Typically, most mammals and certain species of insects hibernate during the cold season. Leopard geckos are a choice reptile pet species because they are generally tame and easy to feed and manage.

Nevertheless, you need to know all the traits Leopard Geckos exhibit to give your pet the best care. For instance, whether Leopard Geckos hibernate is a common query among new and prospective pet Leo owners.

So, do leopard geckos hibernate when the cold-temperature season kicks in?

In cold temperatures, leopard geckos brumate rather than hibernate. While brumation is similar to hibernation in many ways, the two terms still have slight differences. During brumation, your leopard gecko will be semi-dormant. Technically, the leopard geckos spend their brumation period in their hide without eating for one to four months.

Naturally, a leopard gecko will start its brumation cycle when the environmental temperature consistently drops to lower than 18° C. Nevertheless, your gecko may never undergo brumation if you reside in high-temperature areas, as the process depends on the surrounding temperature.

What is Brumation?

Brumation is a dormant period that many reptile species undergo during the cold season. Leopard geckos are no exception and, as such, may brumate for a period of 1 month to 4 months – usually during the winter.

Although we can say that brumation in reptiles is similar to hibernation in mammals, there are some key differences.

Usually, the brumation period in reptiles kicks in when there is a drastic decrease in temperature and sunlight. In other words, it is a dormant period in which your reptile pet conserves its energy to survive the cold temperatures.

How Long Does Brumation In Geckos Last?

Like hibernation, brumation occurs during the cold season and may last from 1 to 4 months. As such, you can expect your gecko to fall into brumation anywhere from September and end when the temperature of the surrounding pick back up when spring begins.

Although brumation happens during the colder months of the year, it is essential to jot down the date when your leopard gecko goes into brumation for the first time. With time, you will notice that the gecko bromates at around the same time every year.

What are the differences between Hibernation and Brumation?

On one hand, true hibernation is a dormancy state involving a shallow metabolism rate. To be precise, it’s impossible to rouse a true hibernating mammal from its slumber.

On the other hand, in layman’s language, hibernating mammals go to deep sleep and inactivity at the onset of winter. In this case, they can remain inactive for weeks or months.

Conversely, brumation does not involve a drastic reduction in the metabolic rate and alertness. This is because leopard geckos, like other reptiles, are ectothermic – meaning that their body temperature tracks the temperature of their surroundings.

Since the metabolic rate depends on the body temperature, you may notice that your leopard gecko takes advantage of warm days by basking or drinking water.

Despite these slight differences, however, you can generally think of brumation in reptiles like leopard geckos as a hibernation-like activity that most mammals undergo.

Types of Brumation

There are two types of brumation among reptile pets like leopard geckos:

• Voluntary Brumation
• Involuntary Brumation

1. Voluntary brumation

It involves a leopard gecko naturally going into brumation. As such, voluntary brumation happens to wild geckos to cope with drastic changes in the climate and significantly lower environmental temperatures. In this case, the brumation cycle occurs naturally.

2. Involuntary Brumation

On the other hand, a leopard gecko pet owner can trigger involuntary brumation. You can orchestrate brumation for your interest if you have a leopard gecko. One significant advantage of the semi-dormant state is initiating your leopard gecko’s breeding season.

This brumation is initiated in a steady and slow process that involves decreasing the lighting and heating of the gecko’s housing. The resultant state then forces your reptile friend into a semi-hibernate state.

7 Signs of Brumation in Leopard Geckos

During brumation, you are likely to observe some signs and symptoms. For a first-time pet keeper, it might be worrying and stressful.

Therefore, you need to understand the indicators that your leopard gecko is in a semi-hibernation state. Below are some of the common signs that show a leopard gecko is in brumation:

• Lethargy
• Slow or no movements at all
• Frequent sleep
• Loss of appetite or no eating
• Reduced pooping
• Staying on one side of the tank (preferably the hot side)
• Ding for prolonged periods

Should You Brumate Your Pet Leopard Gecko?

Brumating your leopard gecko should be optional (depending on the pet) rather than mandatory (depending on the pet owner).

Most geckos will remain healthy and active when their enclosure has warm temperatures. Thus, your leopard gecko may not undergo a semi-hibernation cycle.

However, in the rare case pet leopard geckos feel the need to brumate, they start exhibiting signs of entering the semi-dormancy state. In this case, it’s best to provide the ideal conditions for brumation.

Instances When You Should Not Brumate Your Leopard Gecko

When the Leopard Gecko Is Ill

You should avoid bromating your leopard gecko if it has any health issues. If a gecko is ill, the lack of food during brumation can reduce the chance of getting better.

Therefore, getting a professional veterinarian to check your gecko for any diseases or infections before initiating brumation is vital.

Before The Gecko Is 1 Year

It is dangerous to initiate brumation in a leopard gecko before adulthood. Leopard geckos below one year are still babies and thus need to eat every day for proper nutrition.

Therefore, initiating a semi-hibernate state in a baby leopard gecko will harm its well-being.