Why are My Leopard Geckos not Eating?

Leopard geckos are insectivores that eat a variety of insects but when a Gecko suddenly decides to stop eating is often a sign of a more serious problem and takes the pet to the vet as soon as possible.

It's natural for pet owners to feel frustrated and worried when their pet is not eating food but don't be worried about it. You need to take care of the leopard geckos so that they eat again. It might be because of some injuries, shedding, stress, temperature, etc.

Causes

Leopard geckos not eating food is a serious issue for pet owners. There are 10 Reasons why leopard geckos stop eating food.

Cold environment

One of the main reasons why leopard geckos stop eating is when the surrounding temperature is too cold.

• Cause- When the metabolic rate of your gecko has fallen below 70 degrees Fahrenheit then they stop eating.
• Solution- If you want that you're gecko to eat again then you should do the surrounding temperature between 80 and 90 degrees for the surrounding warmth and should check the temperature regularly and you get the results in just a few hours.

Sickness or Illness

If your geckos lose their appetites and stop eating, their Sickness or illness is the big reason behind this. There are several sicknesses or illness results are given below.

• Metabolic bone disease
• Kidney and liver failure
• Chronic malnutrition
• Respiration infection
• Gastrointestinal (GI)parasites like cryptosporidium, pinworms, nematodes, and coccidia

• Cause- This problem is due to Dirty Vivarium's poor husbandry conditions.
• Solution- There's only one possible treatment for these issues to take your geckos to the vet as quickly as possible.

Injury or Pain

Sometimes your gecko is in pain because of injuries that time it may stop eating food.

• Cause- Some reasons why geckos are in pain are given below.
  
  • Due to Abscess
  • Due to Eye injuries,
  • Due to the Toe problem,
  • Due to Limping.
• Solution- Give your Gecko a pain killer then take your gecko to the vet. They will help your gecko to eat again.

Impacted Feces

Fecal impaction is a blockage in the digestive system of your leopard geckos in this problem their digestive system cannot digest food

The most common signs of impaction are:

• Appetite.
• weight loss.
• Reduced feces.
• Lethargic movements.

• Cause- It could be due to eating large or hard shell bugs by your leopard geckos.
• Solution- If your leopard geckos facing this problem then you should follow the below procedure carefully
  • Soaking them in warm water twice a day.
  • The water level should cover your gecko's hip.
  • Give a gentle massage to its belly.

This process helps your leopard geckos to break up the stool. Serve them clean water.

Vision Problems

This problem occurs when your leopard geckos cannot see their food properly due to retained skin in their eye. Sometimes vision problems are due to poor eyesight. It is common in injured or older Leopard geckos

• Cause- It is caused due to
  
  • Incomplete shed,
  • Lack of humidity in the surrounding,
  • Other eye problems include corneal ulcers and retrobulbar abscesses.
• Solution- Consult a vet immediately

Shedding

Whenever leopard geckos shed their skin then they leave their food or lose their appetite for a few days. Most adult gecko sheds once per month. It takes around 6 days to complete this process.

• Cause- During this period of shedding they eat their old skin.
• Solution- If you want that your gecko to start eating again then you should help them to finish shedding by doing the Two steps given below-
  
  • Give them humidity and moisture for a successful shed
  • Provide them with a humid hide area and rough surface for rubbing.

Brumation

When geckos reduce their activity and become inactive this period is known as Brumation. During this period they Stop eating food and become lazy. In this period they save energy.

Some symptoms of Brumation are -

• They sleep the whole day.
• Mostly spend time in hiding.
• Less active in the tank
• Stop eating food

• Cause- Some causes are given below
  • Due to a change in the session
  • When the temperature falls below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Solution- Give them a tank temperature of around 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Stress

It can come from any event that makes you feel frustrated and nervous. It also occurs in leopard geckos, at that time they did not like to eat food.

• Causes- leopard geckos feel stress due to
  
  • Loud noise present in the vivarium,
  • Bright light in the vivarium,
  • Eat the same food every day,
  • Missing friends
• Solution- Change the location of the vivarium to a quiet place. Purchase another leopard gecko as a partner for your old gecko.

Lack of Calcium

Leopard geckos are strictly insectivorous. They need calcium in their diets. Some symptoms are given below

• When they Avoid food.
• They become lazy.
• Bowed legs.

• Cause- Sometimes when they feel a lack of calcium in their food they stop eating food.
• Solution- If you want that your gecko eats again then you should follow these steps:
  • Give them a spray of powdered form of calcium supplements in their insect twice a week.
  • Give them a nutritious diet.

Due to Parasites

Sometimes leopard geckos are infected with parasites in their gut that time they stop eating food. Parasites like pinworms and Cryptosporidium Saurophilum can affect the digestive system of Leopard geckos. Some symptoms of parasites in your geckos are given below Loss of weight

• Stop eating food
• Vomiting
• Tails become thin quickly.
• Decreased growth.

• Cause
  • When the leopard gecko's vivarium is dirty.
  • Their feeding insect is infected by parasites
• Solution
  
  • Clean vivarium daily
  • Give them hygienic food
  • Consult vet immediately

How long can Leopard Geckos go Without Food?

Leopard geckos are cold-blooded animals. They have essential characteristics to survive without food for a long period. Average Adult geckos can survive 10 to 15 days without eating food whereas baby leopard geckos can go only a week without eating food.

A healthy leopard gecko can survive 3 months without eating food during Brumation whereas a sick and pregnant leopard gecko needs food all the time. Gecko's body depends on fat that is stored in a leopard gecko's tails.

How long Leopard Geckos Can Survive Without Food

Age of Geckos	Duration
Baby (0-2 Months)	Not more than 2 Days
Juvenile (2-6 months)	Not more than 2-7 days
Sub-adult (6-12 months)	Not more than 7-14 days
Adult (Over 12 months)	Not more than 1 month

How Long Can Leopard Geckos Safely Go Without Drinking Water?

Life on earth cannot survive without water. It plays an essential role in human and animal life. In the case of leopards, geckos can stay alive for up to two or at most three days without drinking water.

Leopard geckos can get moisture from different sources like misting, live feeders, soaking, etc. If your geckos cannot get water within 3 days then they get dehydrated and even die.