Why is leopard gecko not eating

During a shed they will scratch, eat and rub off old skin. However, some will eat their old skin. This might seem odd, but it is a normal and healthy behavior. As a result of eating their old skin, and using their energy for skin regeneration, they will generally not eat a few days before and after they shed. This is easily accomplished by misting the enclosure several times a day and maintaining a clean and full water bowl.

Leopard Geckos will start eating again two to five days after the shed has finished. If you see a leopard gecko not eating it may be because they are missing calcium in their diet. They should be fed supplements to prevent calcium and mineral deficiencies. Symptoms of calcium deficiency include:. You should sprinkle powdered calcium supplements with vitamin D3 onto their insects just before feeding once a week. Alternatively, you can leave out a dish of calcium and feed worms directly from that dish.

Calcium-deficient leopard geckos should start regularly feeding after a few calcium dusted meals. Even if a UVB light is used in their enclosure, reduced activity and a faded appearance are signs of calcium deficiency.

Leopard Geckos and many other wild reptiles synthesize vitamin D3 via direct sunlight exposure. However, in captivity, UVB lighting is needed as an artificial source of sunlight. Vitamin D3 is important to help them grow and keep strong bones.

It helps the synthesis and absorption of calcium in reptiles. This study found that lizards had lower calcium levels when not exposed to vitamin D3 via UVB lighting. Low calcium levels can weaken bone density causing Metabolic Bone Disease. If your leopard gecko is not eating and appears weak, make sure you are providing adequate UVB lighting for hours a day. In warm temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit Leopard Geckos speed up their metabolism.

This increased metabolism results in more activity and faster reactions which allows them to better hunt prey. Also, without belly heat from an under tank heat mat they will struggle to digest food and may not eat. They need to absorb heat through their bellies. If a leopard gecko is not eating you should check the floor temperature to make sure it is around 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Impaction is a blockage in the digestive tract of a Leo.

It often occurs when Leopard Geckos feed on their prey and accidentally swallow their substrate e. This substrate then clogs their digestive systems and causes a blockage. If you use sand, mulch, rocks, or dirt, immediately switch it out to a better substrate. Impaction can happen very quickly and can kill a Gecko within a few weeks. With a blockage in their digestive system they are unable to digest food and can rapidly lose weight. If you think your leopard gecko has impaction then gently feel their belly.

You should be able to feel a hard bloated section of the stomach. Leos who are impacted can be soaked in warm water for 30 minutes to help loosen it. Use a tub with water lower than their body height. Soaking can be done twice a day and should allow passage of the impacted material. If they do not defecate or feed after two days of soaking, then take them to a vet. Leopard Geckos are insectivores and eat mealworms, crickets, super worms, wax worms, silkworms, cockroaches.

Prey should be live fed and must be smaller than the width of their mouth. Dead prey can house internal parasites and become ridden with bacteria. Feed high quality live meals and vary the prey type you feed each meal time.

Diversity in a Leopard Gecko diet is very important. Different prey should be fed throughout the week. A good Adult Leo feeding schedule feeding twice a week may look like:. Young species should eat once a day and should be kept on a feeding schedule until they are nearing adult size. A leopard gecko not eating should be fed high fat prey to get them eating again. This can also help to replenish fat stores in their tails.

In captivity they might become accustomed to handling, but too much activity going on in the room can still lead to high levels of stress. People moving around, other animals playing, basically any movement or activity that your gecko can see might lead to stress. I always recommend using a cage set up that is enclosed on three sides, with just the front being transparent.

You can still look in the front to watch and enjoy your pet, but they will be unable to see any activity going on in the room other than what is happening right in front of their cage. Other stress factors that can cause a gecko to not eat could include:.

There are some limits and guidelines to follow when you are doing this. I go into greater details about this in the care guide I linked at the top of this page, but here are the basics. Any time you stray outside of these guidelines you are risking the chance that one of your lizards is going to become a victim of bullying.

Males for example, are very territorial when it comes to other males. And larger geckos, regardless of their gender, are prone to bullying smaller ones.

One of the first signs that there is something wrong with your gecko is usually when it stops eating. This is why many experienced reptile owners keep a feeding journal, and consistently monitor and record the weight of their animals.

Leopard geckos are a relatively hardy and healthy species of lizard, but there are still a variety of illnesses that they are susceptible to. I want to point out that even though the majority of illnesses are easily prevented with proper care and husbandry, it is still possible they can just naturally become sick on their own. My point however, is to be mindful of the fact that a sick lizard will often stop eating, so always monitor your pet. You would think that a lizard kept in a nice safe enclosure would be impervious to injuries but it does happen.

They get an A for effort, but these hilarious little guys are not always the best at catching their prey. Sometimes accidents happen!

Males do this as a way to mark their territory, and to let females know that they are around and available for mating. Females do it to mark their territory and become familiar with it. One of the challenges many reptile owners face is getting their new pet to eat.

This is why you will often see breeders advertising that their reptiles have eaten. Sometimes however, your gecko may just get tired of the food you are offering it. In the wild they have a plethora of insects to choose from. If your lizard has stopped eating and none of the other things I have mentioned seem to be the problem, try offering them something different to eat. Beyond crickets and mealworms, there are Dubia roaches, superworms and one of the healthiest worms of all, the hornworm.

You can also feed silk worms, but they are a little more fatty and a little less healthy for your gecko. Wax worms are also extremely fatty, and not the good kind of fat either! Keep the feeding of these worms to a minimum.

Nonetheless, it is essential to eliminate all factors that can lead to stress as soon as possible. You want to reduce the time it takes for your gecko to get used to his new environment. It is super important that you do not hold or have direct contact with your gecko until they are fully adjusted and begin eating on his own accord.

Make sure that the temperature of your geckos enclosure is optimal. In a terrarium, the surface temperature should be between degrees Fahrenheit, and the ambient should be between degrees Fahrenheit.

Low temperatures can make a gecko inactive, and they soon lose their appetite. Too high a temperature is actually worse, they can become severely hydrated, and it can even lead to death. Move the enclosure to a quiet space away from the hustle and bustle of everyday activity; these lizards need peace, especially to eat.

Do not house geckos together. Having other geckos in the same enclosure will induce stress which can result in diminished eating. Only ever use light-emitting bulbs during the day.

If you only got your leopard gecko recently, you should not look to feed them right away. Wait a few days to bring their stress levels down, and for their prey drive to go back up. If after a week, your leopard gecko is not eating, place fresh mealworms in a bowl outside of their hide. Leave it there for a day. After which you can remove it, and put fresh mealworms in for another day. Keep repeating this process. After some time, this process should work. Before discussing the best food for an under-eating gecko, we must consider the foods to avoid, at least in the beginning.

Certain foods might cause your nervous pet even more stress. Foods to avoid include: crawling insects such as crickets, loose super worms, dubia roaches etc. If you have a nervous new leopard gecko, you should give them mealworms in a shallow bowl to start with; these are the least stressful food for your gecko.

They are equally very tasty, high in energy and easy for a gecko to digest. Unfortunately, it is very common for leopard geckos to go off their food, and this can be very worrying for any owner. It is essential to practice proper husbandry and to be on the lookout for environmental factors which can result in a diminished appetite. These include improper temperature and lack of suitable humidity. Leopard geckos might be relatively robust creatures, but they still need adequate care and attention.

They have need that they need to meet, irregardless if they have quirky personalities and movements which makes it harder for us to understand them. All in all, if your gecko is not eating; from a nutritional perspective there is no immediate cause for concern. Geckos can go for extended periods without food, and so so regularly in the wild. It is if they show any signs or symptoms that something else may be wrong.