My leopard gecko is always hungry. Should I feed it until it's full?

Thanks for reaching out about Norman. Geckos should be offered food every other day at least. Mealworms are not a complete meal. A wider variety of insects need to be offered and they need to be gut-loaded. Heat needs to be in the POTZ (Preferred Optimal Temperature Zone) for the species. UVB exposure is necessary for vitamin D synthesis and calcium metabolism. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Rem. Continue to provide 5-10 minute warm water soaks, a few times daily to stimulate defecation. Intestinal infections, parasites, ingested foreign bodies (substrate, bark, etc) or metabolic disorders can all lead to bloat and anorexia. If this continues a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and assist with a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Blitzen. A meat flavored baby food is best (chicken, turkey or beef) but baby foods are rarely calorically dense. If your gecko is thin, determining why is important, such as bacterial or parasitic enteritis, metabolic disorders (kidney, liver) and other problems. A veterinary visit should be able to assist with diagnosis and treatments. Review and correct husbandry parameters as too cool of an environment will decrease digestion and absorption of nutrients. Good luck.

Make sure any prey is appropriately sized, no bigger than the space between his eyes. They should be gut loaded for at least 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Consider adding LaFeber’s Emeraid for Carnivores, Oxbow’s Carnivore Critical Care or Fluker's Repti-Boost to get weight on him. Submit a stool sample to your herp veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites. If there are cryptosporidium in his stool, they may be responsible for his condition.

Give him a good soak (20-30 minutes) in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This will provide hydration and warm him up which may stimulate his appetite. An exam with your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet is always recommended for "new" pets or pets that may be ill or injured. Offer food about an hour or 2 after the heat lamp comes on in the morning. This will allow him to warm up and he will be more likely to eat what is offered. Use a variety of prey if possible. This can include crickets, dubia roaches, phoenix worms and the occasional superworm. Superworms are good to feed if you have a skinny gecko that needs to put on weight. Review additional care info here: http://www.anapsid.org/leopardgek.html

Make sure any prey you feed is appropriately sized, no bigger than the space between his eyes. If he has any stuck shed, a good soak in a warm water bath for 15-20 minutes daily may help. If he is constipated, a gentle abdominal massage, from front to back, during the soak may stimulate defecation.

The bump could be local infection or irritation. Monitor it for change or growth. Symptoms to look for are redness, increased swelling, bruising or sensitivity on that side. Make sure you don't have two males as this could lead to stress or bullying which can affect appetite. If you do have two males, provide a larger enclosure with multiple hides for them to use. Feed them separately if you can and use a kitchen scale to monitor the weight of the skinnier gecko. See your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles if there is no weight gain or weight loss. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites.