Leopard geckos make great pets and many people love to keep them. However, there will come a time when these geckos stop eating and refuse food. There are several things that must be done to find the cause of this and make the necessary changes.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Fixing the Troubled Gecko Cage
Step 1. Check the temperature of the gecko's cage
The gecko's environment can affect its appetite. If the temperature is too hot or too cold, the gecko will not want to eat. Try adjusting the temperature of the gecko's cage.
- Geckos are cold-blooded and cannot regulate their own body temperature. You should provide both hot and cold areas in the cage to keep your gecko healthy and eating well.
- The hottest place in the gecko's cage should be around 32 to 33 degrees Celsius.
- Geckos also have to cool the body. Provide an area with a temperature of 23 degrees Celsius in the cage.
- During winter and cooler weather, geckos don't normally eat much.
Do you know?
The female gecko will stop eating when she doesn't have a suitable place to lay her eggs. By providing a small place with a soft, moist medium to put the eggs, they will return to eating.
Step 2. Remove stressors from the gecko's environment
If your gecko is feeling too stressed, it may not want to eat. Many factors can cause a gecko to become stressed. So, do your best to keep your gecko's cage and life stress-free.
- Moving your gecko to a new environment can be stressful. If your gecko stops eating after being moved, its appetite will return to normal once it gets used to its new home.
- Other geckos in the cage may be bullying a gecko that won't eat. The oppressed gecko will either have scratches on its body or will be led around the cage by the bully. Separating the two is the only way to prevent this from happening.
Step 3. Check for signs that your gecko is eating
You may rarely see a gecko eating, so you think your pet is not eating. There are two ways to make sure your gecko has eaten without seeing it in person.
- Weigh the gecko. In adult geckos, a change in body weight of a gram or two is normal. However, if your gecko is losing weight, this could be evidence that it is not eating enough.
- When cleaning the cage, look at the droppings. If the gecko urinates regularly, this is a sign that the gecko wants to eat.
Step 4. Give your gecko its favorite food
Geckos are sometimes picky about their food. In addition, there are certain foods that are more suitable for his diet. Try giving him the following foods to stimulate his appetite:
- Insects that are safe include crickets, mealworms, roof caterpillars, silkworms, and dubia cockroaches.
- Make sure the insect given is not too big because it can harm the gecko. If the insect is larger than the distance between the gecko's eyes, it is too big.
- Use live insects as food. The movement of insects can attract the attention of geckos.
- Try feeding your gecko at night as this can mimic the routine of hunting geckos in the wild.
Method 2 of 2: Paying Attention to the Gecko's Health
Step 1. Observe the symptoms of the disease
A gecko will stop eating if it gets sick or suffers an injury. If you suspect your gecko is sick, take it to the vet for a check-up. Examine the gecko for the following symptoms carefully:
- A skin infection can be identified by an area that is red, swollen, or oozing pus.
- Breathing problems can be identified by nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, or a strange sound when breathing in.
- Metabolic bone disease (metabolic bone disease) can cause a gecko's legs and jaw to weaken so he can't stand up. This disease can also cause swelling in the abdominal area because it affects the inability to have abdominal movements.
- The gecko's eyes will look cloudy when they are sick or infected.
Step 2. Be aware that young geckos have less appetite
The life cycle will have an impact on the level of consumption of the gecko. Knowing the age of your gecko will help you understand the amount of food it should eat.
- Newly hatched geckos may not eat for up to a week.
- Young geckos will eat one to two times a day.
- The appetite for adult geckos will decrease. Loss of appetite is normal in older geckos and is not a sign of a medical problem. Geckos only have to eat once every two days.
- However, female geckos are more susceptible to reproductive problems that will interfere with their appetite. If you have a female gecko, give her a place to lay her eggs so she doesn't feel hindered. If the problem persists, always have your gecko checked by a veterinarian who specializes in caring for that type of animal.
Step 3. Feed the gecko by hand
You can feed your gecko by hand if you want to pick it up. There are some ways of preparing food that are better than others. You may need to try several methods to find out which method your gecko prefers.
- Fruit starch juice can be smeared on a cotton swab. Then, the earplugs are placed near the gecko's mouth. If your gecko finds it tempting, it will start licking it and eating the starch in the earplug.
- You can hold your gecko in one hand and prey in the other. Introduce the prey to the gecko by holding it in front of the gecko's mouth. Geckos will feel attracted and start eating.
- If your gecko doesn't take live prey out of your hands, you may need to crush it before giving it to your gecko. Once crushed, prey can be rubbed on the gecko's lips to encourage it to eat.
- Don't force your gecko to eat.
Step 4. Schedule an appointment with the vet
You may find it difficult to determine for yourself a health problem in your gecko. So, if your gecko doesn't seem to want to eat, it's best to visit your vet to have it checked out. Veterinarians should be able to accurately diagnose the gecko and try to restore its appetite and restore its health.
- You may have to bring some fresh gecko droppings as a sample.
- Separate geckos that look sick from other geckos you keep. This will prevent the spread of disease in healthy geckos.
Tips
- You should be gentle when handling the gecko.
- Always maintain a good environment for the gecko. This will maintain his appetite as well as his general health.
- Do not provide any bedding to the gecko's cage. Coconut fiber is not safe for geckos because it is easy for them to swallow.
Warning
- Never force your gecko to eat.
- If you think your pet gecko is sick, take him to the vet.
