Leopard geckos are the most submissive and easygoing pet reptiles you will encounter. Although being a first-time exotic pet owner, it might take a while and effort to form a bond.
So, how do you bond with a leopard gecko? First, ensure that your gecko’s environment is free from stressors inside and outside their enclosure, and also learn how to handle your pet to build trust between you two properly. You will form a bond with your gecko with a little persistence and patience.
Below are a few tips and tricks to help strengthen your bond.
1. A Good Habitat
The first thing is to ensure that your leopard gecko is in the best environment possible. Also, ensure the enclosure has a variety of hides, enough space to climb and explore, appropriate temperature, which should range between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit and a humidity of 50%-70%.
Ensure the enclosure has no cracks or sharp edges for your leopard gecko to fall into or get injured. In addition, make sure that their enclosure is free of loud noises or other stressors inside and outside their tank.
2. Feeding Time
Providing food for your gecko is a great way to build a connection. Holding and hand-feeding your gecko is a great way to create a bond. These will help your leopard gecko associate presence with food; for example, the special sound, tone of your voice, or the enclosure opening or other sounds you make, your gecko will start to associate them with meal time.
Also, being present while your leo is hunting is a good idea, as it gives you the benefit of a positive connection with the food.
3. Create a Signature Sound
Create a signature sound that your leopard gecko can associate with you during feeding. You can use snaps, click, or humming. Using the sound to mean something good by making it while you like hanging out with your gecko or feeding him is the best time to form a positive association.
When your gecko can associate your special sound with a good thing like fun outside the tank or food, you can start using it on different occasions, like when your dip him in a water bath to help him peel the remaining skin; this will help calm him down as it is usually a stressful time for them.
You can also use the signature sound to communicate with your gecko. These will help your leopard gecko associate the tone and sound of your voice or that signature sound. Consistency is key; therefore, use the same sound and tone if you are talking to your gecko daily, so it gets used to it.
4. Practice Proper Handling Skills
Placing your hand in your leopard geckos’ tank and giving them time to explore, lick or sniff is a good start. If the gecko has built enough trust, it will climb into your palm or may show no interest. Just continue placing your hand flat in the tank, let them get used to you, and understand that it’s not a threat and will eventually climb into your hand.
If he doesn’t, position your hand to your gecko’s side, with your fingers pointing towards him, gently work your fingers under its body as you slowly curl your fingers to cup your Leo in your hand, ensuring you are positioned to support its body weight before you lift him.
If it gets scared and sprints forward, let it go and try again. Don’t try to close your hand to grab your Leo, as it is already pretty sacred and may drop its tail.
Also, ensure when you are handling your leopard geckos that there are no loud noises, such as loud music playing simultaneously, because these can frighten them. You can do this later when it has gotten used to being around such noises with time.
5. Let Your Leo Familiarize With Your Smell
Leopard geckos utilize their sense of smell for survival and can register foreign smells. You can get them to know your scent better by handling your gecko more, which will get them to trust you.
Remember to wash your hand before and after handling him; therefore, your scent is subject to the soap. You can also consider putting something like tissues or an old rag that has your scent in their terrarium.
6. Respect the Routine
Leopard geckos are crepuscular, meaning they are active around dawn and dusk and sleep during the day. In the wild, this is when the temperatures are more tolerable, and even though in captivity, they don’t have to deal with these harsh temperatures, their instincts lead them to be active during these times.
Keeping this in mind, create a routine for you and your Leo and connect it to food; this will be a good start, although just handling your gecko will help build a bond.
Therefore, don’t go pulling your gecko at random hours throughout the day because they prefer a routine, and waking them up at odd hours for random handling could cause them to get stressed.
7. Manage Your Expectations
After some time, you can build a bond with your gecko where it will recognize your signature sound or you and will generally be happy to interact. Just remember your gecko is still a reptile and is known to be generally solitary.
With a little patience, your gecko will get used to the routine, familiarize itself with your sound, and may even greet you at the front of its tank when they hear your sound during the regularly scheduled meal time.
8. Conclusion
To bond with your leopard gecko, you must first build trust for him to feel secure and safe around you. Once he gets used to the routine you’ve set, the signature sound, and the environment and learns that you are not a threat, he will gradually learn to enjoy your company.