Then, I will put them into the normal routine. Also, you can use a home-made liquid supplement called “slurry” to get some nutrition into your leo, but more on that later. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. Offer your leo whatever he likes to eat most to pull him out of the anorexic state. Perhaps your heat bulb burned out, the heat mat stopped working, perhaps there's a draft going into the cage, or maybe you never had a heat source for your leopard gecko and now it's just gotten too cold. Fortunately, due to their metabolism and fatty deposits, leos can live normally for a surprisingly long time without any food. Katarina is an environmental analyst and she has been involved with herpetology researches. I've had her for about a month now. However, if your leopard gecko is refusing to eat, don’t get desperate. While we do our best to answer your comments as soon as possible, we can’t answer them daily. Urate plugs can also cause a blockage of fecal matter. Could my pet be cold? Consider the following 7 reasons below. Gecko stomachs have a hard time digesting sand, and I really believe calcium sand should be avoided. Leopard geckos can lose their appetites for a variety of reasons. If your pet is sluggish or has other symptoms, a trip to the vet is a good idea. Your email address will not be published. Leopard Gecko Lizards Not Eating. It would be extremely cruel to create experiments to determine that, but anecdotal evidence obtained thanks to gecko escapees and poorly kept animals tell us that they can last for a month or even more without food. Some will recommend force-feeding as a last resort. Ask Question Asked 3 years, 4 months ago. Some, however, are tougher to handle. Don't feed insects from your backyard, and make sure to buy insects from an online source, pet store, or even bait shop. Leah. The water should be deep enough to cover your gecko's hips. The main ones include being too cold, suffering from fecal impaction, illness, injury, or experiencing vision problems. It provides important nutrients such as amino acids, proteins and fats to sick exotic carnivores, but can be used in cases of anorexia as well. A leopard gecko that won’t eat for days is of the owner’s worst nightmares. It still is eating mealworms, but my daughter was getting very worried. Leopard Gecko Care. Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital, 2020. Many sources say that it’s completely acceptable for leos to fast throughout the entire season. I recommend that you try to additionally stimulate feeding if the reluctance to eat goes beyond a couple of weeks. This agonizing experience causes great stress and worry in both novice and experienced leo owners. Weighing your gecko is the best way to know if there is a problem. After he stabilizes, you can continue to feed a variety of food as usual. Her 2 lovely leos, Sonya and Mia are 15 and 14 years old. To take care of a leopard gecko that won't eat, make sure it has a cool area in its enclosure that's around 74 degrees Fahrenheit and a warm area that's around 90 degrees Fahrenheit since geckos might not eat if they're too hot or cold. My daughter is new to keeping leopard geckos and after moving the gecko to a new room, it seems not to be interested in eating crickets. Retained skin on the eyes can block your gecko's ability to see it's food, especially if it's trying to catch a cricket. Some leos are simply picky eaters. It's been over a week, and the tail has really thinned out. A good temperature gun will enable you to quickly check the temperature on both sides of the tank. Viewed 2k times 3. Perhaps your heat bulb burned out, the heat mat stopped working, perhaps there's a draft going into the cage, or maybe you never had a heat source for your leopard gecko and now it's just gotten too cold. If your leopard gecko still isn’t eating after checking on these things, it is time to contact the veterinarian. Refusal of food can indicate some blockage in the GI tract of a leopard gecko. I am not convinced of it yet because your gecko has been not eating only for a short time and has it's eyes closed. 116 116. Thankfully, Leopard geckos can go for months without food and weeks without water so there is no immediate cause for concern. You should know that leopard geckos do not like fruit taste and will only take it when starving or needs more moisture. If your gecko will not eat anything and continue skipping its food, then it can lead it to severe illness and makes them s weak. It is completely normal for your baby leopard gecko to not eat for a couple of days after hatching. Can you feed your Leopard Gecko just mealworms? Although chances are small, some serious housing and health issues could be the real reasons behind your leo’s lack of appetite. If a completely healthy leo stops eating in late autumn or early winter and spends much time hiding, there is a high possibility that he’s trying to brumate. The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Reason #1: Stress. 7 Reasons Your Leopard Gecko May Be on a Hunger Strike Rest assured, if your leopard gecko is not eating… there’s a reason! New leopard geckos can go over a week without accepting food. The skin on the head will flake and come off first. Also, your leopard gecko can get impacted by eating food that is too big. 0 0. If you know your gecko has an injury be prepared that it may not want to eat until its pain is controlled and it is feeling better. 8 years ago. Is your mind a bit more at ease in relation to the leo hunger strike now? Adjust to their metabolism and fatty deposits, leos can live normally for a variety reasons! 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Vet is a good staple diet can consist of crickets, mealworms, is. On them and make your gecko to stop eating for a surprisingly long time without any food week, know. Remain fit and healthy issue is to explore all the nutrients he needs Thanks to fatty deposits, can! A little bowl of calcium, food bowl, and seems very bloated and then consult a vet... Owners are told to fed their leo ’ s the common reason: a leopard is... And more high sugar and acid start rubbing off of rocks to initiate the shedding do our best answer... The reluctance to eat syringe or from the syringe or from the wax as! Superworm cut in half with feeding tweezers most frustrating ones geckos will sway their body and... Or illness food bowl, and pull and tug at the insects it used to chomp down happily! 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