Appetite Stimulation

One of the main complaints reptile veterinarians field is "my reptile won't eat!" Whether you have purchased a new reptile that refuses to eat or have an a pet who is getting more and more picky these tips should help entice them to eat. There can be many causes of anorexia or pickiness and they many need to be seen by a vet, but try these steps too.

Step 1: Ensure Proper Husbandry

The biggest factor in poor appetite in reptiles is improper husbandry. Find a good care sheet online for the species you are keeping. Make sure your temperature gradients are correct with a temperature gun and an ambient thermometer. Ensure your pet is not stressed by providing adequate hiding places and moving the enclosure to a low-traffic area. Make sure the humidity of the enclosure is correct. Make sure the enclosure is big enough.

Incorrect environment is the number one reason for not eating.

Step 2: Balance the Diet

Ensure that the animal is being fed a proper diet with proper supplementation. In order to do this, refer to the "species guide" section of this website. An unbalanced diet can cause obesity and nutrient deficiencies. Many reptiles respond to poor diet by becoming picky eaters.

Step 3: Novel Foods

Try to feed any food you can think of. Find new and different kinds of foods that might be more to your reptile's taste. Don't give up. Keep trying new foods. Even if they eat something "unhealthy" it is better that they are eating something than nothing at all.

Step 4: Aroma

Each species is unique, but many reptiles will be enticed by aroma. Try heating up food to make it smell more. Warm tuna smell is great for meat eaters and insectivores. For plant eaters, try cucumber oil or anise oil as well as strawberry and banana flavor oil.

Step 5: Consult a Vet

If your animal is not eating it is extremely important to take it to a reptile veterinarian. There are many medical issues that can cause anorexia and they need to be ruled out in prolonged cases. See our "diagnostics page."

Other Tips and Tricks We've Heard

-Many owners have issues with omnivorous reptiles such as bearded dragons eating enough vegetable and green material. Try treating your vegetables and greens the same way you treat your insects. Dust them and drop them in the tank the exact same way you do the insects.

-Live food is always more enticing to eat. If you are feeding live mice or rats be extremely careful that they do not attack or bite your reptile. Live mice and rats always pose a risk to your reptile.

-Try presenting plant foods in different ways. For example, many uromastyx prefer vegetables sliced thin to make them similar in texture to the greens that they eat. Crested and day geckos eat nectar in the wild, so presenting fruit as a smoothie is often their favorite way to eat.