I have a male LG about 5 years old that has stopped eating. He has lost quite a bit of weight (he's now less than 30g), and the vet just recommends force feeding with a small syringe. The same thing happened with a younger female last year that ended up dying despite our best efforts, and I obviously don't want this to happen again.

I am aware that at this time of year they partially hibernate, but the other two LGs are both eating well. There is enough food for all three, so he isn't being out competed, and he isn't being bullied - harmony abounds!

So has anyone got any experience of getting them to feed again?

Have you checked the temperature if it's ok across the whole enclosure. Also could it be the impaction? http://hubpages.com/hub/Impaction

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YES I do. First hand.. A few years ago it happened to a male of mine, and force feeding just made it worse. I will reply later tonight as busy now but in the meantime start researching crypto in leopard geckos


Best of luck

I'm just going to add in the meantime if you have added any new leopard gekckos in the last few months (of even if you haven't) get the lot done a faecel test including crytpo, its very important you ask your vet to do this as it won't be tested for otherwise.

Crypto is present in more than 50% of the UK's leopard geckos..

The vet tested for crypto, and it was negative. He's also had a course of antibiotics. There is also a good spread of heat across the viv, and he is usually to be found laid on the heat mat.

Any other suggestions?

I'm assuming he has tested 3 times then? Because crypto often comes up negative multiple times Has he tested for parasites?

No offence here but if the vets found nothing then what exactly is he treating using anti biotics? ..


Anyway it could be absolutely anything mate need a bit more info to narrow it down:

- Temps including warm side, cool side and basking spot
- Cagemates and the sex's
- What your feeding and how often
- What and how often are you supplementing the meals with?
- Do you provide a humidity box?
- How big is the vivarium
- How many hides per gecko do you have?
- Age of gecko (and other gecko's in with him)
- Substrate

If you can get a pic of him up also that will help. Till you've provided more info I can't help because it could literally be hundreds of things.

Also like to add what antibiotics did he give your gecko? How were they adminstered and how often/for how long. This seriously worries me why a vet would just give an animal antibiotics without finding anything wrong..

What has he told you to force feed him, whole food or liquids via a syringe?


You say the gecko is laid across the mat, he's not laying directly on it is he? Is the mat statted?

hmmm Henry never replied.. i wonder what happened to his gecko? hope it made it through...

Sorry I haven't had chance to get back to reply. To answer a few of the questions:

The antibiotic (from the label) is "Septrin Paed Susp 100ml - mix 1ml with 4ml water. Give 0.1ml once daily" so via syringe.

The heat mat covers about 35-40% of the base, is controlled by a thermostat, and has a covering of red desert sand.

Normal food is black or brown crickets, dusting with Nutrobal, plus meal and wax worms. They are fed every couple of days.

Viv mates are two female LGs, one about 6 years old and 45g, the other is 2.5 y.o. weighing in at 38g.

Viv is 44" x 15" x 13" with 3 hide boxes (moistened every 3-4days) plus three cardboard tubes and other sheltered areas.

Food for the poorly gecko is Hills high protein cat/dog food of a mousse-like consistency, occasionally with a drop of pure honey added, given twice a day (about 0.6ml) through a 1ml syringe.

Air temp is about 20-22'C with floor temp ranging from 22-33'C.

Unfortunately, a couple of days ago the poorly LG dropped to 21g from hovering around 23.5-24g, and he is looking very emaciated. He is now at 22g, and we will continue trying for him. However, we have decided that we are almost certainly just delaying the inevitable, so will be taking him back to the vets for probably the last time when we make an appt tomorrow.

Unfortunately (or possibly fortunately considering his condition) he died this morning.