gecko not eating | Leopard Geckos | Page 1

oak topaz Dec 21, 2023, 1:59 PM

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Hi guys,

I got my leopard gecko (Lili) 5 days ago and she still hasn't eaten, I know its normal for geckos not to eat for the first few days, the good news is that she hasn't lost any weight. The temps and humidity in my enclosure are good and I keep it regulated to make sure they stay as they should. She tried to eat from my tongues once but missed and them got shy and went to hide. I leave food in a feeding bowl in her enclosure for a couple of hours twice a day but I'm not sure if she recognises it as a feeding bowl. She spends a lot of the time hiding in her hot hide and between the rocks that I have placed for her. My theory is that she's still getting used to her new environment and I try to make it less stressful for her by just letting her be and nit trying to interact with her (apart from when I try to feed her).

Any sort of help or response would be much appreciated.

P.s. before anyone asks I use arcadias "earthmix arid" as a substrate.

weak kraken Dec 21, 2023, 4:36 PM

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nqa yeah shes likely just getting used to her environment. it can take between a few days and a few months depending on the leo.

while earthmix arid is a good substrate, ideally all new animals need to be quarantined on paper towels for 2 or so months, and temperatures should be correct and regulated with a thermostat before being moved to loose substrate. just so you can monitor quality of feces for the first few months

oak topaz Dec 21, 2023, 4:52 PM

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Should I remove the earth mix and replace it with paper towels for now?

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I feel like at this point it'll stress her out too much. Or is it worth giving it a try and changing jt to paper towels Or newspapers? I put her on soil cause my breeder said that she should be fine to go straight onto soil as that what she was brought up on.

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I so find it cute however that if I'm working on something in my room she comes out of the hide and stares at me until I glance and her, then she slowly goes back into the hide hahaha

weak kraken Dec 21, 2023, 5:09 PM

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nqa i think it would be best to change to paper towels :] stress is going to be inevitable sometimes but they'll get over it in a bit lol

oak topaz Dec 21, 2023, 5:25 PM

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Should I put some of the soil somewhere so she can dig?

weak kraken Dec 21, 2023, 5:40 PM

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you can give her a dig box if you want!

oak topaz Dec 21, 2023, 6:25 PM

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Yeah she really likes to dig, I've got a deep hide which I have dirt in that I also use as a moist hide, so I'll just leave the dirt there

#gecko not eating