First Time Owner: Gecko Won't Eat HELP!

[GeckoBass]

Hello!

So I am a first time leopard gecko owner (first time reptile owner, too), and I've owned my leo since August. I'm not 100% sure how old she is (she's a store-bought animal), but I think she is either juvenile or adult. I have never had a problem with her appetite or feeding in general, I feed her a mix of crickets and mealworms.

About 3 weeks ago or so she started eating less, and about two weeks ago she stopped eating. Since then I've been leaving mealworms out for her, dropping them right in front of her hide, and even right in front of her face, but she still refuses to eat! Following some advice, earlier tonight I crushed up some crickets and mealworms and tried to hand-feed her, and after quite the struggle she ate one cricket (hurrah!); she did seem to lick a lot of the calcium powder, though.

She also seems to be sleeping a lot more, and now more in her hide on the cool side. Her movement also seems to have slowed. After doing some research, the signs seem to be pointing to hibernation or brumation, but I haven't changed the temperatures to warrant any of that. I understand it's February, but I thought they could only go through brumation if the owner does some intentional temperature changes.

Any suggestions? This is my first winter with a gecko and I'm quite worried she won't make it if she doesn't eat soon Thanks, please let me know if you need any more information/pictures!

 

[JessJohnson87]

Some geckos will self brumate even if you do not change the temperatures. I know Aliza, acpart, has had some of her leo's brumate during the winter. They can go a few months without eating when they do this, they will live off of the fat stores in their tails. I would not worry too much, another thing to consider is ovulation. Females will go off food when they are going to ovulate and start eating once they either lay the eggs or absorb them.

 

[GeckoBass]

Thanks a ton, that makes me feel a lot better. Should I go ahead and turn down my temps to help her through it? I use a red heat bulb 24/7 and a white heat bulb during the day, I think if I just kept the red bulb on it would be around the temp she needs to be for brumation.

 

[JessJohnson87]

Mine brumated for a couple of months and I left my UTH set on 91* during the process and he would just move where he wanted to. It's not necessary to lower the temperatures.

 

[acpart]

I would just keep things the same and keep offering. The brumation thing seems to be as much a question of the ambient light as the temperature. Ovulation can definitely be an issue. I have a juvenile who's only 9 months old who was eating up a storm until 2 months ago when she more or less stopped eating. Sure enough, she was ovulating. Currently, the only one of my 16 leopard geckos that's eating much is my 35 gram juvie.

Aliza