Juvenile Leopard Gecko

irishatheart · Dec 30, 2012

I got my leo about a week ago and he hasn't eaten anything in the past 5 days. We have been feeding him mealworms but he doesn't seem to want them at all! So we bought him small crickets to see if he would prefer them over mealworms but no luck

He has a heat lamp and a heater that goes on the side of his tank. I don't have an under tank heater though. His tank is about 90 degrees, is that warm enough for a juvenile? He pretty much just sleeps in his rock on the warm side of his tank all day. I try holding him every day to get him used to me but he really doesn't like to be held! We have the mealworms in a feeding dish at all times but he's just not interested. Should we take him to the vet or is this just the kind of thing that takes time?

Lindz0518 · Dec 30, 2012

They need belly heat to digest their food, if you don't have a UTH then it probably isn't getting enough belly heat to digest food, causing him to not eat.

B&B Geckos · Dec 30, 2012

Reminds me of my first experience with Leo's.
This behavior is normal. Geckos dislike change, it stresses them out. i have had some that refused to eat for 4 to 5 weeks, and although stressful for me they ultimately ate.
The key is to leave them completely alone for at least 3 -4 days for juvies, 7-10 for adults. Don't offer food, especially don't hold them, this stresses them out more. Don't offer crickets or dubia or superworms, as they will climb on them or nip at them, further stressing them. Place enough water to last a couple of days and don't even peek at them...resist the temptation (people lose they're geckos for months and they have been surprised to find them alive).
I like to cover the sides of their enclosure with paper to eliminate visual stimulation as well and only remove the paper one side at a time per week after they've been eating for a while. If you chose to do this now, move very slowly and be as quiet as possible.
When you do try to feed after a few dys, place the mealworms in their dish, add water and leave the gecko alone for a few hours before you check.
Some geckos do not respond to mealworms. In this case, offer one cricket at a time.
Sometimes it's hard to tell whether or not they are eating, unless you're counting mealworms. If they're pooping they are eating.

Here's the best video I've found on this topic, by my friend John from Geckoboa.
YouTube

Here's an article on the topic.
http://www.geckotime.com/my-gecko-is-not-eating/

Good luck!

irishatheart · Dec 30, 2012

Thanks for the info!

irishatheart · Dec 31, 2012

I have been leaving him alone and he is much more active and relaxed than before! The only time I bother him is when his bedding needs to be changed or if he needs water and things are going much better. And he likes the crickets much more than meal worms

Thanks so much for the advice

Embrace Calamity · Dec 31, 2012

Good to hear that he's doing well.

~Maggot

B&B Geckos · Dec 31, 2012

Glad to be of help. This is such a common question on this forum; info on geckos not eating should be stickied, if not already.

Ozy · Dec 31, 2012

irishatheart said:
I have been leaving him alone and he is much more active and relaxed than before! The only time I bother him is when his bedding needs to be changed or if he needs water and things are going much better. And he likes the crickets much more than meal worms Thanks so much for the advice

His "Bedding"? What are you using for this?

irishatheart · Jan 1, 2013

We bought play sand but we aren't gonna use that until he's a little older. For now we are using paper towel and we change it like once a week.

Embrace Calamity · Jan 1, 2013

irishatheart said:
We bought play sand but we aren't gonna use that until he's a little older. For now we are using paper towel and we change it like once a week.

Make sure you wash it ahead of time, as it can be dusty. Most people don't recommend any kind of sand, but I do know people who use washed play sand with no issues, and I've never heard of a properly cared for gecko becoming impacted on it.

~Maggot

irishatheart · Jan 1, 2013

Okay will do. Also what is a good humidity level for his tank to be at? It's at 20 right now and I know that's too low but I don't know what a good level is.

Embrace Calamity · Jan 1, 2013

irishatheart said:
Okay will do. Also what is a good humidity level for his tank to be at? It's at 20 right now and I know that's too low but I don't know what a good level is.

I don't think you really need to worry about it. It won't hurt to mist the tank once in a while, but the most important thing is providing a moist hide that's kept moist and in the middle of the temp gradient.

~Maggot

katie_ · Jan 1, 2013

A good friend of mine switched to play sand and her gecko had problems with sand getting in his hemipenes. Shes back on paper towel.

irishatheart · Jan 1, 2013

Alright. I mist him every day and he has a moist hide that I mist as well. Thanks again. Oh also, should I ever use sand or should i just stick to paper towel?

Embrace Calamity · Jan 1, 2013

irishatheart said:
Alright. I mist him every day and he has a moist hide that I mist as well. Thanks again. Oh also, should I ever use sand or should i just stick to paper towel?

That's up to you. I personally wouldn't risk it, but as I said, I know people who use it washed with no issues. I can't speak of anyone who has had issues. But, like I said, I personally wouldn't, just for the mere fact that you can't be sure. Other options are slate or soil.

~Maggot

irishatheart · Jan 1, 2013

Okay! Thank you so much for all the info! You've answered pretty much all my questions! I might have some more later on though

Thanks again

irishatheart · Jan 4, 2013

I have another question! I have a little booklet on proper care and heating for leopard geckos, and it says that a UVB lamp is necessary. I just bought a Repti Basking Spot Lamp today and it appears that the kind I have does not contain UVB. It also says that without a UVB lamp, geckos or any type of lizard will develop metabolic bone disease and that will eventually cause death. Is it true that I need a UVB lamp???

proBie3 · Jan 4, 2013

irishatheart said:
I have another question! I have a little booklet on proper care and heating for leopard geckos, and it says that a UVB lamp is necessary. I just bought a Repti Basking Spot Lamp today and it appears that the kind I have does not contain UVB. It also says that without a UVB lamp, geckos or any type of lizard will develop metabolic bone disease and that will eventually cause death. Is it true that I need a UVB lamp???

Leopard geckos do not require UV light since they are active at dusk and night time. They do however need the proper nutrients to stay healthy. I like to keep a constant supply of calcium WITHOUT D3 in the enclosure and I dust my feeders with Repashy Leopard Gecko Calcium Plus every day. It is also a good idea to have some sort of lighting to give your leo a day/night schedule. I just use a regular florescent bulb you would use with any lamp or bedroom lighting fixture.

Embrace Calamity · Jan 4, 2013

irishatheart said:
I have another question! I have a little booklet on proper care and heating for leopard geckos, and it says that a UVB lamp is necessary. I just bought a Repti Basking Spot Lamp today and it appears that the kind I have does not contain UVB. It also says that without a UVB lamp, geckos or any type of lizard will develop metabolic bone disease and that will eventually cause death. Is it true that I need a UVB lamp???

Probie's answer is good. UVB is necessary for diurnal herps, but not for ones that are active at night or in the evening, as the UVB they receive naturally is so minimal that it's not necessary to provide. Diurnal herps will develop MBD if not provided with UVB light, but leos won't develop UVB as long as they're given the proper supplements and temperatures necessary to utilize them.

~Maggot

irishatheart · Jan 4, 2013

Okay so would you recommend getting one?? This is my first time having a gecko or any kind of reptile so I don't really know much! (in fact I don't really know anything at all!)

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