The leopard geckos (Leos) are interesting species. They are quite adorable and make a great pets. But how often should you hold your Leo?
Leopard geckos should not be handled too frequently. You should not spend more than 20 minutes with them at a time. Your gecko will not experience any anxiety or worry due to this behavior. It is important to remember that long periods of handling might cause your gecko to get stressed.
Leos are nocturnal, meaning they are most active in the evening and early morning. If you’d like to pet a leopard gecko, the best time is early or late in the evening.
The handling of leopard geckos should be started very cautiously. You must gain their trust before managing them. So, let’s talk about how to hold a Leopard gecko and what you should do.
Do Pet Leopard Geckos Like Being Held?
Leos dislike being handled by humans or any other creature. Even if your Leo doesn’t run away or exhibit fear, it hates being handled. To the greatest extent possible, Leos are uninterested in being touched.
Even though it’s sad to find out that your Leo doesn’t like being held, it’s important to remember that Leos are much better for handling than any other gecko specie. It is possible that the leopard gecko will not experience any tension or anxiety throughout the process of being handled if you show patience with it and expose it to your hand in a linear manner.
In other words, Leos can be trained so that they do not dislike being handled, although it is unlikely that they would ever like being handled as much as any feline or canine companion.
Leopard Gecko Handling Tips
Petting your leopard gecko is the most effective approach to building a relationship and interacting with it. As long as your leopard gecko believes in you, it will have a sense of security whenever you hold him or her in your arms. The true challenge is figuring out a way to earn their trust. When it comes to handling your Leopard gecko, here are a few pointers and suggestions that ought to prove useful.
1. Start Handling Your Gecko as Soon as You Can
You should handle a newborn or young leopard gecko as soon as possible. This helps to create a link with your gecko at an early age, and more significantly, it assures that your leopard gecko will become more obedient and quiet as it matures.
Remember that young are fragile and must be treated carefully. Petting your gecko early can help you learn what your gecko loves and dislikes.
2. Go Easy on Them
Although leopard geckos don’t mind being handled, you must move gently around them. Forcing the gecko to do something will only scare it away and make it hate you more.
The most effective method is to provide sufficient time for your leopard gecko to acclimate to its new environment. Once they’re settled, you may start engaging with them.
3. Teach Your Leopard Gecko to Adapt to You
You can only earn their confidence if you teach your leopard geckos to become accustomed to being around you through training. First, ensure your gecko you aren’t a predator. To do this, place your hand inside the cage and leave it there for a few minutes each day.
Your gecko will eventually realize that your hand does not threaten it, and it will begin to adjust to you. Most of the time, it will show appreciation by climbing onto your palm or even licking it in the beginning. When it reaches this point, you’ll be able to increase your efforts gradually, but you shouldn’t push yourself too hard.
4. Avoid Its Tail
Leopard geckos, like most geckos, can lower their tails as a defense strategy. Therefore, if you want to hold your gecko, you should avoid picking it up by the tail. The more you play with its tail, the more likely your leopard gecko will drop its tail.
Keep in mind that leopard geckos store essential nutrients in their tails and that removing one of their tails will cause the little species more harm than benefit.
How Often Should They Be Handled?
A leopard gecko should be handled only once a week, at most. You can handle the gecko once every other day for 20 minutes.
The leopard gecko is a naturally solitary species that need time to relax, but some people may argue that an owner should handle their gecko everyday to “tame” it. However, this causes stress for the leopard gecko. Even as young animals, leopard geckos may quickly adjust to their owner’s presence and learn to like being around them without requiring excessive touch.
Baby leopard geckos need more handling than adults, so it’s easy to move them during tank cleaning or a health exam. In this situation, the owner can handle the newborn once a week. The owner should get newborns used to touching but not holding them for a week.
It doesn’t matter how old the leopard gecko is; the pet owner should never handle the lizard when feeling anxious. Clucking, attempting to move away, flapping its tail, and having its ears tightly closed are all signs that the animal is stressed. When a leopard gecko is young, it might do these things.
How to Pet a Leopard Gecko?
A leopard gecko should only be petted on its back and sometimes on its head. Rubbing the leopard gecko’s belly or tail creates stress and may cause its tail to droop.
Before touching the leopard gecko, the owner should ensure it’s comfortable and not in danger if disturbed. If the leopard gecko appears anxious, the owner should refrain from handling it until it has either calmed down or been allowed to explore a secure location first.
Is It Safe to Handle a Leopard Gecko?
In most cases, the leopard gecko’s owner may safely handle their pet without risking injury to the animal or themselves. To keep it safe, the owner must follow the requirements.
Leopard geckos are not known to be dangerous to their owners since they are not venomous, and they rarely bite unless they are mistreated, under a great deal of stress, or are wild. Some people may be allergic to the gecko’s claws, which can cause red, itchy spots on the skin where the gecko walks.
Even while this is completely safe, and the spots will disappear shortly after they appear, the owner may choose to wear gloves or their sleeve when handling their gecko if the sensation is too bothersome. The leopard gecko is harmless if not overhandled, and the owner knows how to handle it.
To keep the leopard gecko safe, it should be kept away from larger pets. If the owner lets the gecko crawl on them, they should always know where it is. Finally, they must keep the leopard gecko quiet during handling, or it may drop its tail.