Leopard gecko eating, but not pooping.

**4phie** · 09-26-2021, 07:34 PM

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My leopard gecko is about 6-8 months old and we recently got him two months ago. He's been doing just fine, except he hasn't pooped in about a week. He continues to eat normally (3-5 giant meal worms and 8 dubia roaches every other day.) We've never seen him go over to his water bowl, but we're concerned about his health. He's been acting normally as he used to, but I'm not sure if we need to take him to the vet.

**acpart** · 09-26-2021, 10:14 PM

There's a chance he's going somplace that you haven't been able to find (check inside his hides). They can go more than a week without pooping as well. Unless he's on a particle substrate (like sand), there probably isn't anything to worry about.

Aliza

**4phie** · 09-26-2021, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by acpart

There's a chance he's going somplace that you haven't been able to find (check inside his hides). They can go more than a week without pooping as well. Unless he's on a particle substrate (like sand), there probably isn't anything to worry about.

Aliza

I've checked everywhere and sadly I can't find anything. I'm currently using paper towels for his tank!

**Elizabeth Freer** · 09-27-2021, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by 4phie

I've checked everywhere and sadly I can't find anything. I'm currently using paper towels for his tank!

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

Sometimes adding moisture to a leo's diet helps them poop. Have you access to very small hornworms?

Petco near me carries 4-packs of hornworms for about $10. Petsmart may too. Hornworms are chock full of moisture (85%)! That's a good thing, because dehydration can cause constipation.

Hornworms naturally contain more calcium than any other feeder! Be sure to buy the smallest hornworms that are about 1 inch long. Hornworms mushroom in size just about overnight when kept at room temperature.

Keep hornworms @ 55*F. Change out the cool pack every 12 hours. That keeps hornworms from growing too quickly. A refrigerator is too cool for them & will make the hornworms' food tough.

DSCI2738_zpsnu79yexp.jpg
(click to enlarge)

Approximate nutritional content of HORNWORMS (source Mulberry Farms):

Protein: 9%
Fat: 3%
Calcium: 46.4mg/100mg
Calcium : phosphorus ratio is 1:3. That ratio is quite low compared to other worms! [Phosphorus impairs calcium absorption. Serve plain or lightly dust hornworms with pure precipitated calcium carbonate (withOUT vitamin D3) to rebalance the calcium and phosphorus even further.]
Moisture: 85%

For link 33 click: Hornworm Care Guidelines

**4phie** · 09-27-2021, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by Elizabeth Freer

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

Sometimes adding moisture to a leo's diet helps them poop. Have you access to very small hornworms?

Petco near me carries 4-packs of hornworms for about $10. Petsmart may too. Hornworms are chock full of moisture (85%)! That's a good thing, because dehydration can cause constipation.

Hornworms naturally contain more calcium than any other feeder! Be sure to buy the smallest hornworms that are about 1 inch long. Hornworms mushroom in size just about overnight when kept at room temperature.

Keep hornworms @ 55*F. Change out the cool pack every 12 hours. That keeps hornworms from growing too quickly. The refrigerator is too cool for them.

DSCI2738_zpsnu79yexp.jpg

For link 33 click: Hornworm Care Guidelines

Alright, I'll try that! Thank you!