A leopard gecko that won’t eat for days is of the owner’s worst nightmares. This agonizing experience causes great stress and worry in both new and experienced leopard owners.
However, if your leopard gecko is refusing to eat, don’t get desperate. By noting other symptoms (if there are any) you will be able to find a reason behind the event and find an efficient solution.
Here are some of the most common reasons behind a lack of appetite for a leopard gecko:
- Shedding.
During a shed they will scratch, eat and rub off old skin. During this time a leopard gecko won’t eat as they are using energy towards generating new skin cells. However, some will eat their old skin. This might seem odd, but it is normal and healthy behavior.
- Cold tank temperatures
A tank that is too cool can result in a refusal to eat, as well as a general lack of activity. Also, it can cause a lizard to vomit partially digested or undigested food items. So, it is suggested to provide both cool and warm areas for your geckos to move around and choose their comfort zone.
- Seasonal changes
Even a captive leopard gecko will most certainly feel the changing of the seasons. Some geckos will insist on entering winter rest – called brumation – even if you don’t change the tank temperature. If a completely healthy gecko stop eating in late autumn or early winter and spend much time hiding, there is a high possibility that he’s trying to brumate.
- Stress.
If you keep two or several geckos together, sometimes the weaker one can get bullied. The stress can cause them to stop eating. They often will stop feeding for a few days when they enter a new home and this is normal. So to avoid geckos from fighting and getting bullied, it is recommended to put them in separate tanks.
- Rehoming
One of the most common reasons geckos lost their appetite is that they just got into a new home. A seemingly healthy animal won’t even look at the insects it used to chomp down on happily at his previous location. Days of refusing to eat turn into weeks, and it is perfectly normal for a new gecko owner to become heavily worried at this point.
To reduce your stress, we have developed an easy solution to keep your geckos happy in one spot. Easy grab and go, they no longer need to search around for food and water when hungry or thirsty.
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