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Bonding With Your Leopard Gecko
While leopard geckos don't do well with other leopard geckos, they tend to enjoy human interaction. Here is a quick guide on how to bond and build trust with your gecko!
Hand feeding can be a great way to show your gecko you are someone there to provide them resources and aren't a threat.
Setting your hand flat in their enclosure allows them to come over to you and investigate without being scared that you'll pick them up or try to hurt them.
Once you have developed some trust, you can hold your gecko and let them try climbing on your arms, shoulders, and sometimes even your head.
Another way to bond is by letting your leo come out of their enclosure and explore in a safe setting. I personally will set up a playpen and fill it with lots of new things for them to explore. I often sit in the playpen too, so they can climb in my lap and check me out.
Holding Your Leopard Gecko
Just like any other animal, there are safe and unsafe ways to hold a leopard gecko.
Safe
The safest and most comfortable option is just letting it climb on you.
You can also keep it cupped in your hands so it doesn't go anywhere.
To check the belly, you can stand it upright and hold gently under the armpits and at its side.
When picking it up, you can either scoop by coming under the belly with a flat hand, or you can come from above and wrap around their back to hold under the belly.
Unsafe
It's not safe to hold a gecko upside down/on their back. This can lead to suffocation.
It's also not safe to hold a gecko by their tail as they may drop it in fear and try to run away.
Similar to the tail, you shouldn't be holding it by the head or legs. While they can't drop their head or legs, it's very uncomfortable and not safe to have their entire body weight supported by one leg.
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