Getting Your Leopard Gecko Ready for Brumation

As a new caring leopard gecko owner, you’ve probably done a ton of research on what and when to feed your leo. You’ve probably checked out how to set up a vivarium and give your pet the right climate to regulate its temperature and stay stress free. But you might have overlooked one big change that happens every year of leopard gecko’s life: brumation. 

In this article, we’ll talk about how to identify brumation in leopard geckos and how you should help your little friend get ready for the long sleep, so they can stay healthy into their next year. 

What Is Brumation? 

Brumation is basically hibernation, but for reptiles. Metabolically, the processes are different, but the basic concept is the same. Winter’s cold, and there isn’t much food around, so you want to take a big long nap and lower your body temperature to get through it easier. 

In leopard gecko brumation, this normally presents itself when your leopard gecko becomes lethargic and has less appetite. If you’re not looking closely, it might seem like your leopard gecko is sick. But the biggest difference is a brumating gecko won’t lose weight, and stays alert when handled. 

Either way, if your leopard gecko starts slowing down and stops eating, it’s time for a trip to the vet. You need a fecal swab to be sure your leo doesn’t have a parasite or other illness. 

How Often Do Leopard Geckos Go Into Brumation? 

Leopard geckos brumate every year, for the most part. The particulars are a little fuzzy, and some geckos might not brumate every year, or even at all. It depends on the individual gecko. 

When your leo starts noticing a drop in temperature, or less sunlight as the days get shorter, its body might trigger it to start brumating. 

Remember, the idea here is to get through the cold part of the year. So brumation might last for a few months in total. This is dependent on your particular leo. As time goes on, you’ll get a better sense for how your pet likes to handle the winter, and you’ll know what to look for when the time comes. 

One thing you can be sure of is that juvenile leopard geckos do not brumate. So if your juvenile leopard gecko is showing signs of low appetite and less activity, it is almost definitely a health issue and not brumation. Call your vet immediately! 

How Do I Know If My Leopard Gecko is Brumating? 

As we mentioned, the telltale signs that your gecko is brumating are lethargy and a loss of appetite. You might also notice your gecko burrowing more, as they try to seek a stable place to take a long nap. You will also notice them hanging out in cooler parts of their enclosure more often. 

The big difference between brumation and illness is that a sick gecko will lose weight, usually quickly. A sick gecko may be less responsive when handling, while a gecko getting ready to brumate will still be alert in your hand. 

But, as we mentioned, the only way to know for sure is to take your leo to the vet. It’s crucial that you do this to make sure your pet is actually brumating before you start preparing. 

Getting Your Leopard Gecko Ready for Brumation

After your vet check, you will want to start getting your geckos ready for brumation. First, you’ll want to weigh them to establish a healthy weight before brumation starts. As your gecko slows down, you’ll want to keep an eye on their weight. 

If your gecko loses more than 10% of its body weight during brumation, you’ll want to take them back to the vet. This is a sign that something is wrong with your gecko’s health. 

    Clearing Your Leo’s Digestive System

After the weigh-in you need to help your leo clear their digestive system out. You should stop feeding them entirely for about two weeks. During this time, they should pass any food that was left in their digestive tract. 

This is important, because leftover food in your leo’s intestines can actually start to rot during brumation, which is a serious issue. 

    Reducing Light

Next, you need to reduce the amount of light your leo gets each day to drop the temperature in the enclosure. Every two days, reduce your leo’s light by one hour. In 24 days, your leo will go from 12 hours of daylight to none. This will get your leo’s tank into the 60-70°F. 

Ideally, you will want the tank to be even cooler during the main brumation period. The perfect range is between 50-60°F for the main brumation period. 

    Going into Hibernation

Once your leo’s gut is empty and their temperature is lowered to below 60°F, you can transfer them to the “brumation room,” or their sleep chamber. This is where they’ll spend the next few months doing… almost nothing at all. 

You want the brumation room to be in a very dark, stable, well-ventilated climate somewhere in your house where your leo won’t be disturbed. You can’t let the temperature go below 50°F or above 60°F during this time. We recommend using a remote thermometer to keep an eye on the temp while this is happening. 

Make sure your leo has access to water in the brumation room too, just in case it wakes up and needs to drink. 

What to Do During Brumation

At this point, your goal should be to interact with your leo as little as possible. You need to do health check ups weekly, but other than that, you should try to let your pet sleep. 

When it’s time for a health check, you need to weigh your leopard gecko. Keep track of the weights as you record them so you can note any measurable weight loss. More than 10% of body weight lost is a red flag. 

You should also take this opportunity to refill your leo’s water. You can give them a quick once-over for stuck sheds or eye issues, too. If they show any signs of alertness, offer them a warm water soak. They might use it, they might not. Once that’s done, it’s right back in the brumation room.