What To Do If Leopard Geckos Won’t Eat?

There are many reasons why Leopard Geckos might stop eating. It’s sometimes due to something we’ve done or fed in the past, and other times it’s maybe due to disease. There are several things to try at home before taking your leopard gecko to the vet’s office if they have stopped eating but are still active.

Leopard geckos are hunters in the wild and only consume live insects, and pets should also be fed live insects. Feeding dead insects may cause a leopard gecko to refuse to eat. However, there are various reasons why a leopard gecko refuses to feed.

Throughout this article, I will provide you with symptoms and solutions to various things that can cause your Leo to stop eating, So read on to find out why your leopard Gecko may have stopped feeding.

Why Leopard Geckos Stop Eating?

For several causes, leopard geckos might lose their appetite. The majority of issues may be remedied with proper care or a simple trip to an exotic vet. Some, on the other hand, are more difficult to deal with.

Sickness

Your leopard gecko may have a respiratory ailment that has led them to stop eating after getting cold or a drop in their ambient temperature.

In reptiles, respiratory infections are prevalent, making them lose their appetite. There might be another explanation for your leopard gecko’s inappetence if they are sick in any other way.

Your exotics veterinarian can diagnose growth that impacts or obstruct the digestive tract, mouth ulcers, and other diseases.

If you feel your gecko isn’t eating because of a sickness, get help from your exotics veterinarian.

Low temperature or cold environment

The most common reason leopard geckos cease to feed is that they are too chilly. Perhaps your heat bulb has burned out, the heat pad has ceased working, there is a draft in the cage, or your leopard gecko has never had a heat source, and it has just become too chilly.

Anorexic geckos frequently visit the animal clinic when the seasons shift from fall to winter. Still, a simple adjustment to their surrounding temperature will get them to eat most of the time again.

If the temperature is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, your leopard gecko’s metabolic rate will slow down and stop eating. If the room where your gecko is kept isn’t kept around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, more heat is required, and few people keep their houses this warm.

A heating pad works well, but it does not warm the air as effectively as the cage flooring. A simple heat lamp on the enclosure is significantly better and more cost-effective.

You can keep track of the basking temperature and ensure that your leopard gecko’s cage doesn’t become too cold at night.

Injured

Your leopard gecko may stop eating if it has a wound or discomfort due to an injury. Abscesses, eye injuries, tail difficulties, and toe problems can make your gecko grumpy and unwilling to eat.

If you know your gecko has an injury, expect it to refuse to feed until the discomfort is under control and it feels better.

Impacted Feces

If your leopard gecko hasn’t defecated in a while, it might be suffering from feces. This fecal impaction might be caused by a recent large or hard meal, such as super worms or bedding debris mistakenly consumed by your leopard gecko. Urate blockages can also cause fecal matter to get clogged.

If your gecko is suffering these issues, try bathing it twice a day in a warm water bath, and the water should be at least as deep as your gecko’s hips.

It would be best to rub your gecko’s tummy while it is underwater gently. If this does not assist your gecko pass feces and urates, you should consult a veterinarian.

Your leopard gecko’s vet may need to give it an enema, or they may discover it has intestinal parasites or requires further medical treatment.

Vision Problems

Retained skin around the eyes might make it difficult for your gecko to see its food, especially if attempting to grab a cricket is mainly caused by a lack of humidity following an incomplete shed in the cage.

Other eye disorders that would lead your gecko to stop eating include corneal ulcers and retrobulbar abscesses.

What To Do To Prevent Lack of Appetite of Leopard Gecko?

Provide the proper tank conditions

To maintain healthy metabolism and digestion, the easiest method to handle the loss of hunger is to give the right temperature and illumination in your Leopard gecko’s cage.

Change their diet

Leopard geckos are hunters by nature; thus, they like to devour flying insects. If their feed does not move much, they may not recognize it as food right away and refuse to consume it.

They may be fussy eaters; therefore, switching their diet to include other feeder insects may pique their interest in their meal. To provide appropriate nutrition, gut load or dust the insects before feeding them to your gecko.

Ensure that your Leopard gecko’s food is diverse. Mealworms and superworms are heavy in fat and can be difficult to digest, causing problems or even impaction, so use caution while feeding them these foods.

Remove any stressors and check their health

Appetite loss is a sign of various underlying illnesses or pressures, as previously stated.
Ensure everything is in order in petting and that your Leopard gecko’s health isn’t being harmed.

If you have a gecko that lives with others, the living condition may be stressful for it; therefore, you should rethink.
If your gecko is also fast dropping weight, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian.

When Should You Bring Your Leopard Gecko To A Vet?

In addition to the loss of appetite, you should consult your veterinarian if you detect additional symptoms such as lethargy, excessive hiding, or evidence of illness.

If your gecko hasn’t eaten in a while (3-4 days), you should take him to the clinic. If your gecko loses weight, you should get it examined by a veterinarian.

FAQs about Leopard Gecko

Conclusion on What To Do If Leopard Geckos Won’t Eat?

A variety of factors can induce appetite loss. The easiest approach to avoid this is to ensure that suitable conditions, particularly warmth and lighting, are in place.

Make sure your gecko’s tank isn’t too chilly because heating plays a vital role in digestion and metabolism.

On the other hand, loss of appetite can be a sign of other health problems, so be cautious to check for these, especially if it’s accompanied by fast weight loss.