The most common reasons a leopard gecko stops eating are a tank that is too cool, an upcoming shed, stress after a move, winter brumation, or a female carrying eggs. Most are harmless and pass in a week or two. A healthy adult with a fat tail can safely go 10 to 14 days without food, and often longer, but a baby should not go more than a few days. Check the warm spot is 90 to 95°F first, since that fixes most cases. See a reptile vet if your gecko is losing weight from its tail, or has other signs of illness.
Below are the causes in order of how often they happen, how long a leopard gecko can go without eating at each age, a step-by-step plan to get it eating again, and the warning signs that need a vet.
Why is my leopard gecko not eating?
| Cause | Clues | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Tank too cool | Cold warm spot, especially in autumn and winter or after a bulb or heat mat fails | Get the floor of the warm spot to 90 to 95°F, measured with a probe thermometer. See our temperature guide |
| About to shed | Dull, pale or greyish skin | Nothing; it eats again once the shed is off. See our shedding guide |
| New home or changes | New gecko, new tank, moved furniture, other pets nearby | Leave it alone for 1 to 2 weeks, offer food every few days, handle as little as possible |
| Brumation | Late autumn to winter; adult sleeps more and eats little or nothing | Normal for adults. Keep the heat on, offer food weekly, weigh it every week |
| Breeding season or eggs | Female with a swollen belly or visible eggs; restless male in spring | Provide a damp lay box and extra calcium. See a vet if a female strains or stops passing eggs |
| Bored of one feeder | Ignores crickets but takes other insects | Rotate feeders: crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, and an occasional waxworm as a treat |
| Wrong size insects | Bites then spits out, or ignores large insects | Feed insects no bigger than the space between its eyes |
| Overfed | Very fat tail, bulges in the armpits | Skip a few feeds; this is the body saying it has enough |
| Impaction | No poop for over a week, bloated belly | Warm soaks and a vet visit. See our poop and impaction guide |
| Illness or parasites | Weight loss, thin tail, runny or smelly poop, lethargy, mouth or eye problems | See a reptile vet and take a fresh dropping for a fecal test |
How long can a leopard gecko go without eating?
Leopard geckos store fat in their tails, so a healthy adult can go a surprisingly long time without food. That does not mean it should, but it explains why a short fast is rarely an emergency.
| Age | Usually safe | When to worry |
|---|---|---|
| Baby (under 4 months) | A few days | More than 4 or 5 days, or any weight loss |
| Juvenile (4 to 12 months) | About a week | More than 1 to 2 weeks, or a thinning tail |
| Healthy adult with a fat tail | 10 to 14 days, and several weeks in brumation | Weight loss of more than 10%, or a tail getting thinner |
The tail is your best guide. A healthy adult's tail is about as wide as its neck. As long as the tail stays plump and the weight holds steady, a gecko that is skipping meals is living off its reserves as designed. A digital gram scale lets you check its weight each week, which tells you far more than counting missed meals. Our size and weight chart has typical weights by age.
Brumation: why leopard geckos stop eating in winter
Many adult leopard geckos slow down from about November to February, even in a heated tank, because they sense the shorter days. This is brumation, a reptile version of a winter rest. A brumating gecko:
- spends most of its time in a hide,
- eats much less or refuses food for weeks,
- poops rarely,
- but holds its weight and keeps a plump tail.
Keep the heat on as normal, offer food once a week, keep fresh water in the tank, and weigh your gecko every week or two. Brumation is normal in adults, but babies and juveniles should not brumate. A young gecko that stops eating in winter needs its temperatures checked and, if it loses weight, a vet.
How to get a leopard gecko to eat again
- Check the temperatures. Measure the floor of the warm spot with a probe or an infrared thermometer. It should be 90 to 95°F, with the cool side at 70 to 77°F. Fix this first, since a gecko cannot digest food without enough heat.
- Look for a shed. Pale, dull skin means wait a day or two.
- Reduce stress. Stop handling for a week, make sure it has at least three hides, and move the tank away from loud rooms and other pets.
- Offer food in the evening, when leopard geckos are naturally active. Leave a few insects in a smooth-sided dish, or offer one at a time with tongs.
- Try a different insect. A wriggly mealworm or a dubia roach often gets a reluctant gecko interested. Use waxworms only as an occasional tempter, since they are fatty and can make geckos picky.
- Keep insects healthy. Gut-load them for 24 hours and dust with calcium powder. Our leopard gecko food guide has a feeding chart by age.
- Weigh and wait. Weigh it weekly and keep a note. If the weight holds, keep offering food every few days.
Do not force-feed a leopard gecko unless a vet shows you how and says it is needed. It is stressful for the gecko and can cause injuries.
When to see a vet
- A baby or juvenile that has not eaten for more than a week
- Weight loss of more than 10%, or a tail that is getting visibly thinner
- Runny, bloody or very smelly droppings, or no droppings for over a week
- Swollen jaw, bubbles from the nose or mouth, or eyes that stay shut
- Wobbly walking, twisted limbs or a soft jaw, which can be signs of metabolic bone disease
- A female that is straining, or that had visible eggs and has not laid them
- Not eating for more than a month outside winter, even with a good tail
Leopard gecko not eating FAQ
Why is my leopard gecko not eating?
Usually because the tank is too cool, it is about to shed, it is stressed after a move, or it is brumating in winter. Check that the warm spot is 90 to 95°F first.
How long can a leopard gecko go without eating?
A healthy adult with a fat tail can go 10 to 14 days without trouble, and several weeks during brumation. Babies should not go more than a few days.
Is it normal for a leopard gecko not to eat in winter?
Yes, for adults. Many slow down from November to February in a winter rest called brumation. Keep the heat on, offer food weekly and weigh it to make sure it holds its weight.
Why won't my new leopard gecko eat?
New geckos often refuse food for a week or two while they settle in. Leave it alone, check the temperatures, and offer a few small insects every couple of days.
Do leopard geckos stop eating before they shed?
Yes. Many eat less or nothing for a day or two before and during a shed. They go back to eating once the old skin is off.
How do I know if my leopard gecko is losing weight?
Weigh it on a gram scale every week, and watch its tail. A tail that gets thinner, or a weight drop of more than 10%, means it is time to see a vet.
Should I worry if my leopard gecko is not eating but its tail is fat?
Usually not. A fat tail means it has plenty of reserves. Keep offering food, check the heat, and weigh it weekly.