Gecko cannot eat properly

[seb]

Hi, I've been taking care of my gecko for about 3 years now and over the past two months I've noticed this guy having significant problems picking up his worms. He might stand at his bowl for near half an hour and still cannot pick up a worm. I know he's hungry because I can see him pull back his head to dart it into the bowl, but he just can't seem to grab it. I have another gecko in the same terrarium and she seems to be living fine, so I think this problem is specific to this guy. Does anyone have a reason as to why this is happening or a solution to help fix his diet?

This here is a picture I just took of him:

 

[indyana]

If there is another gecko in the same enclosure that is doing well, it may be that he is being bullied and not being allowed access to the best food and heat resources.

For the best health, a gecko needs access to food dusted with appropriate supplements, belly heat to digest the food properly, and a moist area like a humid hide. If you're going to keep multiple geckos in the same enclosure, you often need to provide multiple resources in case they don't feel like sharing. You may also consider splitting them up so both have equal resources.

Here's a basic setup guide that may help you troubleshoot and consider whether anything might be missing, keeping in mind that the healthier gecko in the cage could block access for the sick one.
Leopard Gecko Care Guide - Leopard Geckos For Sale - Quality Gecko Breeder - Fair Prices - Tremper - Bell - Rainwater - Giant - Mack Snow - Albino - Tangerine - Fattail

 

[acpart]

Based on what you're saying, it sounds as if your gecko is being given access to the bowl but just isn't very efficient at catching the worms anymore. Here are a few possibilities:
--some people hand-feed using tongs or just handing the worms to the gecko
--you could try super worms. They are bigger and consequently easier to grab but aren't as quick as crickets

Good luck.

Aliza

 

[seb]

Thanks for your response, and although I do have two separate bowls for each gecko, and do gutload my worms, I don't have a moist environment for them. I'll try making one in hopes of somehow prompting him to grab hold of those worms. I have also tried hand feeding them my worms, but I just cannot seem to calm them down enough to pay attention to the worm in the other hand. They never seem interested in eating unless they see a worm squirm in a bowl.