Drinking and Feeding Frequency

[KitKatie89]

I got my leo on the 2nd, she is an adult, and I haven't seen her drink yet. I know this doesn't necessarily mean she hasn't, but what are some of the signs of dehydration in a gecko, and how long can they go without drinking? She also may be preshed, I'm not entirely sure though. Are they like snakes in that they go off their food before they shed? (I know a lot of this can be attributed to the stress of the move for her, but I would still like to know even for after she settles in.)

 

[LeopardShade]

They are desert reptiles, their bodies are made to go for long periods of time without food and water. Do you have a shallow water bowl in her enclosure? You may not seem them drink, but they do. I provide humidity hides for my geckos (Tupperware container filled with moist paper towel & misted) and I find that they enjoy licking the droplets of misted water from the hide or licking at the wet paper towel.

As far as I know, geckos do not go off feeding before shed, but they could go off feeding after shed because they eat it. Just give your gecko some time to settle in, it could be a couple more days, or another week, but she'll eat when she feels comfortable enough. Just be sure not to stress her out.

 

[KitKatie89]

Thank you! She's actually eating better than I would expect for an adult that just left the breeder. And yes, I have a water dish. I was just getting worried because she's been holed up in one hide since her initial exploration and all I see her do is rotate every couple of hours, haha.

Also, how often do they defecate usually?

I'm planning on giving her at least 2 weeks (longest 2 weeks ever!) before I try to interact with her.

 

[LeopardShade]

Good for you restraining the effort to interact with your gecko. I know it is very tempting at times, but it's usually for the best. I almost never see my geckos drink, but I know they do. Trust me, when I got my first gecko, I wondered just as much.

In my experiences, every gecko is different when it comes to defecation. I have two leos, one of them usually defecates 2-3-4 times a week, while the other just holds it all in and then lets loose about once a week XD

 

[KitKatie89]

Oh wow, I didn't know it was that variable! At what point should I be concerned if I don't see a bowel movement? Thanks for all of the advice, these are things you just can't find in a care sheet.

 

[LeopardShade]

You're very welcome, I'm always glad to be of help. After a week or so is usually when I start to take actions if I see no feces. No defecating for too long could possibly hint impaction, but if your gecko isn't being housed on sand or any other loose substrate, then this can be ruled out. It could also mean that your gecko is having trouble digesting its food, which is why it's important to provide them with a UTH for belly heat.

Basically, if it's not eating, it's not going to defecate. But if it has eaten and you feel as if it's been too long, you could always soak the gecko in a shallow container (up to her belly, no higher) in warm (not hot - no burns!) water for about 10-15 minutes for the belly heat every day or so. IF this still doesn't work, you could administer a drop of mineral oil on the geckos nose and let her lick it off. The oil will lubricate her intestines and help move things through.

I think I'm kinda rambling off topic, sorry. But hope that helps.

 

[KitKatie89]

It definitely does help, thank you!