Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone...I recently obtained a female adult leopard gecko and was wondering a bit about her appetite...I chose a nice healthy looking one with a fat tail, an alert personality, and no outward signs of sickness, and at a very well run and reputable pet store too. But I've had the girl for over a week and she hasn't eaten anything except for a single mealworm that I crushed and held over her head.

She's not compacted, for she did pass the mealworm, but she seems to show no outward signs of hunger...all she does is sit in her humid hide all day, occasionally coming out to get a drink, ignoring crickets, mealworms, and waxworms. I do know how to take care of leos, my male leo in a different tanks is going on his seventh year, and he eats like a pig. I have all the proper heating and equipment in this girls cage, but I'm worried that she's just going to refuse food and waste away.

Have any of you more expirienced herpers come accross this type of behavior, and if so, did you find a way to solve it? Any help would be appreciated, thanks. ^^

Maybe she just isn't settled in yet. If she isn't losing weight or too thin, I wouldn't worry. Maybe it's that time of the year for her (when she goes into brumation).

>>Hi everyone...I recently obtained a female adult leopard gecko and was wondering a bit about her appetite...I chose a nice healthy looking one with a fat tail, an alert personality, and no outward signs of sickness, and at a very well run and reputable pet store too. But I've had the girl for over a week and she hasn't eaten anything except for a single mealworm that I crushed and held over her head.
>>
>>She's not compacted, for she did pass the mealworm, but she seems to show no outward signs of hunger...all she does is sit in her humid hide all day, occasionally coming out to get a drink, ignoring crickets, mealworms, and waxworms. I do know how to take care of leos, my male leo in a different tanks is going on his seventh year, and he eats like a pig. I have all the proper heating and equipment in this girls cage, but I'm worried that she's just going to refuse food and waste away.
>>
>>Have any of you more expirienced herpers come accross this type of behavior, and if so, did you find a way to solve it? Any help would be appreciated, thanks. ^^
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0.1.0 Dumeril Boas
0.1.0 Kittens
0.0.1 Leopard Geckos

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Well we have 27 leos and some of ours are really picky as to when they eat. We had 3 of our Tangerine females who seemed never to be interested in food, so we always left 2 bowls of mealworms in their cages and they seem to eat whenever they want to.(posted at the bottom is a picture)How long have you had your leo? We have had a couple go 2 1/2 weeks without eating before...just give her time and if she still continues to not eat then I would take her to the vet just to make sure there is nothing wrong. Hope this helps you.

The gecko pictured below is one of mine (my first actually). You'll never catch her eating but she does. Not only that, she doesn't eat much at all when she does eat. She eats at her own pace (which is a lot less than the "hog" that I have). I would suggest not worrying so much about it.

Yeah, you guys may be right about the brumation thing. (I hope. ^^ It is fall now, so perhaps...she still is chubby, and I've left a bowl of mealies out for her (with a small layer of oatmeal and a slice of carrot for gutloading) Maybe I am just overreacting...I'm used to my geckos eating like pigs.

Thanks once again for your quick replies...I'll watch her and update if she changes. ^^

Yeah, I've had some go for more than 2 weeks before they settle in, and the appetitte sometimes returns slowly. Also, some (esp. new) won't eat if there's ANYTHING going on. Make sure she/he can't see any other gex(like through the glass) and sometimes the best thing is to drop the prey in, turn the lights out, and leave them alone for an hour or two. Sometimes to stimulate appetite I leave the bagged crickets right outside the glass for a while until they come sit next to it and show some interest. Then I dust em, drop 'em in, and leave him alone for a while.
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1.0 Pastel/Jungle Leopard gecko from JL (BJ)
1.0 Hypo from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Albino Hypo? (Cloud)
0.4 Normal/Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Goldie, Freckles, Pepper)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 TBD Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.0.2 Corn Snakes (One snow, One red albino)