Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My sister is on a trip, leaving me to care for her two reptiles. About three months ago, she got a fat tail gecko, which she has been hand feeding. Basically, she takes a butterworm, touches the gecko's mouth, gecko opens the mouth and she puts the worm in. I've been trying to get this thing to eat on her own. However, she shows no interest. I'll even present them like I do with my leopard, and she just looks and walks away. My question is, does anyone hear have any suggestions on how I can get this gecko to eat on her own? She's a juvenile. How long should I wait for her to eat on her own? With Bubblebutt, my gecko, I drop a few crickets and mealies in about three times a week, and if she's not hungry she doesn't take them. No biggie, she usually eats next time. With Arwen, her fat tail, it's been 8 days with no meal. She shows no weight loss, fortunately. Should I insist she eats on her own, or eventually hand feed her a few worms so that she doesn't lose weight?
P.S.
I've seen her hand feed this gecko. To me, it looks more defensive than hungry. Like she was trying to bite her finger. I know this must cause stress on her, which is another reason I want her to feed on her own. And also possibly why it's not happening.

If she is not losing weight I would keep trying to get her to eat on her own. She may be too spoiled to do so or as you suggest it may be a defensive response and as such the handfeeding is actually a negative. How long will your sister be gone?
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2.0 Leos (Spot - Normal but oh, so sexy; Jessie - hypotang)
3.2.3 Fattails (Henri, Suwannee, Valencio, Dixie, Isis, Pheonix, Hissy, and Snickerdoodle)
0.0.1 redfoot tortoise (Sherman)
0.0.1 sulcatta tortoise (Tinacious aka Tiny)
1.0 Dog (Zubin)
0.1 cat (Mimi)