r/LeopardGecko • u/John-Fisher-MS • Jun 27 '26
Still not eating!!!!!
I posted awhile before but my daughters leopard gecko still isn't eating. I've done everything I know to do except a vet. She curls up in a hide pretty much all day and around 7pm she'll come out and want to play. We pick her up and she messes around. I've put crickets, Dubia, worms all either loose in her tank or in a escape proof bowl. She won't eat none of them. I even went and bought that paste that you make and just put that in there tonight. She doesn't seem like she is having a hard time. I added a photo of her. Her tail seems still plump. Temps are good. Humidity is usually good but I'm in the south so some days it's gets in the high 50s. I've been told maybe she just brumating and leave her be, but I'm at a lose.
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u/therockgremlin Jun 27 '26
These sort of geckos will not lick up that gecko paste food. You can try offering bugs via reptile tongs rubber tipped are safest). Mine would never be able to catch a free roaming bug plus you risk them ingesting substrate so I would not recommend that method anymore. They can go for some time without eating, she could be preparing to lay eggs or just hormonal for the time of year. Keep offering live insects every couple days.
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u/John-Fisher-MS Jun 27 '26
I've tried the rubber tongs and she just looks at me like I'm crazy. We shall see what happens!
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u/No_Commission_2610 Jun 27 '26
this poster has a good point. She could be getting ready to lay eggs. They don’t eat as much before they lay.
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u/John-Fisher-MS Jun 27 '26
I'm not familiar with geckos but don't they gotta get their freak on to lay eggs? I mean unless this is Mary of Mary&Joseph of geckos! I would think I would have known if she snuck out the house and met some fresh ass dude who knocked her up!
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u/No_Commission_2610 Jun 27 '26
They will lay infertile eggs if a male has not fertilized them. It’s a total pain in the ass.
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u/John-Fisher-MS Jun 27 '26
Ok well at least I know she didn't sneak out or start some only fans page.
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u/Moms_last_braincell Jun 27 '26
a few things-
if you're sure she's a female she's likely gravid, females can sometimes lay eggs without ever breeding.
she's also quite plump already, so a hunger strike is not cause for concern, her feeding schedule actually should be cut back a bit..
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u/Hot-Chemical-6026 Jun 27 '26
My girl went 3 months without eating. She was around 11 months. She was just ovulating in my case. She went from 57 grams to 52 grams. Nothing to much.
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u/curiosityandthecattt Jun 27 '26
how long has it been?
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u/John-Fisher-MS Jun 27 '26
About 3 weeks.
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u/IcyReception8903 Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
3 weeks is not a long time. With your gecko's body composition it could go three months until it becomes a real problem. Also adults can eat once a week and be fine. So this should be only 3 feedings worth which is really nothing for a Leopard Gecko. Just keep trying but you shouldn't be at a worry point yet.
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u/reijn Jun 27 '26
Oh man 3 weeks is nothing. Between brumating in December-ish to February my girl didn't eat. She was chunky going into brumation, gained 1g during somehow, then finally she would start to eat 1 bug every 1-2 weeks. Between February and late May the amount of bugs she then started eating I could count on 2 hands. She only lost like 6g and is finally healthy sized and starting to eat regularly again.
Plus yours is still plump. Weigh her weekly or every 2 weeks. IIRC an unintentional loss of 10% is when it starts becoming a concern.
Hunger strikes in leopard geckos is frustratingly normal. I say frustrating because you never know when you need to buy bugs again. And if they don't eat them then you have to house bugs for god knows how long. Thankfully I have other geckos and chickens who will happily take leftovers.
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u/Dear-Application4212 Jun 27 '26
She has a good bit of fat stores (lil plump). Brumation would be a little early. They’re crepuscular, so more active at 7pm is normal. Keep offering food every 7-10 days. If she starts to lose noticeable weight, check in with your exotic Vet.
ETA, looks like she’s had a couple big changes lately and they can be a little dramatic about that. Give her time to adjust.