There are so many cute names you can use to call your pet. Common household pets such as cats and dogs will recognize their name and come to you when you call them. Therefore, when you get a leopard gecko as a pet, can you name it and use it during feeding and handling?
So, do leopard geckos respond to their name? Leopard geckos do not respond to their name. However, a leopard gecko will respond to the sound you make when calling its name. Most of the time, you will call your leopard gecko by its name when feeding it. After some time, your leopard gecko will start to associate the sound you make with it getting food. So, whenever you call your leopard gecko’s name, it might respond by raising its head or coming towards you.
As a pet owner, It is nice and convenient when you call your leopard gecko by its name, and it responds. To understand more about this issue, read on to find out if leopard geckos recognize their owners, whether leopard geckos show affection, and whether geckos get attached to their owners.
It is a good feeling to walk into your home, and your pet instantly recognizes you. Pets such as dogs and cats will run to you when you get home or show excitement when they see you. Therefore, you might be wondering if your leopard dragon might recognize you when you come back home.
Most leopard geckos can recognize their owners. However, it is usually after some time, and their owners have put in an effort to bond with them. Leopard geckos are reptiles. Reptile pets take a long time to form bonds with their owners. Leopard geckos will walk to the glass of their cage whenever their owner approaches their enclosure. Leopard geckos can also recognize the voice of their owner whenever they call their name.
One of the methods leopard geckos use to recognize you is your scent. Leopard geckos have excellent eyesight, but they use smell to identify their owners. Before handling your leopard gecko, you should use unscented soap to wash your hands.
One of the reasons your leopard gecko will be aggressive towards you even after spending time with it is a change of scent. Therefore, you should avoid wearing perfumes, colognes and washing your hands with scented soap before handling your leopard gecko.
Sometimes, your leopard gecko will raise its head or walk towards you when you call its name. Leopard geckos can recognize their owners through their owner’s voices. Most people will name their leopard geckos and call them during feeding, bathing, or any other activity. If the leopard gecko likes the activity, it will associate the sound you make when calling it with something positive. You might think your leopard gecko recognizes its name, but it only recognizes the sound you are making. If another person calls your leopard gecko by its name, it will not respond.
If you want your leopard gecko to recognize you, you have to gain its trust. After getting your leopard gecko home, it will be scared of you and you have to ensure that you do not harm it in any way. You should start by handling your leopard gecko a few times a day so that it can get used to your scent. Your body will also provide warmth for your leopard gecko, making it more comfortable around you. However, do not handle your leopard gecko if it does not want to. Take it back to its enclosure and try another time.
Leopard geckos love to eat, and you can use food to gain its trust. You can try hand feeding. After a few days, your leopard gecko will start to associate you with food. You should also properly handle your leopard gecko. Do not pick up your leopard gecko from above. Put your hand underneath your leopard gecko and let it climb on your palm.
Some leopard geckos will stay still, while others will try to walk all over you and explore. The more time you spend with your leopard gecko, the more it gets used to your presence. You should be persistent and consistent. Bonding with your leopard gecko takes time.
Do Leopard Geckos Show Affection?
Most household pets will show affection to their owners. Before getting a leopard gecko as a pet, you need to know what makes them happy and how social they are in captivity.
Unfortunately, leopard geckos do not show affection towards their owners. Sometimes, people confuse their reaction to positive things as a show of affection. For example, when you put your hand in your leopard gecko’s cage and it starts to climb on it. It does not mean that your leopard gecko wants to spend time with you. Most of the time, they are bored staying in the cage, and your arm is just their way of getting out of the cage.
Leopard geckos have no problem spending time alone. As long as they have food and water in their enclosure, you can go away for a few days, and your leopard gecko might not even be interested in you when you come back.
Even if your leopard gecko does not show affection, it can spend time with you as long as it can benefit from it. For example, most leopard geckos will walk on your arm and rest on your neck for warmth. Since your leopard gecko cannot generate its body heat, it will use you as a heat source.
Leopard geckos born and bred in captivity tend to be more receptive to human beings than those found in the wild. The leopard geckos can be friendly because they are used to the presence of human beings. If you want an easy-going leopard gecko, then choose the one born in captivity. However, it does not mean that bonding with your leopard gecko will be an easy task. You still have to work hard for your leopard gecko to trust you.
Do Geckos Get Attached to Their Owners?
There is always an inherent need for the owner to create and maintain a strong connection with their pet. Some animals are very social, and it makes it easy to get them attached to you. After spending time with your leopard gecko, you might be wondering if your pet is attached to you.
Leopard geckos do not get attached to their owners, but they can recognize your scent if you spend more time with them. Leopard geckos’ minds revolve around food, reproduction, and survival. Interacting with human beings is not something they look forward to each day. Your leopard gecko might seem attached to you because they know you are not a threat. If you do something to challenge their perception of you, they will suddenly become aggressive or scared of you.
You can gain your leopard gecko’s trust by talking to your leopard gecko. Leopard geckos may not recognize words but can recognize the sounds you make each time you spend time feeding or bathing them. Your leopard gecko will associate the positive things with the sounds you make. You should also give your leopard gecko space to be alone. If your leopard gecko is aggressive or tries to walk away from you, let it go. Do not force your leopard gecko to cuddle with you.
The type of enclosure you get your leopard gecko will determine if it likes your presence or not. Get a tank that opens from the front. When you pick up your leopard gecko, a tank that opens from the front makes it easy for your leopard gecko to see you. If you get a tank that opens from the top, your leopard gecko will not see you pick it up most of the time. Leopard geckos act on instincts most of the time and might react aggressively if a hand suddenly shows up above it.
You can also take your leopard gecko outside to get some heat and sunlight. You may have installed a UV light and heating pad in your leopard gecko’s tank, but natural sunlight once in a while is good for your pet. Taking your leopard gecko outside will make your leopard gecko trust you, and look forward to hanging out with you again. Make sure it is safe to take your leopard gecko outside and do let leave it unsupervised.
Final Word
Leopard geckos are not affectionate creatures, and they only get comfortable around you when they trust you. You can still spend time cuddling or handling your leopard geckos. You can train your leopard gecko to get used to you, but it takes a lot of time. You have to be persistent, but if your leopard gecko remains aggressive toward you, you may have to enjoy it from the other side of the glass.
Most of the time, leopard gecko owners will mistake their actions as being attached to them. Your leopard gecko might climb and rest on your neck, it is not that it wants to cuddle you, but it is seeking the heat. If your leopard gecko trusts you, do not break that trust by doing things that will scare them away. You should avoid picking them up from above, changing your perfumes and colognes, and washing your hands with scented soap.
