Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got a new blizzard leopard gecko and he hasn't eaten yet. It's only the second night, and I know that they keep saying it may take 3 to 4 days for them to accustom to their new home, but I have other leopard geckos and all has always immediately started eating right when they get home, so I am worried.

This one was rescued from an owner that kept it in a box that was only slightly bigger than he gecko, was given no water bowl nor hide nor heat. I was told he was eating in such conditions, and I believe it because the gecko isn' thin and pooped the first night he was here.

I saw him (I think) strike at a cricket but missed, then haven't seen any eating activity at all since.

What can I do to get him to eat? I am very frustrated that people can keep them in such poor conditions and they eat, when I give them the proper stuff and they don't eat.

By the way, the temps are 88F on high end and room temp on low end. Hide on each side, water bowl and calcium dish available. Paper towel as substrate. He is a subadult and looks well fed.

I'd just leave him be for a few days. With all of my new geckos I put them in a 10gal tank in the closet for about 3 or 4 days.

Of course, you may not want to do the closet thing, but its just not an area where they will get disturbed easily.

Run an extension cord to the closet set the tank up there and leave him for 4 days, let him get accustomed to freedom. Also you can leave a few mealworms, maybe superworms in the cage w/ him inside of a little dish, so they can't escape.

And you'll be able to keep tract if he is eating or not.
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Leopard Geckos
Sahara (Normal)
Ghost (Blizzard)
"The Baby" (year old Albino)

Bearded Dragons
Junior(hopefully male/unsexed)

I'll leave him alone for a few days then. Thanks. I took the cool side hide out last night because the crix were hiding in and behind there and it was p!$$in me off. Should I put it back in?

I've been giving all my geckos large enclosures that are roughly 3 to 4 times the length of the gecko. I've been criticised for doing so because these guys are saying to keep them in tiny little boxes until they are full grown so that they can "eat more easily" and catch the crickets. I've been screaming and yelling at them if they'd like to be in a little cell. But I'm starting to have doubts. All my geckos spend almost 90% of their time in the warm side hide, and other than my larger female tangerine which has a phenomenal disporportionate appetite, they only eat the crickets when they pass in front of the hide, dart out, grab and then go back. I don't know if I'm doing this all wrong.

I sometimes feed them with tongs, and all the geckos I had, the previous owners fed with tongs. But of my four, only 2 would eat from tongs. The others want to hunt, I would feed with tongs and they would wait until I accidentally drop the cricket before they strike, and they are not so good at striking. When the crix are on tongs they just close their eyes and turn their head in disgust. This is even so for the ones that have been here for a long time. How can I get them to tong feed again?

Also, ARE there any substrates other than paper towels that do not impact? I HATE thinking they ate all the crix after leaving them there for an hour and then cleaning the cage only to find that they are all just under the darn paper towels.

the substrate that everyone will say will be slate/tile. isnt great for distributing heat, but it'll work none the less.

Thanks for the substrate answer.

Any idea how to make him eat?

lol sorry my bad. well, silkworms can be a good staple diet, althoug, they can be rather expensive, and will probly be best bought in bulk. or you could buy the eggs and silkworm chow, and hatch your own, although this could take some time so would probly be best to ask your local supplier about them.

your leo seems quite healthy if it has a fat tail, more healthy than mine anyway lol. have you tried mealworms? keeping a tub of them in the tank at all times could help solve the situation, keep a few greens in with them (im on about vegetables lol).

you said you have other leo's aswell, so you should have a little knowledge at your advantage. just keep trying different ways to feed him and try vary his foods, but you probly know what your doing =)

I have a few suggestions if you have not already tried them. I know you said your leo wouldnt eat from the tongs but try this just for kicks. It really got mine interested. use a pair of tweezers and pinch the end of the mealworm with it.. it will usually start wiggling alot. (dont pinch enought to kill it) Then hopefully you leo will be attracted by the movement. Then drop it in front of him when he gets interested. That may be enough to get him to take it. Worth a try at least. Have you tried using baby food?? I hear that works too. chicken or turkey (organic if you can get it) or vanilla ensure will also work. drop it on the nose and let your leo lick it off. My local reptile shop sometimes leaves a baby jar lid of it in the cage with them. good luck.
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

n/p
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

As others have said, give it a little time to adjust. I've got 3 leos who spend almost all their time in their humid hide (yes, together) whether they're shedding or not. They will come out when they're hungry and they realize food's not going to be delivered. I sometimes take the hide out just to make them roam around the tank, but they're all healthy, so I'm not too concerned about the time they spend in there. Mine will eat crickets, mealworms and superworms, though they're a bit reluctant to eat them from a dish, so I'll just put them loose in the tank.

Howie
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Digger)
1.1.0 Golden Geckos (Tevye & Golde)
1.1.0 Tokay Geckos
1.2.0 Leopard Geckos (Jack, Janet & Chrissy)

As far as substrate, do slate w/ a thin layer of sand underneath, the sand helps to get the heat around, and a UTH as well.
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Leopard Geckos
Sahara (Normal)
Ghost (Blizzard)
"The Baby" (year old Albino)

Bearded Dragons
Junior(hopefully male/unsexed)

I don't like slate. It will be impossible to get a snug fit as there is some blobs of sealant in the corners of the enclosure. But thanks for the suggestion.

I was gonna try PVC sheets. You know, the kind that they make those sheets with cute little animals printed on them that go under your dishes when you have dinner. I went to a shop where they sell them in rolls and you cut as much as you want. They list a certain price per yard and it was quite cheap, but when I asked they said it was actually the price per FOOT, so I said nah screw it.

I just came back and filled all of my cracks w/ a black calci sand... And I don't use crickets as a feeder, so never have to worry about anyone "escaping the leo" wrath.

But do your thing, dont listen to me, cause I wont see it that often.
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Leopard Geckos
Sahara (Normal)
Ghost (Blizzard)
"The Baby" (year old Albino)

Bearded Dragons
Junior(hopefully male/unsexed)

HE ATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HE ATE! HE ATE! HE ATE HE ATE HE ATE!!!!!!!!

HE ATE!! HE ATE!! HE ATE HE ATE HE ATE!!!!!!!!

He only ate 3 crickets and my others which are about half to 1/3 his size eats like 7, but its a start.

He is willing to eat now! He has the worst aim EVER though. He misses even the crickes I hold on tongs..... Takes him several times to hit. He got to the point after 3 that he still wants to eat but don't want it from tongs anymore, just hunt, but he can't hunt very well. Oh well, but at least he ate!

HE ATE! HE ATE! HE ATE HE ATE HE ATE!!!!!
HE ATE! HE ATE! HE ATE HE ATE HE ATE!!!!!!

Sounds like my very first Leo, till this day about 2 years later, she still has the worst aim ever.

Congrats on getting him to eat.
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Leopard Geckos
Sahara (Normal)
Ghost (Blizzard)
"The Baby" (year old Albino)

Bearded Dragons
Junior(hopefully male/unsexed)