Leopard geckos are quite docile and calm when you handle them regularly. But often after bringing home a new leopard gecko, it will be skittish and jumpy. You will need to learn few tricks and become patient to tame your leopard gecko. Most babies and juveniles are skittish and can stay this way unless you tame them. In this post, we will discuss and share tips on how to tame a leopard gecko and make it trust you.
How long does it take to tame a leopard gecko?
The taming process will be different for each leopard gecko, and it will generally take 3-6 weeks for your leopard gecko to become fully tame.
However, some leopard geckos become tame during the first week, and some – take a year or never become fully tame.
If you make any serious mistakes during a taming process, such as scaring your leopard gecko or pushing it away, you will need to start over again.
Can you tame both young and older leopard geckos?
Taming a baby or juvenile leopard gecko is easier than adults or older leopard geckos. This is especially true if you have adopted an older leopard gecko who had a rough past – it might never trust anyone fully for the years to come.
But never lose hope and keep trying. Some leopard geckos generally don’t like being handled, and you will get to know your leopard gecko with time.
Tip number 1: Make sure your leopard gecko has 2 hides and 1 shedding box
Your leopard gecko is very likely to hide a lot for a first week or two. Make sure you have 2 hideouts for your leopard gecko – one in a warm side and one in a cool side. You will also need to place a shedding box that you will fill with a moisture holding substrate, such as vermiculite.
If you don’t provide your leopard gecko with hides, it will feel vulnerable and the taming process will be delayed. If your leopard gecko feels safe, taming it will be easier.
Tip number 2: Let your leopard gecko acclimatize
Straight after bringing your leopard gecko home, give it time for acclimatization. Acclimating to new surroundings is very important, because your leopard gecko will be scared and will be trying to defend itself.
It is the best idea not to handle your leopard gecko for 3 weeks after bringing it home. Let it be and don’t touch or handle your leopard gecko at this stage. And don’t stand around the cage for the first week. After a week – sit and watch your leopard gecko in the evenings, when it’s active and can see you.
But it doesn’t mean that you won’t have any contact with your leopard gecko – make sure to come close to the tank few times a day. During these times, don’t handle your leopard gecko or touch it – only place food in a bowl, change its water etc.
You can start placing the food bowl close to its hide box, so it feels comfortable. Start moving the food bowl further away slowly with each day.
Do everything slowly and make sure to have clean hands (no cream or else), and insert your hand slowly inside the tank to perform the tasks. Your leopard gecko is likely to approach your hand over the week, smell and lick it.
Tip number 3: Start hand feeding to tame your leopard gecko – but no handling yet
For the first two weeks, you should present the food in the bowl for your leopard gecko. Make sure that your leopard gecko can see you bringing the food, as it will build the trust. Your leopard gecko is likely to refuse any food for few days to a week after you bring it home.
After around 3 weeks of acclimatization, your can start hand feeding. This will greatly help with taming your leopard gecko. Place few insects on your hand and present it to your leopard gecko.
Don’t make any sudden moves if your leopard gecko bites or grabs the insects from your hand. Any sudden moves will scare your leopard gecko and the trust will be lost again.
Food is associated with positive things, so your leopard gecko will know your are not a threat.
the Don’t start hand feeding for the first two weeks – your leopard gecko might become scared instead of starting to bond with you. Waiting longer means that your leopard gecko will be more comfortable.
Insert your hand slowly in tank, from the side and never from top. See if your leopard gecko is interested.
If your leopard gecko is aggressive even after 2 weeks, place its food in a bowl and keep your hand close to the bowl while it’s eating. If your leopard gecko is eating with your hand close to the bowl, this is a good sign.
Tip number 4: Don’t change your leopard gecko’s setup too often
A very important rule is not to change anything in your leopard gecko’s setup for at least a month to let it get used to everything. Don’t move around its accessories or change the location of the tank.
This is why it’s important to prepare everything before your leopard gecko arrives. If you just brought your leopard gecko home, then you can change the setup quickly.
Making your leopard gecko comfortable will build trust and help to tame it quicker.
Tip number 5: Never make any sudden movements
If you make any sudden or jerky movements, you will scare your leopard gecko to death. This applies not only to new leopard geckos, but even those that you have had for a long time.
Tip number 6: Make your leopard gecko used to your soft voice, and don’t shout
Speaking in a soft a voice around your leopard gecko will help with taming. Your leopard gecko will start recognizing your voice.
But never scream or shout around the tank – leopard geckos hate it. Same goes for having very loud music or TV around the tank.
Tip number 7: Start handling sessions after 3-4 weeks
So, after 2 weeks or acclimatization, your leopard gecko should start trusting you. During the third week or so, start hand feeding. If your leopard gecko is very comfortable during the third week, you can start handling sessions.
But make them short – start with 5 minutes and add a minute ever other day. Handle every other day. Make sure to handle your leopard gecko only when it’s awake after sleep – which will be around the evening.
Never wake your leopard gecko up – it will be very stressed and annoyed. And most importantly, don’t pick up your leopard gecko during the first week of handling – let it climb on your hand.
During the first week of handling, don’t stroke your leopard gecko yet. After the first week and when your leopard gecko is comfortable – start stroking it gently, but not excessively. Start with only few touches, to avoid scaring your leo.
Tip number 8: Handle your leopard gecko before feeding
You need to handle your leopard gecko before feeding and it is important. This way your leopard gecko will eventually learn that you are a positive figure, and there is feeding after you appear.
If you handle your leopard gecko after feeding, it might regurgitate food and pee on you.
Tip number 9: Handle your leopard gecko safely
It is very important to handle your leopard gecko safely. If there is any accident, your leopard gecko will stop trusting you. Never place your hand above a leopard gecko – it will not trust you and will see you as a threat.
If you don’t have front opening doors, place your hand in the tank slowly from the side, away from your leopard gecko.
Let it walk on your hands and don’t confine it in one spot. Allow your leopard gecko to walk on your hands. After few days of successful handling, start slowly lifting your leopard gecko few inches from the ground – this will be a new experience for your companion.
There is a correct handling handling technique that will help you to pick up and hold a leopard gecko safely, speeding up the taming process. Read about the correct handling technique in this next post.