Why isn't my leopard gecko eating?

Question

I got a leopard gecko a few weeks ago and it ate a little to start with, but then it started eating less and less and now it hasn't eaten in a few days. It's young so it should eat every day. I think it might be hibernating because it gets a little cold in my house but I'm not sure. I could really use some help.

Answer 1

If it gets too cold, it will not eat. Do you have a heat pad under half of the enclosure? If it is too stressed, it will not eat. Are you handling it often? If it has internal parasites, it will not eat. Did you get it from a reputable breeder or a petstore? Try increasing the temps. If it doesn't start feeding in the next day or two, get it to a vet, as a young gecko cannot go long without food.

Answer 2

He is too young to hibernate (brumate). What is his setup?
1. No sand or other loose substrate--can cause impactions!
2. Under tank heating pad a must--temp must be kept around 88-91F with a thermostat or dimmer switch.
3. 3 hides--one on the cool side, one on the warm side, and a moist hide to assist with shedding.
4. Crickets and mealworms no bigger than the space between his eyes. Insects properly gutloaded.
5. Vet check for intestinal parasites.

Helpful websites:

http://www.drgecko.com/index.html

http://www.thegeckospot.com/index.html

Answer 3

Try giving him a soak in warm water. It may encourage elimination and make him hungry.
Does he have a heat mat in the tank? He needs one! Cooler temperatures not only could make them sick, they could push them into "brumation," or a period of anorexia. But he sounds too young.

A more dramatic reason could be that he is impacted (something stuck in his tummy) or even has pinworms. In that case, he NEEDS to be treated by a vet, or he could die from the infection.

Then as he convalesces, make up a slurry of pedialyte, Ensure (not chocolate), milk thistle, butternut squash and a/d Prescription dog/cat food (available from your vet for about a buck). Mix it up to the consistency of applesauce and warm it up. Place drops of it on his nose and let him lick them until he goes back to feeding on his own. Good luck

Answer 4

Throughtout the stage of them growing up they will stop eating but you should get something to warm the gecko up