Leopard Geckos and Handling: Everything You Need to Know!

Leopard geckos are popular with reptile owners because of their gentle disposition, adorable appearance, and greater sense of adventure than other reptile varieties. But do leopard geckos enjoy being Held?

Leopard geckos tolerate being held more comfortably than other reptiles, yet don’t particularly relish being handled. By building trust with your leopard gecko first, handling won’t cause anxiety or stress – though they might still find the experience less than pleasant!

Read this article to gain more knowledge on why leopard geckos don’t like being handled, and the most suitable methods of taking care of your pet. This comprehensive guide offers advice for handling leopard gecko.

Do Pet Leopard Geckos Enjoy Being Held?
Unfortunately, leopard geckos do not take to being handled very much; even if they do not run away or show signs of fear during handling sessions. At best, leopard geckos remain neutral to being handled.

Though it can be disappointing to learn that your leopard gecko does not enjoy being handled, it is important to remember that leopard geckos are much better-suited than other reptiles for handling. With patience and slow introduction of your hand into its environment, your leopard gecko should experience no stress or anxiety from handling.

Leopard geckos can be trained so as not to dislike handling, though they likely will never enjoy it like dogs or cats would.

Why Don’t Leopard Geckos Like Being Held?
Image Credit: Reinhold Leitner/Shutterstock To understand why leopard geckos don’t like being held, one must first have an understanding of reptiles as an overall species. Reptiles do not possess the emotional abilities found in humans, cats or dogs – though they learn who their trusted sources are over time.

Leopard geckos do not enjoy being handled the way dogs do; rather, their emotional distance from you makes the handling experience indescribably boring for them. That doesn’t mean they hate being handled; rather it means that indifference toward handling is the result.

Under extreme conditions, leopard geckos and reptiles can become extremely stressed whenever held. When first getting them home from their original enclosures, geckos and reptiles don’t know that you are safe – which causes anxiety whenever they are held by humans.

Building Trust With Your Leopard Gecko
Although geckos don’t usually enjoy being held, you can still handle them without stressing out your pet by first building trust with him/her. As long as you take special care to be gentle and patient with him/her, handling can be both ethical and enjoyable – for both of you!

When first meeting your leopard gecko, the key to successful handling is slowly introducing yourself. At first glance, your gecko may still perceive you as an adversary and handling too soon could cause extreme distress to their nervous systems. By slowly introducing themselves first and gradually handling later, your leopard gecko may accept you much easier and become comfortable around you in no time!

Be careful when approaching geckos for the first time; instead, slowly introduce yourself so they understand you don’t pose a threat. Feed them occasionally so they associate you with food sources.

After this step is complete, slowly place your hand inside the cage and allow your gecko to come close so you can touch its back or even pet it – this should not cause stress for it, and you may then hold your gecko for as long as necessary; starting off by only holding it for a few minutes per session until your patience pays off!

Building Trust With Food
Leopard geckos differ from dogs in that they don’t enjoy being handled as much, but one important trait they share in common: they love food! Just as you can train dogs to love you and obey your commands through offering treats, leopard geckos can also learn trust through food rewards.

Make sure to feed your leopard gecko consistently so they develop a routine with you, so they associate you with food rather than threats. Once your leopard gecko feels secure enough with you, hand feed small treats as surprises!

By giving a leopard gecko treats while it is being handled, its experience of handling will likely become much more pleasant and it may even enjoy it more! Treats really can bring joy to all animals.