing for any evolutionary reasons. In | | | | either of these things! |
| the wild, anything as massive as a human could in | | | | Enjoy it! |
| fact only represent a dangerous predator. It'll take | | | | Non-reptile owners are constantly amazed to find out |
| time for your leo to realize that you're something | | | | just how affectionate cold-blooded creatures can be. |
| safe and not something potentially dangerous. | | | | Start early, make your leo feel safe, and you'll give |
| Start simple. | | | | your relationship with your pet the best possible |
| The best way to start handling your leo is to wait | | | | chance of succeeding. So you see done correctly, |
| until it's active (probably just after you turn off the | | | | looking after a leopard gecko can be a rewarding |
| cage light), then put your hand into the tank and rest | | | | experience. |