Leopard Gecko Not Eating? 10 Fixes That Worked for Me

If your leopard gecko suddenly stopped eating, you’re not alone. Mine did too—and I panicked, Googled everything, and annoyed a few reptile forums.

But after some trial, error, and a few near meltdowns, I found some simple fixes that actually worked.

I’ll walk you through them one by one, no fluff—just real stuff that helped my picky gecko get back to munching like a champ.

10 Reasons Why Your leopard gecko isn’t eating

1. Check the Temperature

If the tank is too cold, digestion slows down and appetite vanishes. I bumped up the basking spot to around 90°F using a thermostat-controlled heat mat. Within a day or two, things started improving.

2. Ditch the Live Meal Drama

Sometimes they just get bored or annoyed by wiggly bugs. I switched from crickets to dubia roaches—and boom, interest came back. Also, avoid oversized feeders. If the bug is longer than the space between their eyes, it’s too big.

3. Give Them Privacy at Mealtime

Turns out, my gecko didn’t like being stared at. I started feeding at night and stopped hovering. A little peace and quiet made a huge difference.

4. Try Tong Feeding (But Don’t Be Weird About It)

Tong feeding worked like a charm—once I stopped jabbing the food in its face. Slow movements, gentle wiggle, and patience did the trick.

5. Rehydrate With a Quick Soak

If a gecko’s dehydrated, it may lose appetite. I gave mine a 15-minute lukewarm soak every couple of days. After the second soak, it finally showed interest in food.

6. Double-Check the Hides

I had a warm hide that wasn’t warm, and a humid hide that was dry. Once I fixed those, my gecko’s behavior improved—and so did its eating.

7. Reduce Handling for a While

Too much handling = stress = no appetite. I gave mine a full week without handling. The break helped more than I expected.

8. Try a Favorite Treat

Mine always loved waxworms (like candy for geckos). I offered one, and it broke the fasting streak. I didn’t overdo it, just enough to get the appetite going again.

Explore the fascinating world of Leopard Gecko—this post has everything you need! The Ultimate Leopard Gecko Diet Plan Vets Swear By

9. Check for Shed Stuck in Weird Places

Found stuck shed on the toes and tail tip. That stress alone can mess with their mood. I fixed it gently with a moist Q-tip after a warm soak.

10. Rule Out Illness (If Nothing Works)

If none of this works after a week or two, it’s time for a reptile vet. Parasites, impaction, or mouth issues could be hiding behind that picky appetite.

Every gecko is different, but these fixes worked for mine. Try one thing at a time. Don’t panic. Your little dinosaur probably just needs one small change to feel safe and hungry again.