Why Is My Leopard Gecko Not Pooping?

Your leopard gecko isn’t pooping because of impaction, low temperatures, dehydration, or simply not eating enough. The most serious cause is impaction, where indigestible material blocks their digestive tract. Less urgent causes include tank temperatures below 78°F, which slow digestion, or a gecko that’s stressed and refusing food.

This matters because going 7+ days without pooping can be life-threatening. Unlike mammals, reptiles need specific conditions to digest food properly, and a blockage can lead to organ failure if left untreated.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to tell if it’s an emergency, what’s causing the problem, and exactly what steps to take right now to help your gecko.

Quick Answer: Is Your Gecko in Danger?

• Probably fine if: Your gecko hasn’t pooped in 3-4 days, is still eating, and acting normal
• Take action if: No poop for 5-7 days, even if eating normally
• Emergency vet visit if: No poop + swollen belly + lethargy + won’t eat + licking vent constantly
• Most likely cause: Tank temperatures too low or dehydration (easiest to fix!)
• Serious cause: Impaction from sand, loose substrate, or oversized insects

How Often Should Leopard Geckos Poop?

Normal frequency depends on age and feeding schedule.

Baby leopard geckos (under 6 months) poop 2-3 times daily because they eat more often for rapid growth. Juveniles (6-12 months) typically poop once per day. Adults usually poop anywhere from once daily to 2-3 times per week, depending on their feeding schedule.

Here’s the thing: if you feed your gecko every other day, they’ll probably poop every other day. More food in = more poop out.

When to worry: If your gecko hasn’t pooped in 5-7 days, something’s wrong. Even adult geckos shouldn’t go longer than a week without a bowel movement.

Hungry for knowledge about Leopard Gecko? We’ve got you covered in this article. Lumps, Bumps, and Swellings on Leopard Geckos: A Quick Guide

Why Your Leopard Gecko Stopped Pooping

Low Tank Temperatures

Cold tanks are the most common and fixable cause.

Leopard geckos are reptiles, which means they can’t regulate their own body temperature. If their tank is too cold, their digestive system literally slows to a crawl or stops working entirely.

Your tank needs a basking spot of 88-94°F and a cool side around 78-80°F. Nighttime temps can drop to 70-75°F but never lower.

Check this right now: Use a temp gun (not those stick-on thermometers—they’re garbage). Measure the basking spot where your gecko actually lies, not just the air temperature.

If your temps are below 78°F anywhere in the tank, that’s your problem.

Dehydration

A dehydrated gecko can’t poop properly because their digestive system needs water to move waste through.

Signs of dehydration include sunken eyes, wrinkled or loose skin, and little to no white urate in their poop (the white part is basically solid urine). Some geckos refuse to drink from bowls and get all their water from insects.

Fix it: Offer a shallow water dish. Mist one corner of the tank lightly. Try giving your gecko a 10-minute soak in lukewarm water (water should just touch their belly).

Gut-load your feeder insects with water-rich foods like carrots or oranges before feeding.

Impaction (The Serious One)

Impaction means something is blocking your gecko’s digestive tract.

This usually happens when geckos accidentally swallow sand, loose substrate, gravel, or wood chips while hunting food. It can also happen from feeding insects that are too large—anything bigger than the space between your gecko’s eyes is too big.

Warning signs of impaction:

• Swollen, hard belly (especially on the left side)
• Loss of appetite or complete food refusal
• Extreme lethargy—just lying around all day
• Licking or pushing at their vent (trying to poop)
• Dark or black spot visible through the belly when you shine a light

If you see these signs, don’t wait. Impaction can be fatal within days if untreated.

Hungry for knowledge about Leopard Gecko? We’ve got you covered in this article. How To Help Your Leopard Gecko With Stuck Shed

Not Eating = Not Pooping

This one’s obvious but easy to overlook. No food in means no poop out.

If your gecko stopped eating, figure out why. Common reasons include stress from a new tank, too much handling, temperatures that are wrong, or illness. Adult geckos can go 1-2 weeks without food, but if they’re not eating AND not pooping, take them to a vet.

Baby geckos can’t skip meals like adults can—they need food daily.

Tank Changes and Stress

Moving furniture around in your gecko’s tank can stress them out enough to stop pooping temporarily.

Leopard geckos are creatures of habit. They usually pick one corner as their bathroom and stick with it. If you rearrange the tank, they might hold it while searching for their old spot.

Give them a week to adjust. Put a paper towel in their old bathroom corner to help them relocate it.

Other stress triggers: new pets in the house, excessive handling (especially for new geckos), loud noises, or a tank that’s too small (minimum 20 gallons for adults).

Oversized Insects

Feeding insects that are too big can cause both impaction and constipation.

The rule: Insects should never be wider than the space between your gecko’s eyes. Mealworm beetles, superworms that are too large, and adult crickets can all be too much for smaller geckos to handle.

The hard exoskeletons of insects contain chitin, which is difficult to digest. Too many hard-shelled insects at once can back up their system.

Better feeders: Mix in soft-bodied insects like hornworms, silkworms, or waxworms (as treats—they’re fatty).

What to Do Right Now

Step 1: Check Tank Temperatures

Grab a temp gun and measure the basking spot and cool side.

If temperatures are below 88°F on the hot side, your gecko’s digestion has slowed down. Adjust your heat source immediately. This alone might solve the problem within 2-3 days.

Use an under-tank heater or ceramic heat emitter, not heat rocks (those can burn them).

Hungry for knowledge about Leopard Gecko? We’ve got you covered in this article. Why Is My Leopard Gecko Sleeping So Much?

Step 2: Give a Warm Bath

Fill a shallow container with lukewarm water (around 85-90°F).

The water should only come up to your gecko’s belly—not over their head or they could drown. Let them soak for 15-20 minutes once or twice daily.

While soaking: Gently massage their belly from chest toward the vent using light circular motions. Don’t push hard—you’re just trying to stimulate movement.

This often helps them pass poop within 24-48 hours.

Step 3: Try a Drop of Mineral Oil

If the bath doesn’t work after 2-3 days, give one drop of plain mineral oil.

Place the drop on their nose (not in the nostrils!) or at the corner of their mouth. They’ll lick it off. Don’t use olive oil—vets recommend mineral oil because it’s safer and more effective as a laxative.

Important: Only do this once. Don’t feed them until they poop. If they don’t poop within 2 days after the oil, stop home treatment and see a vet.

Step 4: Stop Feeding Until They Poop

Don’t give your gecko more food while they’re backed up.

Adding more food on top of a blockage just makes things worse. Wait until they successfully poop before offering another meal.

This sounds harsh but it’s necessary. Your gecko won’t starve in a few days, and eating while impacted can cause serious complications.

Step 5: Know When to See a Vet

See a vet ASAP if:

• No poop for 7+ days despite home treatment
• Belly is hard, swollen, or you see a dark mass through the skin
• Your gecko is vomiting or regurgitating food
• They’re extremely lethargic—barely moving
• They’ve stopped eating entirely
• You see them dragging their back legs (sign of severe impaction)

Don’t wait if symptoms get worse. Impaction can progress from bad to fatal quickly. An exotic vet can give an enema, prescribe laxatives, or perform surgery if needed.

Finding a vet: Search for “exotic vet near me” or “reptile veterinarian.” Not all vets treat leopard geckos, so call ahead.

If Leopard Gecko piqued your interest, this article will take you even further. Why Isn’t My Leopard Gecko Shedding?

What NOT to Do

Don’t Use Sand or Loose Substrate

Sand is the number one cause of impaction. Period.

Pet stores sell “leopard gecko sand” and even calcium sand, but it’s all dangerous. Geckos accidentally ingest it while hunting, and it builds up in their gut. The same goes for wood chips, gravel, walnut shells, and coconut fiber.

Safe substrates: Paper towels, reptile carpet, tile, or solid liner. Yes, it’s less natural-looking, but your gecko doesn’t care and it could save their life.

Don’t Feed While Impacted

Adding more food when they’re already blocked is like piling more cars onto a traffic jam.

Wait until they poop before feeding again. Your gecko will be fine skipping meals for a few days—it’s way safer than making the blockage worse.

Don’t Try to Force Poop Out

Never squeeze or press hard on your gecko’s belly.

You could rupture their intestines or cause internal injuries. Gentle massage during baths is fine, but if you’re applying real pressure, stop.

Also don’t try to pull poop out of their vent if it’s stuck. Use a warm, wet cotton swab to gently soften and remove it, but never yank.

Don’t Wait Too Long

“Wait and see” is not a strategy with impaction.

If your gecko shows serious symptoms—hard belly, extreme lethargy, obvious pain—don’t waste time hoping it’ll pass. Get to a vet. Impaction can kill within a week if left untreated.

How to Prevent This From Happening Again

Use Safe Substrate

Switch to paper towels, tile, or reptile carpet immediately if you’re using sand.

I know sand looks more natural, but leopard geckos come from rocky, hard-packed desert areas—not sand dunes. They don’t need it, and it puts them at constant risk.

Tile is actually great because it helps file down their nails naturally.

Keep Temperatures Correct

Invest in a quality thermostat and temp gun.

Your basking spot should consistently stay between 88-94°F. Use an under-tank heater or ceramic heat emitter on a thermostat so temperatures don’t fluctuate wildly.

Check temps daily until you’re confident your setup is stable.

Want to dive deeper into Leopard Gecko? This article has all the answers! Is Your Leopard Gecko Sick? 12 Red Flags Every Owner Should Know

Feed Appropriately Sized Insects

Measure the space between your gecko’s eyes and never feed anything wider.

For mealworms and crickets, size matters. A baby gecko needs small mealworms, while adults can handle large ones. When in doubt, go smaller—they can always eat more insects.

Provide Fresh Water Daily

Change their water bowl every day, even if it looks clean.

Some geckos are picky and won’t drink stale water. Place the bowl near the cool side of the tank, not directly under the heat lamp.

If your gecko never drinks from bowls, mist one corner lightly every few days or offer water on a spoon during handling.

Dust Insects With Calcium

Proper nutrition helps everything function better, including digestion.

Dust feeder insects with calcium powder (with D3 for geckos without UVB lighting) at most feedings. This prevents nutritional deficiencies that can affect their digestive system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can stress cause a leopard gecko to not poop?

Yes, stress absolutely can. Leopard geckos are sensitive to changes in their environment, and stress can slow or stop their digestive system temporarily.

Common stressors include tank rearrangement, new pets, excessive handling, or being housed with another gecko. Give them time to adjust (usually a week) and minimize handling. If they’re still not pooping after reducing stress, check other factors like temperature and hydration.

How long can a leopard gecko go without pooping before I should worry?

Adult geckos can safely go 3-5 days, but if it’s been 7 days or more with no poop, that’s a red flag. Babies and juveniles should poop at least every 2-3 days since they eat more frequently.

The key is comparing to their normal pattern—if your gecko usually poops daily and suddenly stops for 5 days, investigate immediately even if 5 days seems “safe” on paper.

Is it normal for leopard geckos to not poop after shedding?

It’s actually common for them to eat their shed skin, which can temporarily make their poop look white or reduce frequency for a day or two. This is totally normal.

However, eating large amounts of shed skin can potentially cause a blockage if combined with other issues like dehydration. As long as they poop within a few days and return to their normal schedule, don’t worry about it.

Can I give my leopard gecko olive oil to help them poop?

Mineral oil is better and safer than olive oil. Most exotic vets recommend mineral oil because it’s specifically designed to act as a lubricant and laxative without being absorbed by the body.

If you use olive oil, only give one tiny drop (place it on their nose so they lick it off). But honestly, mineral oil is the gold standard. Never use essential oils, cooking oils, or anything scented.

What does impacted leopard gecko poop look like?

If they’re impacted, they’re not pooping at all—that’s the problem. But if they start to pass a partial blockage, you might see sand mixed in with normal brown feces, very small hard pellets, or poop that’s extremely dry and crumbly.

Sometimes the poop will have visible substrate particles. If you’re seeing this, your gecko has been swallowing substrate and you need to change it immediately before a full blockage occurs.

Bottom Line

Most cases of leopard geckos not pooping come down to three fixable things: low temperatures, dehydration, or unsafe substrate.

Check your temps first—this is the easiest fix and the most common cause. If temps are good, try warm baths and make sure they’re getting enough water. If you’re using sand or loose substrate, switch to paper towels right now.

Impaction is serious, but it’s also preventable. With the right setup and care, your gecko should have regular, healthy bowel movements for their whole life.

If home treatment doesn’t work within 2-3 days, or if you see emergency signs like a hard swollen belly and extreme lethargy, don’t wait—see an exotic vet.

Your gecko depends on you to notice when something’s wrong and act quickly. Now you know what to look for and exactly what to do.