Leopard geckos can sometimes experience vomiting. Vomiting is a normal way for the leopard gecko to rid itself of food that is not compatible with its digestive system.
Leopard geckos can vomit due to a variety of reasons, including exposure to a pathogen, diseases, stress, unfavorable enclosure conditions (such as being in a cramped space), obstruction of their digestive tract, or even eating quickly.
There are a few things you can do if you notice your leopard gecko vomiting regularly:
- Make sure the gecko has access to plenty of fresh water and quality food
- Check the enclosure conditions — make sure there is enough ventilation and enough space for the leopard gecko to move around
- Be patient — most cases of vomiting will go away on their own within a few days.
If however, the vomiting continues despite your attempts to help the gecko adjust to its new environment or feed them properly, it may be necessary to take your leopard gecko to see a vet.
Let’s discuss the reasons for vomiting in more in-depth way.
Reasons Your Leopard Gecko Is Throwing Up
· Unfavorable Enclosure Temperature
Leopard geckos are cold-blooded, meaning they can’t maintain a constant body temperature or regulate their body temperature and obtain heat from their surroundings. Due to this factor, they cannot effectively process their food without the right amount of warmth in their body.
When the enclosure temperature is too cold, your gecko will stay still to conserve its warmth and energy and will try not to eat until the temperatures pick up, and if they try to eat, it will throw up.
Therefore, your Leo needs a correct and stable enclosure temperature every time to carry out the necessary biological processes. The enclosure must have a warm hide with temperatures ranging between 90 degrees Fahrenheit to 95 degrees Fahrenheit to help with the breakdown of food, and it should be made accessible all the time, as its absence may cause your Leo to vomit.
· Obstruction in the Digestive Tract
The type of substrate you have used in your gecko’s enclosure might be causing your Leo to vomit if ingested. Loose substrates like gravel, silica sand or calcium sand are tiny, and your gecko may ingest them and potentially make them vomit because they can’t be broken down in their digestive tract.
The substrate can cause impaction if swallowed by your pet. You can try to force some of it out by giving gentle belly rubs or warm baths, although this is not guaranteed to work and can be fatal if not addressed on time.
Small decorations, similar to loose substrates, can cause impaction if ingested. Depending on size, they can lodge on the intestines or food tract, causing your leopard gecko to vomit.
Irregular growth of tumors or tissue masses anywhere in the digestive tract, such as adenocarcinomas, may cause a blockage due to swelling, leading to chronic vomiting.
· Your Leopard Gecko Eating Quickly
Geckos tend to get excited when it’s time for them to eat, so they eat too fast and too much. Since their stomachs are small and can’t keep up with their appetite, your Leo tends to regurgitate the food back up.
These tend to happen to the juvenile or babies but can also happen to any Leo at any age; therefore, it’s best not to feed them too quickly. Most geckos know their limit and when to stop eating when full, but others will keep feeding as long as you keep giving the food.
It may also take them some time before they realize they have reached their limit; therefore, giving them a little time to chew and let the food settle in before offering them more is recommended to reduce the risk of vomiting.
· A Stressful Environment
Leopard geckos can experience various levels of stress, depending on their environment. Loud noises and high or low humidity levels can be particularly stressful to these animals, so it is important to make sure their living conditions do not cause undue stress.
If possible, try to adjust the geo’s enclosure temperature to match the ambient temperature; this will help to reduce anxiety and provide a more comfortable atmosphere for your Leo.
Handling should also be minimal and confined to examinations only; over handling can lead to injury and stress in the animal. When interacting with your Leo, do not reach in from above; this encourages aggression which further causes stress.
Finally, avoid being aggressive toward your gecko – simply providing them with gentle interactions will help reduce their anxiety levels.
· Presence of Pathogens in Your Gecko’s Enclosure
Dirty feeder insects and a dirty enclosure are the best breeding grounds for pathogens attacking the digestive tract of your leopard gecko causing them to vomit. They include;
Parasites – They are the most notable causes of gastrointestinal discomfort and vomiting in Leos. Your vet will look for protozoans like Cryptosporidium spp or Amoebas Girdia.
Fungi – Fungi rarely causes trouble in Leos but can destroy them when they infiltrate the stomach. Once they start to attack your Leos body, vomiting is one of the symptoms.
Bacteria –Bacteria causes gastrointestinal problems in leopard geckos leading to infections and abscesses like salmonellosis and gastritis complications that damage the stomach, which may lead to vomiting.
Viruses – Ranavirus is an example of a virus famous for attacking leopard gecko’s internal organs, where chronic vomiting is observed when the virus attacks the intestines and stomach.
If you suspect pathogens might infest your gecko, it is recommended to take them to your vet for diagnosis and treatment. You have to bring a fresh stool specimen or fresh vomit for them to analyze and assess the health problem properly.
· Feeding Your Leopard Gecko Spoilt Food
When your Leo eats spoilt food, it will cause them to have a runny poop and make them vomit. The primary source of spoiled food in geckos is sick feeder insects feeding on spoiled gut-load. To avoid this, you should be mindful of what you feed your Leo and the feeder insects, and only healthy insects and fresh gut load should be given as snacks and meals.
· Handling Your Leo Immediately After Their Meals
Handling your leopard gecko immediately after you have fed them will lead them to throw up food or water. In the wild, geckos stay in a secluded, warm spot after finishing their meals to rest and digest their meal. They will also avoid activities like mating or hunting.
In captivity, when you handle geckos immediately after they have eaten, they might see you as a potential predator and will want to puke the food out to empty their stomach so that it becomes lighter and faster.
Conclusion
Vomiting in leopard geckos can occur due to a variety of things. Among them are feeding your gecko with spoiled food, pathogen infestation, your Leo eating too fast, unfavorable enclosure temperatures and much more.
Therefore, if none of the above listed above is the cause, it’s best to visit your exotic vet so it can rule out any underlying problem.
