Confusion has set in

[KrownedPrynce]

this is my first post on ssnakess although im here readin all the time ....its where ive reserched 3 of my reptiles including my first before buying ...well i want to get a crestie (well maybe a couple) ..and have them in a natural setting ....there is one issue however ..i would like to handle them ...now i dont have the time to do it every day ..nor would i care to ..but in the event i wanted to take him out for a spell i would like the option to do so...now heres where the confusion has set in....65 percent of websites say they are handleable a few times a week...they other 35 said dont handle them at all..im confused because im constantly seeing pics with people having them in their hands...if someone with cresties could tell me what they do and how often it would be greatly apprieated.:cool:

[thunder]

i think that they can be handled once they have some size, but not when they are fragile babies.

[DragnDrop]

They TOLERATE being handled, but I will bet money that they don't WANT to be handled.
If you gently handle them, handfeed sometimes, work in their enclosure, they'll learn that your hand isn't dangerous, nothing to worry about. Eventually they'll learn that 'the hand' is just another perch, one that sometimes comes complete with food - great combo deal, why not go along with it?
Even though we would love to think they like us, like being picked up and carried around, they just see us as a convenient tool towards some other goal. Unlike some reptiles or other pet species, Rhacs are fast to learn new tricks. The trick they do that we love the most is not running away from 'the hand'.
Leopard geckos do that eventually when they'r older and higher up the food chain, fat-tail geckos seem to lean it right out of the egg, maybe it's ESP for them. Even tokays can be tamed with patience. All we're really doing is teaching them that we aren't dangerous and if they sit on our hands or shoulders or heads and don't poop on us, we'll reward them with a treat.

I have some cresties that I handle, they like the trade-off ... sit on my hand for a few minutes and get a treat -- why not? Doesn't hurt and they probably like to see the silly grin on my face, makes them feel good to know they made another idiot happy ;) Some of mine just won't sit, they wont stay on anyone's hand, no way, no how. They don't care if they have to find their own food and think I look silly with that idiotic grin anyways, so let them be, thank you very much.

It all depends on the crestie. They don't all calm down though. My oldest male hasn't let me hold him more than twice since I got him over 8 years ago, not even a promise of taking his picture to show the online world is enough to get him to trust me, so I don't handle him, don't photograph him, just respect his wishes. The biggest suckiest crestie I have will come to the door when I open it, just in case I want to hold her. The majority are in between there - they'll sit still a while and then want to go back home. When they get antsy and start jumping, it's time to put them back. My leachianus gives a soft whistling type noise, like a loud exhale through her nose, enough warning to put her back. If I ignore it, she poops on me. A leachie can poop. You don't want to experience it a second time, so she knows she'll be back home once she lets me know. With cresties, you have to read the signals.
If yours is agreeable to handling, go for it. If not, then don't bug him/her, get another one to add to the collection. You'll eventually want a dozen of them anyways, so getting more until you have a calm one is okay. :)

[labomb2]

Mine are all different, as young ones they are super fast and jumpy and I limit handling them so not to take a chance on an injury. As they get older they seem to calm down and slow down. I have a male about 3yrs old that absolutely does not like to be handled and always poops. I have an older female that tolerates handling. I generally just handle enough to check them over for injuries or whatever and check their weight. They don't seem to be overly stressed by limited handling.

[little_dragon_]

I handle my geckos for inspection, cleaning, checking for eggs, or giving them an extra treat of fruit mixture off of my finger. If someone comes over I might bring one out to show them but only when they're sitting down. I find it really easy to aniticipate their movements. We all know of the frog position before they jump from hand to hand. And the slight tail lift before leaving a present on your shirt or coffee table.

[babysweet]

I handle all of my cresties, usually twice a week, just to check them out, weigh them, offer them a treat, etc. I have noticed that they are getting calmer... whether that is simply the slowness that comes with age or they are actually getting used to being handled.

I do have one, my little Skye, who LOVES to be handled. It's damn near impossible to put him back sometimes. Our biggest (and hopefully female!) crestie, Buick, is the worst one for trying to escape.

I also find that handling them in the afternoon rather than the evening is much easier, and safer. Even Buick moves a little slower.

Kim

P.S. I'm also guilty of showing them off to company. However, I don't let ANYONE handle them but me. They're so tiny, and so easily hurt... and in the forefront of my mind (as with all the creatures who share my home) is that they are MY responsibility. Remember that, and you'll be just fine. :)

[crestedgecko]

Hey everyone. I do agree that handling your crested gecko is good but to much handling or rough handling can lead to tail loss or other injuries. I also agree you should keep handling to minimum when the cresties are babies, only handle them when you have to.

Thank you

Matthew Geddes

[crestedgecko]

Also there can be positive awards to handling. When they are taken out numerous times they will eventually come up to the lid of the cage and practicly beg to come out. PS. Most of the time they know you are just going to give them food. I think it is really cute.

Thank You

Matthew Geddes

[Cedille]

I only have 1 breeding pair (and subsequently, their babies) that i obtained when they were already adults. They were never handled by their previous owner, so i've never handled them, either. They're very skittish.

The babies, however, don't seem to mind being molested at all :) They come out and sit in my hands while i feed them, and always try to climb out of their cages when i take the lids off.