How to Safely Handle a Leopard Gecko

Leopard geckos are great pets, but aren't the easiest to handle. Here's my advice on the best way to hold your gecko!
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A very short about page:
GoHerping is a KZbin channel and website dedicated to herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), exploring nature, educating people on herps, reptile care & husbandry, and much more. Since 2012, I've been creating videos all about my strong interest in herpetology, wildlife, nature, and more. Thank you for reading, I hope you join the reptile community!

[@lawsonacton8595]

Alex's gecko: Calm My Gecko: *What weired position can I put the human in today?*

[@Goose-fo3yh]

Lol ikr

[@ribbonoosehood6597]

Huh, so I actually did handle my geckos correctly. My female Albina didn't like being held very much but my boy Sunset absolutely loved it and liked contact surprisingly, he'd seek out my hand whenever I had him out.

[@hauntedvirus]

Ribbonoose Hood my female hates it my male loves it, today my mom scared it so he bite me 😂

[@richardbroderick8749]

Probably because your hand is warm and soft!

[@-Cupcake]

Your gecko is so calm! my little buddy always tries to get away from my hand if i try to pick him up. and when i do get to have him crawl onto my hand or something like that he gets super active.

[@ainsleysmith9868]

TheGentlemanCupcake mine too. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@lilmeowmeow6697]

I he a baby because They will be less docile

[@vujuu606]

Same

[@anaoaaugehauq5093]

Is it young?

[@swolechicken6140]

Chloe L not anymore lol

[@KittiesnCrochets]

My gecko is a little fiesty one. She lets you pick her up, but she's super active and loves to run up and down your arms, or just sit on your shoulder. She's still being trained to be calm because I use her for education (like I go into classrooms with my reps and talk about them to kids) and they all just love her.

[@thedoctorwho73]

100th like

[@BxndsFR]

I just got my gecko 4 hours ago and I grabbed and it was calm it didn't try to bite me or anything so my dad did do a great choice

[@alexia2600]

how is he doing

[@jorted_julimak]

@Kari Jenkins some are more tame than others Kari, watch a guide on how to tame a leo and help your son with it. Some take much more time and patience to tame.

[@codebreakeractivate6366]

@Kari Jenkins dude they can very in behavior so he might just want to try and tame it and watch the video he made and hope he did his research

[@Wootmise]

@Kari Jenkins yea you need to go through procedures to take some. Some geckos have already been handled a lot so they’re tame. Your son most likely has not researched how to tame one. It takes about 3 weeks ish total if you’re doing everything efficiently and correctly

[@user-zq6yz5gf6d]

Thats very tame! A lot of them need a couple weeks to get used to the vivarium before they can start being handled.

[@megren2554]

Love your videos! I’m currently setting up my terrarium and getting things shipped for my first gecko, she’ll be arriving closer to Valentine’s Day. Your videos are very informative and suuuuper helpful! Great job!

[@SynterraSteen]

Hey! How is your gecko now???

[@outofpocket72]

I’m sure you’re well educated/experienced with geckos now but how is he doing? It took me about a year before my gecko truly warmed up to my touch, much less, play/cuddling. To be fair I was never home much or able to take the time to patiently bond but I was able to these last few months and he now runs up and down my arms and tends to fall asleep either in the crook of my arm or my shoulder ☺️

[@tanithalakai4538]

I usually just take mine to my bed and let her have her fun while I watch her.

[@therizinosaurs]

0:40 sorry couldnt stop laughing. It reminds me of when my Guinea pig flips his food bowl. He's dead now :(

[@ellahatch2226]

R.i.p. Chloe Potato’s guinea pig..... Sorry had to do that

[@ytf2528]

Pepe The Platypus omg that made me laugh I’m sorry

[@conneru9015]

The bowl is a murderer 25 to life

[@bdpesko7348]

Chloe Potato mine gun is pig died 3/19/19 his name was peanut and died from a potato

[@gachailly218]

That took a dark turn

[@funkinmaster]

When I put a couple fingers under my gecko he starts going crazy and running away 😂

[@wakawaka666]

everytime I hold my geckos they just start napping on my arms while I'm sitting there slowly becoming a warm rock

[@ChildrenOfGod12]

I just got my gecko 2 days ago and it’s loving me like no other animal this truly helped me thank you so much😊

[@apopsicle2414]

my gecko hates me D; i love her but she always trys to escape meeee

[@veragyorfi1]

citrus.popsicle honestly same lol

[@chyhart]

i only get a few minutes holding mine before she's bored of my hand and wants to explore. I need to find a safe way to give her some outside her cage space with out worrying she jumps off the bed or gets lost under a dresser or in a closet.. like the last time she got out her cage. Little Houdini

[@chickenalpaca0332]

H C Maybe get her one of those rabbit/guinea pig foldable fence things

[@anaxsaiaroblox2060]

citrus.popsicle same skat

[@amenadieltheangel]

Sameee broo

[@BANDO2232]

Amazing way of picking him up, the bedding your using for your leopard lizard I wouldn’t recommend as u can see when he picked him up his claws tend to get stuck into the flooring, doesn’t typically hurt them but I sure wouldn’t want my feet constantly getting caught, 100% the best way of picking your leopard lizard up tho!

[@bloodlxlart9958]

You embody a very Steve Irwin approach with your animals. Love the plethora of information and warm nature! You can tell the animals are in good hands

[@desireewolf9458]

Your videos taught me enough to where my mum is considering getting me a leopard gecko. It will be a long time(for financial reasons) but I think she'll actually let me.

[@desireewolf9458]

She decided that because I know so much about it that its fine XD

[@desireewolf9458]

+Desiree Wolf plus I'll save 15% or more on car insurance(had to make that joke)

[@jrivv2239]

Hope this journey turned out well for you now, 4 years later. Leopard geckos are not super demanding, but keep reptiles has much higher initial investment than people think, regardless if they are beginner or more advanced reptiles. Knowledge, and the constant pursue of knowledge is everything with exotic pets.

[@Nuamoi]

I just did it, I think it went pretty well for my 1st time

[@Sara-yi9wg]

I love leopard gecko !

[@lameass2663]

love dinosaurs me too I have one

[@aejanimation5438]

@@lameass2663 yeah tiny dinosaur s are amazing, I have two

[@glamorousnoobs6026]

im getting leopard gecko for my birthday but i want yours it's just so cute and it looks like it smiling

[@princessprank5825]

Thanks this is soo helpful. I am doing research about thesis beautiful creatures. I would really love one.

[@bryanbottomley4478]

You congrats on just hitting 400k man.your good at this kind of stuff. I have a leopard gecko he's little and I'm trying to get him to where he ain't scared and always calm. Keep up the good work😀

[@eraserheadbaby77]

such an adorable animal!!

[@GoHerping]

Yeah, leopard geckos are really cute!

[@jessef2te254]

They can loose weight in a drop.

[@facefisted]

Jesse F2TE haha so funny

[@BaamtheSSJBaller-RAGOAT]

Leopard Geckolover124 what

[@ellahatch2226]

I wish I could do that🤨

[@randomperson6087]

If you lost a whole limb, then yes, you’d lose weight

[@mauricethegecko9700]

Yeah if I lost my leg I'd definitely lose weight!! I didnt realize this before

[@betsyjackson-wright9005]

Thank you! This was very helpful. My daughter asked me to care for her Gecko and he started walking into my hand. I was uncertain how to handle him. Your video was very helpful. Looking forward to the next time her wants to visit me!

[@susexghosthunters]

Your video is very helpful. My daughter has just got a leopard gecko and he’s very feisty. We’ve only had him a few days and he’s bitten her through feeling threatened I’m guessing. I’ve been getting him out in the evening when the house is quiet for 5 minutes or until he seems like he’s had enough so I’m hoping it’ll help him feel safe when we handle him and give him a happy, contented life!

[@kazzaquatics5681]

My gecko likes to be touched on the head and not the body lol. She rubs her head on my hand/fingers, but moves away when I touch her body lol.

[@pepperam5694]

Aww, I found this video linked in a gecko care article. Baby Alex, so cute! And Goldie!

[@Baileymak51]

i just bought a leopard gecko today he’s fairly small and young

[@alexia2600]

how is he doing

[@Baileymak51]

@@alexia2600 fun fact learned that the pet store didn’t know what they were talking about and it’s a female, but she’s doing great.

[@YTStarGazer]

@@Baileymak51 Now two years from your purchase, how are they?

[@sueholmes1488]

Can you make a video on what to do if your gecko doesn't want to be handled🌷🌺🦎please respond

[@cubneb2663]

Put calcium on your hand and let the gecko lick it and i guess it shall calm the gecko down?

[@Aidancordell]

then dont handle it

[@donaldtharider4688]

Yeah some pets are stubborn and grouchy if they bite when picking it up put on a glove that way when it bites it knows your still going to pick it up. When it snap at you and you leave it alone in its mind there like. Hey that works they left me alone. When they realise your going to still hold them and you wont hurt them. Then their like that wasnt so bad. Then they will become less nippy. Now some will still nip but not as much resistance

[@bakerm4ker]

donald tha rider do you know what type of glove to put on ?

[@pewpewcat7679]

@@bakerm4ker you don't need a glove for leopard geckos lmao

[@4everbuffylover]

And what you do when the gecko decides he immediately wants to run up your arm everytime you pick him up

[@Aks_Reptiles]

This video is an old gem

[@SageD5]

Most people say, “Leopard gecko handling takes time!” Or “You can’t just pick them up like that!” But the gecko will only be scared for a few seconds

[@shaynah2348]

Thank you, we finally got to hold our leopard gecko!

[@Fleetwaysonicrules]

"It can be very dangerous for them. You can have them grow it back, but..." Mine isn't the kind that grows it back.

[@gnasalroad]

your are a great instructor

[@StealthyGamerGuy]

what morph of leopard gecko is goldie

[@shininghaleys3561]

Hypo tangerine baldy

[@Hoverstruck]

My gecko is already tamed but I think he’s starting to love me again

[@jennychoi974]

mine just jump when i carry like that.

[@ok-dm1xv]

Same

[@RadiantReptilia]

Cool.

[@Thurston86]

Aw! It’s a cute baby Herpes! Not sure why the algorithm is recommending this random old video, but I’m glad it did.

[@purllow]

Aids

[@estrella5563]

Mine shakes a tad bit and made a scream ish noise 🥴 help Edit: When i pick her up once and a while

[@knaesh]

maybe she isnt quite used to you

[@alcesalces2218]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate totoro on the wall in the background 👁️👄👁️

[@keithdouglass3618]

🐍🐊🐨 have a shingleback. beardy . blue tongue .you are correct in the pick ups .they are relaxed and know what I'm doing. Keith Australia

[@aliciamarie7881]

Your channel is so cute and fun!! Keep up the hard work!!!

[@purgry5016]

my leopard gecko is going though skin changing, What should i Do to make it feel comfy?

[@shininghaleys3561]

I know I'm late but all info is good isn't it? You should make sure their humid hide is nice and humid and leave them alone. Give them quiet and time, do check in on them when the shed may be done to help get stuck shed off for them!♡

[@norasvedin1408]

Thanks! You really helped me

[@neelaluoma]

Thank you this helped a lot!!! I got a new leo. I was afraid I was scaring him. But this helped.

[@yaboivlogs8814]

Thats thumbnail is the most evil leopard gecko expression i have see in my life

[@RUGER5264]

I did it just from the thumbnail! Thank you!

[@gladly_a_nerd866]

Wait so i’ve been doing it right, i thought i was doing it completely wrong

[@ryannedupuis8409]

Okay I really need to know- when you’re holding your gecko, would they possibly jump out of your hands and run away?

[@JohnDRock-we5jo]

Most likely not.

[@michaelperry49]

I recently just purchased a female yellow and black spotted leopard gecko. She has been with me for 4 days now and is warming up. Had her crawling around in my bed was watching a movie and she was quite calm/still. Really want to buy a bearded dragon nect.

[@stacysmojo9127]

Goldie is very cute! ❣️

[@sophiedavies8458]

I just got a fat tailed gecko so this was very helpful! Thanks for making this

[@moneymaks24]

If my new gecko still didn’t eat after a week. Should I still try to pick him up?

[@knaesh]

um no

[@User-cx2yh]

This was so helpful you are awesome 😀

[@tobias2375]

I can’t wait to get my gecko ❤️ your gecko is so cute and the way the bowl flipped, it melted my heart. Thank you a lot for showing me how to!!

[@no-go2vs]

i always picked mine up with two fingers and placed him on my hand oh crap

[@mauricethegecko9700]

*OOF*

[@p0isonvoid]

his gecko is so cute

[@evelynbogdan]

When it went in the bowl I laughed out loud XD but thx for the info I will definitely take this into accountability while handelingmy gecko!

[@sebr6596]

Alright thanks now i can grab the gecko that somehow made its way in my bathroom

[@chasechex6816]

What kind of leopard gecko is that i love how yellow it is. Mine is brown

[@roul4842]

Just got my leo today. She's my first time owning a reptile. I think she's pretty young still based on her size.

[@Tate.R.Tot.Hottie]

There is only pet stores near me that sell leopard geckos should I look into the pet store or no?

[@caitlinsampson5334]

Hey! We just got a new gecko. It is quite small. We’ve had him three days and they run away from us and tries to get up the glass. Still isn’t eating either. He’s maybe had three crickets since we’ve had him. Any advice would be appreciated

[@asteriaaeg]

my colleague who works with terrestrial animals said that geckos are tend to be more active and jumpy when u try to touch them if they're still babies. mine is also still jumpy too since she's only 2.5 months old. as for the food, maybe you might want to try smaller ones in size, like dubia roaches or mealworms, because my gecko eats mealworms since she's still a baby. hope it helps 👌

[@PMSM3x1burrit0]

My baby Leo seems to only really like to be under her/his log on the heat side. I feed dusted crickets at night and in the morning they’re gone, which tells me she/he is eating just fine. Still no luck with meal worms. I let the baby settle in the tank for two days before handling and they seem skittish and weary of being held and when they’re eventually in my palm they relax and then sprint across my arms and chest exploring. I know I’ve read multiple times that babies tend to be very hidden and give it time (only had them for almost four days now) but I’m terrified of them not trusting me.

[@chrisknowles7200]

Hey love your videos keep up the good work👍

[@gachailly218]

Well. This is gonna be scary. But at the same, my one is a class pet.

[@JaydenL.]

First day i got him it was like we were meant to be And We Just Love To Slack

[@totallyremitm3900]

All I actually have to do to get my leopard gecko is to put my hand in front of her and she climbs on XD I've only had her 2 weeks XD she likes walking on my chest and getting pet on the chin

[@poof8421]

I gonna get my first leopard gecko tommorow ;)

[@pantsooa9542]

/0478,Venray\ so, how’s your gecko

[@loriebedard3985]

Same but in 2019

[@grantprimeaux4998]

Poof yah but in august 2019

[@mauricemunnytmsp8051]

Poof I know this is late but same I’m adopting from a foster care ;D

[@mauricethegecko9700]

I got mine :D

[@jroopy2162]

hey new just subscribed to you love your videos I have a question I'm an intermediate when it comes to reptiles have had ball pythons bearded dragon veiled chameleons but never a Leopard gecko and really want some I'm a start doing some research on them before I buy but wanted to start by can you house more than 1 at least 2 there whole life and if you have at least 2 how big should be the tank from babies to adults?

[@GoHerping]

Thank you! You can house females together. Since males are territorial, they may end up fighting. You can also house a male and a female but only if you plan on breeding them. I'd say the general rule is a 20 gallon for 1, then an additional 10 gallons for each extra gecko. So a 30 to 40 gallon would be best for two adult females.

[@jroopy2162]

+GoHerping so I can keep 2 females in the same tank for there whole life and they won't fight?

[@GoHerping]

Yeah, females basically always get along just fine as long as they each have access to their own hide so you won't have any problems. It's good to try and get two that are about the same age just to be safe.

[@jroopy2162]

+GoHerping thanks appreciate the info

[@spud_tango0786]

I got my leopard gecko yesterday her name is tango and I started to handle her and she is very tame and calm.

[@EllaquinnanimalADVENTURES]

I JUST GOT one 🎉

[@carsonsaquariums]

That is the same setup that I have my gecko in

[@chyhart]

When i first got my baby, she was real scared and didn't want to come out of her cave. I lizard whispered her. I would basically play hide n seek with her. Peaking in and dipping away, she started getting curious as to where i went.. she started peeking out too. To the point she'd come to the glass and look to see where i went. It was cute. I still didn't try to grab her or hold her. I would put my hand in her tank, be near her, let her sniff/lick me. I did this for a while I'd give her a flat hand to examine until she got used to my scent and presence in her space. The day she stepped on my hand on her own was really awesome. I still didn't take her out, i did mini lifts with my fingers, and let her move off on her own. Now she nuzzles my fingers, paws at my hand, and wants to climb right onto it when ever i put my hand in there. Super sweet girl. ..but she's a jumper i found out, and will try to escape and has no concept of height. She did jump off my hand when putting her back once.. and she fell on her rock cave it was only about a 4 inch fall, but she's small :( poor thing.. She ended up being fine but she didn't speak to me for 2 weeks. Literally she was pissed at me for 2 solid weeks.

[@daddypopo6956]

I breed Leo's all they need is a 30 quart tub and a small rubber maid tub filled with Eco earth with a hole on the top as a hide box with a paper substrate you can put 3 females in one of tub there all fine

[@jkrabby6658]

Daddypopo 69 Troll.

[@dywanekempson5441]

thank you for this video it really helped me out a lot thank you very much

[@mariamontgomery8070]

I dropped the rick trying to pick mines up and now he he hates me and scared

[@mariamontgomery8070]

Rock* but it’s plastic work so don’t worry

[@spacenoodles5601]

I have a leopard gecko and he is such a bratty little thing lol his name is Freddie Mercury or Freddie/Fred for short

[@hitormissgabriella7345]

I though overhandling caused stress

[@bailey5649]

ok so if im holding my gecko and hes still not used to me will he run off my bed im really scared of that happening especially since hes so little.

[@woshu6045]

hes now on my back what do i do

[@3llaMushu]

LOL ME

[@kessirenee3225]

He looks EXACTLY like my gecko

[@jarthegiraffe3303]

Can anyone give me advice? My gecko literally tries to jump from my hand into the floor every time I pick him up and I’m afraid he’s going to seriously hurt himself

[@thomasmiller3719]

I have a hatchling should I wait a few days or in a couple of weeks

[@Gumorisco11]

My gecko hisses at me 🥺 and tries to bite me i get bit nervous to grab him

[@landolizards2312]

Gman 207 that is normal. One thing I would recommend would be to just put your hand in the tank and stay still and wiggle your fingers a bit to get it used to your hand and then after a couple of days your gecko should get used to your hand. All geckos are different but that's what worked for me.

[@Gumorisco11]

@@landolizards2312 oh nice bro last time i wore a glove lol he was on my palm's then out of no where started biting the glove like a dog moving back and forth lol

[@knifedeku452]

I've had mine for about a couple months now, my friend gave it to me and roomate because of his newborn, no more time for the geeko. So now I got him and I've carried him around once but I just want to learn to do it correctly, hes my first lizard and as of right now I want more haha thanks for your video really helped. ( mine climbs my hand when I set it in its habitat, my roomates a little jealous cause it doesnt do that to him x) ) probably all those extra meal worms I give him hahaha x) xD (Ps- dope totorro on the wall :D

[@taylorgodfrey7932]

My gecko doesn't like to be handled at all he screams hes young and i am to scared to even touch him as I am scared to hurt him I don't go for his head or tail and I try everyday to put my hand in the tank and see if he's ok with me or would come to my hand and he screams and bites me what do I do

[@ejw7824]

I gave mine away he is now at a school he is about 9 years old and is very healthy

[@Bookedsphere]

ok so i've been holding mine for awhile now but the last week ive been doing it alot (at night) but everytime i try to hold him he gets in a way that i cannot hold him and so i pet him very gently and he always bites me! what do i do???

[@GoHerping]

What do you mean by he gets in a way you can't hold him? Like he curls up or something? You can try to simply place your hand in there and see if he licks it, or walks up on his own. You can let him start to simply get used to seeing your hand so you could try placing it in next to him for a couple minutes a few times a day so he no longer sees it as dangerous. Also, just continuing to calmly lift him, even just for like a minute, could get him to slowly adjust.

[@Bookedsphere]

yea he curls up, and ive been putting my hand in there for like a couple weeks now he will lick one of my fingers then run away every time i do it

[@truneforesown9194]

Young boi swag

[@solomonking1886]

What do I do if my male is really stressed he is and I am getting scared he will die

[@GoHerping]

Do you know what's causing the stress? Handling? Temperature? Noise around the enclosure?

[@piercebrown911]

Is it safe to lift up the hide in order to get to the gecko? Or would that traumatize the gecko as they start to think the hides aren't safe anymore?

[@bailey5649]

haha my gecko thinks my hand is food

[@jerimaddox6945]

Name suggestion if you haven't named it, yet: Raphael. Call it Rafi for short?

[@Daniel-kj5er]

I'm getting another gecko that looks like sunny what should I name her?

[@faitho903]

I am getting a leopard gecko soon I can’t wait🤞☺️

[@zzimmerman5559]

Why is my gecko so squirmy when i hold him? If any body knows please reply.

[@mauricethegecko9700]

I think he might be good now. It has been 4 months since your comment. If he hasn't, it's because some geckos take longer to get used to you than others

[@nathanparris1368]

I’m pretty sure my Leopard gecko had some really bad experience because the first time I opened his lid he dropped his tail. Now I can put my hand in his cage and he will walk on it but any time I move he runs into a hide. If has been six months already and I’m starting to loose motivation.

[@hollyclifton505]

Can you tell me what you should do when you first take your new gecko home