juvenile leopard gecko

Question
Our leopard gecko has not eaten for a couple days now. He has continued to poop but not eating crickets or meal worms. The leopard gecko is a juvenile. The leopard gecko named spot the eager. Additionally, we have only had Spot for less than 14 days. WE purchased him from Pet Smart. The habitat sold to us by the pet smart contains a red calcium sand. WE keep the habitat at 80 degrees during the day. No less than 75 at night. Spot has red calcium sand as the substrate for the habitat and a night glo light. The humidity level stays at 30. Spot is about 3 inches without tail or head. This all started with a cricket that Spot regurgitated. The cricket came from Pet Smart and was supposed to be small but seemed to be a bit larger than the rest. This is the one Spot regurgitated. Since then, Spot doesn't want crickets or worms. Spot usually eats 4-7 crickets a day and we just started feeding him meal worms. Is is possible that Spot is just full still. Even though, Spot has continued to poop at least once a day. What are your recommendations and expert advice? Thank you.

Answer
Zoeieann,

The good news in all of this is that Spot is continuing to defecate regularly. Also, because it has only been a couple of days, this is not raising any big red flags to me. Now, from what you described about the large cricket, this leads to me believe that the exoskeleton from that larger cricket may not be agreeing with spot and may be lodged in his intestines. Sometimes exoskeletons can cause intestinal impaction so the least amount ingested, the better especially with smaller lizards. I am not thinking that Spot is still full, he is probably uncomfortable if he is trying to pass an extra large cricket for his small size and it may be upsetting his digestive tract, making him not want to eat.

In addition to the large cricket, consider the following possibilities:

the reptile is dehydrated;
 
the reptile is impacted with fur, chitin, or particulate substrate, including commercial"lizard" and "reptile" substrates, or other foreign material or object;
   
the enclosure is too cool;
   
the basking temperatures needed are not being provided;

From what you described as your temperatures, I think Spot could benefit from you providing a warmer area for him to bask under that reaches at least 90F when he sits directly under the lamp. If Spot is able to thermo-regulate, he should be able to digest better...digestion and temperatures are intertwined.

I would recommend putting Spot in a bath so he can soak and possibly pass that excess exoskeleton matter or possibly hand-syringing him liquids, as hydration counteracts possible internal clogging...

Just keep an eye on Spot and give him a couple more days and he should come around. Keep offering him his crickets and mealworms that gives him something he's used to and something new in case he no longer wants crickets for good.

For some great info about leopard geckos, visit http://www.anapsid.org/leopardgek.html
Also, be sure that Spot isn't stressed and not eating because of stress. Make sure he is on set daily routine so he can feel his life is more predictable and gets hungry about the same time every day. He is a nocturnal species, so he should be on the opposite schedule where he is in darkness during the day and has some exposure to light during the night.

For any follow up questions, please reply back.

Thank You,

Sara J Gwerder
President
Raptor Rescue Iguana Sanctuary
Shreveport, LA
www.RaptorRescue.org

"Proper Diet + UVB Radiation + Proper Temperatures + Set Daily Schedule = Healthy + Happy Reptile"