Can geckos become depressed?

[LeoGirl575]

This is probably a controversy that geckos have emotions at all, but lately, 2 or 3 of my geckos have just looked so sad. That sounds weird, but one in a 10 gallon, one in a 7 gallon bin, and one in a 20 gallon bin have all seemed to lose interest in everything. They all used to love food, now it's rare they eat anything, they sleep more than usual, and I still handle them daily and everything. One is housed with a male (she has been for 6 years, she's not gravid) and the male is acting fine. This has never been a problem before.

Is this some sort of depression, or is it just the winter season that's making them lose their appetite and making them sleep more?

Sorry if this is a dumb question

if it does has something to do with them actually being depressed, what can I do to make it better? :/
Thanks in advance,

 

[PaladinGirl]

:-(

I'm sorry you're having this problem with your leos. I'd be worried too. I don't really have any pertinent advice being that I'm a new leo owner, so hopefully someone with some better insight will reply lol. Have you checked the temp lately? My first thought would be a temperature issue if my leo seemed to be "off".

I tend to think most animals have some sort of emotional capacity, even lizards. I know mine seemed a lot happier after I replaced his reptile carpet substrate with paper (brown paper lawnbag, specifically). I think his toes were getting stuck in the carpet fibers. He has been a lot more active and perky-looking, and is more enthusiastic when going after his food.

Hope yours feel better soon!

 

[Jenn_tigercat]

Unfortunately animals don't get depressed the way humans do. My first question would be what are your temps At? The reason they may be sleeping all the time is cause they have gone into brumation.

 

[LeoGirl575]

Thank you for the replies, guys. I keep my temps on the warm side at about 92F. The cool side is around 71F, since my room is sort of chilly. Only 3 out of 10 of my geckos are having this problem, the rest are acting normally.

 

[Brewboy74]

The short answer is no. They are not depressed.

The long answer is they are likely going into brumation. It is normal in the winter even if your set temps don't change the room temps will vary slightly and that is enough. I have found that when I have kept my leo's in aquariums the temp drops just enough to make them stop eating and slow down. Personally, and the is the subject of lots of debate, I like to keep my guys in a rack. I can control the temp better and they go into brumation less often. Don't worry they will begin eating again when they are ready. You can offer a new food type to see if you can temp them into eating but it may or may not work.....

Brian

 

[LeoGirl575]

Thanks for the response. I'll try different feeders.

 

[Blacksupra94]

7 gallon bin? Why? Isn't that kind of small?

 

[Brewboy74]

7 gallon bin? Why? Isn't that kind of small?

28 quarts is a normal size not to small at all.

 

[Nick Chatterson]

Upgrade Habitat!

Sounds like your using a minimalist habitat. Think 40 breeder or even a 20 long for 2. Hot hide, Cool hide, humid hide. Never heat lamp or undertank heater on the water source, no jacuzzi. Now lets talk substrate... If you have adults I use bigger rocks at the bottom then finer grades leading to the calci sand to better distribute heat... They need options and fun. Go crazy with it!

 

[katie_]

Emotionally depressed, no. Physically depressed, yes, when their basic needs are not being met