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#1844516
GatorGirl286
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Help with socializing please! 
Hey everyone. Just got my first leo three days ago! He is maybe a month old? I will post pics as soon as he comes out of hiding long enough for me to take some! Don’t want to force him out of hiding and stress him too much right now. His setup is as follows: 10 gallon tank with screen top, UTH on one side, 60 watt bulb above keeps warm side temp at about 88-90 and around 80 at night, there is a dry hide on the warm side, and a dry hide on the cool side, and a hide with moist moss in the middle but more near the warm side, water bowl and calcium bowl as well. Substrate is one layer of cage carpet and on top of that is a micro fiber kitchen rug i found at bed bath and beyond that is fire resistant and has no loops or anything for him to get stuck on and I cut to the exact size of the tank. Seems to be working out pretty well. I plan on feeding crickets and mealworms everyday til he gets a little bigger, then feeding every other day, vitamin dusting every other meal and the occasional waxworm treat. So far he has eaten one mealworm and one cricket.
My main question is what is the best way to get him used to being handled without stressing him too much? The one and only time I tried to handle him, he hissed at me. I have read that some leos just end up not liking being handled regardless of what you do but I feel that it is definitely worth a shot to see if he can be tamed. Bring on the advice! I also welcome any criticism or tips you guys have on my setup or feeding regimen! I want him to be happy and healthy!
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08/27/08 07:41pm
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#1844602
Daveim
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Message To: GatorGirl286 In reference to Message Id: 1844516
Help with socializing please!
No comments on the handling, but my advice is that you move he humid hide to the cool side. you can put some structure in the middle such as a log, or just leave it as open space.
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08/27/08 09:03pm
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#1844955
GatorGirl286
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Message To: Daveim In reference to Message Id: 1844602
Help with socializing please!
I also have one more question. I mist the moss in the humid hide everyday but how often should I be changing the actual moss?
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08/28/08 10:31am
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#1845010
Boo~
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Message To: GatorGirl286 In reference to Message Id: 1844955
Help with socializing please!
first question - well when i first got my gecko he was like that a little. he ran very fast. so i just put him on my hand and kept my hand in the tank, and i held him like that for a while, and then a couple weeks later, i took him out and just sat with him. now i can do the dishes with him sitting on my shoulder. anyways, i held him under the heatlamp i had in the cage, which was a mistake, he fell asleep on my hand, so i got a sunburn.
second question[moss] - i usually remove the moss when it doesn’t smell like moss anymore. it was a weird smell. and it takes about 3 months, maybe.
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08/28/08 12:07pm
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#1847295
GatorGirl286
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Message To: Boo~ In reference to Message Id: 1845010
Help with socializing please!
Made a breakthrough with my little one today! He used to hiss and scream at the sight of my hand in his tank but today he let me hold him on the bed for about 10 minutes. Gonna try doing this every other day or so. I think he will turn out to be a very friendly little guy. :-)
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08/30/08 07:49pm
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#1847304
Peas_on_earth
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Message To: GatorGirl286 In reference to Message Id: 1847295
Help with socializing please!
Slowly but surely. When I got mine, I use to stick my hand in their cage, then slowly move it so they can lick it. I do this right before I tong feed them...now when I slide open my cage, they perk up and come right over.
Also try introducing yourself to them while they’re awake like at night....that way they’re more curious, not just jolted from being woken up.
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08/30/08 08:01pm
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#1847309
Egg2lizard
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Message To: Peas_on_earth In reference to Message Id: 1847304
Help with socializing please!
don’t let him fall in the garbage disposal.. 
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08/30/08 08:04pm
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