Need Help with a 8 months to one year old leopard gecko!!!

[leboshade]

I just got my leopard gecko and it seems like she was never handled by her breeder, because when I try to handle her she runs away from me and corners herself like if she is very afraid of me so I then leave her alone because I don't want to risk her losing her tail by me stressing her too much.

I hope by me going into her tank daily to change out her water bowl and spot cleaning that she would eventually get used to me. It has been a week now and she is starting to feed in front of me, when I put crickets in her tank she runs out of her hide and starts munching. Also is it OK to feed her alot? Because she can eat up to 10 to 12 crickets daily. After two weeks I plan to start trying to move my hand near her as if to try and pet her and so on. Hopefully this approach would eventually get her tamed. And when I mean tame I don't mean liek for me to take her out and start playing with her I just mean for me to be able to handle her without her freaking out.
Also would it help to hand feed her to get her more used to me?

I give my thanks to anyone who is willing to help me out on this!!

Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Alex G]

Sounds like you've got a good plan so far. It is definitely best to give them some space when they are in a stressful stage in their life (ie moved to a new environment with new smells and sounds). Some leos, regardless of handling experience, will always run when you try to pick them up, ESPECIALLY if you're grabbing them from above, as this is how predators would come at them. I would not hand feed as not all leos have good senses of where the food ends and the food-holder begins, which my tongs can attest to. One thing you can try is sticking your hand in the tank and just leaving it there, very still, for a few minutes at dusk or nighttime. Eventually, curiosity will overcome them and they may come out to investigate.

 

[deborahbroadus]

Sounds like you've got a good plan so far. It is definitely best to give them some space when they are in a stressful stage in their life (ie moved to a new environment with new smells and sounds). Some leos, regardless of handling experience, will always run when you try to pick them up, ESPECIALLY if you're grabbing them from above, as this is how predators would come at them. I would not hand feed as not all leos have good senses of where the food ends and the food-holder begins, which my tongs can attest to. One thing you can try is sticking your hand in the tank and just leaving it there, very still, for a few minutes at dusk or nighttime. Eventually, curiosity will overcome them and they may come out to investigate.