Solving the Picky Eater Problem: Tips and Tricks to Get Your Reptile Eating Again
It can be alarming if your reptile stops eating suddenly. This is usually the first sign that something is wrong with your pet’s health, and it is a symptom of just about every disease and health problem a reptile can have. But that doesn’t mean you need to take them to the vet immediately. In some cases, it may just be that your pet is picky, stressed, or otherwise uncomfortable.
In this article, we’ll talk about all the reasons reptiles stop eating, so you can help your pet get back to its normal routine. Let’s get into it.
My Reptile Stopped Eating. What Do I Do?
Whether you have a bearded dragon, a leopard gecko, a frog, a python, or some other herpene, low appetite has three main causes.
The first is some kind of health issue, which will require a trip to the vet. We’ll talk more about this in a second, but it’s key that you look for other symptoms of illness right away.
The second is stress. Reptiles can stress easily, and their fight-or-flight response will cause them to stop eating to save energy for running from threats. We’ll talk about all the potential causes of stress, including variations in temperature and light.
The third cause of low appetite is boredom or lack of dietary variety. It can be hard to dial in your pet’s diet, and some reptiles are pickier than others. You may need to switch up your pet’s main food source or give them some more enrichment to encourage them.
When It’s Time to Go to the Vet
Right off the bat, we need to talk about medical issues. Because low appetite is such a common symptom of other problems, you should always check your pet’s health if they stop eating. The key here is to look for other symptoms of illness or visible injury.
Give them a good once-over to look for cuts and other physical injuries. Beyond that, you should be watching for lethargy and irregular poops. If your pet is having diarrhea or not pooping at all, that’s a pretty good sign of a gastrointestinal issue.
If they’re constipated, their digestive system may be impacted. This can be caused by high fiber foods like crickets, or ingesting substrate. If they have diarrhea, they may have some infectious disease.
And if your pet is moving very little or not at all, there is probably something else going on that warrants a trip to the vet.
How Your Vet Diagnoses Illness
Your vet will probably start by examining a stool sample from your pet. It might be wise to give the vet a call before you go in, so you can collect a stool sample ahead of your appointment.
Using a stool sample, your veterinarian can tell if your pet has a virus, a bacteria, or even a parasitic infection. They may also order and x-ray. They may also examine your pet’s mouth. Leopard geckos in particular are prone to getting infected cuts in their mouths, which can be tough to notice.
Reasons Reptiles Have Low Appetites
That said, if your pet has a low appetite but is otherwise behaving fairly normally, your next best guess is that they are stressed. Reptiles upset easily and their first instinct is to stop eating. Here are some things you can look for to help them get back to normal life.
Stress
Most reptile pets are in the middle of the food chain in their natural habitats. Yes, they eat smaller things, but they also have predators. So they like to feel like their environment is very safe, stable, and free of threats. They can be stressed by sudden changes, loud noise, or too much handling (though this depends a lot on your individual pet).
Temperature and Humidity
To reiterate, reptiles like routine. Each species has its own perfect mix of temperature and humidity, and you want to keep your pet’s climate as stable as possible.
The best way to make sure you’re hitting the right numbers is to get a remote thermometer/hygrometer that you can check from your phone. This will allow you to keep an eye on the conditions in the habitat without disturbing your pet too much.
If it’s too cold or hot, try adjusting your heating element or light. You may need to move your pet’s basking rock or adjust its hides to give them more options to regulate their temperature. If it’s too dry, mist more. If it’s too wet, get some more ventilation going.
Lightning
Lighting goes hand in hand with temperature. You need to make sure they have enough of the right kind of light. Beardies, for example, need UVB to keep their metabolisms up. You can check the temperature of your pet’s basking rock or its hides with a laser thermometer and make minor adjustments.
Brumation
Lots of reptiles, like bearded dragons, go into brumation when their appetite slows or stops. This is kind of like hibernation, and it typically starts as your pet gets older. If your pet is still young, chances are their loss of appetite isn’t due to brumation.
How to Introduce Variety to Your Picky Eater
Last of all, your pet may just be picky or bored. This is the least serious reason for a reptile to stop eating, but it can be the toughest to fix.
In some cases, a reptile may just get bored with their main feeder insect. We always recommend building a diet around variety, and this is key here. Try introducing some other feeders along with your main feeder to see if your pet goes for a different kind of food. You might also try feeding them at different times to encourage a bigger appetite.
If your pet is young, they may also prefer more active prey that gives them a chance to hunt. If they’re old, the opposite may be true. They may be sick of chasing their food down and might like something that’s easier to catch.