It’s natural for leopard geckos to seek shelter and hide, but excessive hiding may indicate an underlying issue. If your leopard gecko is hiding all the time, don’t panic. Here’s a quick answer: This behavior is likely due to stress, improper habitat conditions, or health problems.

Carefully evaluate your leopard gecko’s enclosure setup, heating, diet, and overall health.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the top reasons for leopard geckos hiding constantly and what you can do to encourage normal behavior.

Common Reasons for Hiding

Stress from Improper Habitat

Leopard geckos are prone to stress if their habitat is not set up properly. This stress can cause them to hide more often. Some common habitat issues that cause stress include:

  • Insufficient hiding spots – Leopard geckos need a minimum of three hides, one on the cool side, one on the warm side, and one humid hide.
  • Exposed habitat – Having an open tank with no areas to get away from bright lights or movement can stress them out.
  • Incorrect substrate – Certain loose substrates like sand can cause impaction if ingested. This is stressful and dangerous.
  • Too much open space – Leopard geckos prefer an enclosure that makes them feel secure. An large open tank can cause stress.

Fixing these habitat issues can reduce stress and make a leopard gecko more comfortable emerging from hiding.

Incorrect Temperatures

Leopard geckos require specific temperature gradients to thrive. If the temperature is off, whether too hot, too cold, or the same on both sides, leopard geckos will not feel comfortable leaving their hides.

  • The cool side should be 70-75°F.
  • The warm side should be 88-92°F with a basking spot of 90-95°F.
  • At night, the temperature can drop to 65-75°F.

Use under tank heat pads, ceramic heat emitters, and thermometers to maintain proper temperatures. This will encourage normal activity.

Lack of Proper Hides

Hides are essential for leopard geckos to feel secure. Without enough snug, enclosed hides, leopard geckos will not want to leave their hiding spots.

  • There should be at least three hides – cool, warm, and moist/humid.
  • The hides should allow the gecko to fit inside snugly with just a little extra room.
  • Provide one hide per gecko if housing multiple together.

Add more hides of appropriate size and type to give leopard geckos the security they need.

Health Issues

Sickness or injury can cause leopard geckos to hide more than usual. Some common health problems include:

  • Metabolic Bone Disease – Causes weakness and discomfort.
  • Parasites – Causes loss of appetite and lethargy.
  • Respiratory Infections – Causes difficulty breathing and lethargy.
  • Mouth Rot – Painful infection makes eating difficult.

Take the gecko to an exotic vet if illness is suspected. Provide optimal care and nutrition to prevent health issues that cause hiding.

Brumation

Brumation is the reptile version of hibernation. It is triggered by seasonal changes and cooler temperatures. Leopard geckos will hide for extended periods when brumating. This is normal seasonal behavior but should be monitored.

  • Brumation typically occurs in the winter months.
  • Appetite and activity decrease during brumation.
  • Ideal brumation temperature is 60-75°F.
  • Monitor weight and health during brumation.

Understanding the cause of hiding allows proper steps to be taken. Providing a well-designed habitat, ideal temperatures, ample hides, nutrition, and veterinary care as needed will result in a healthy, happy gecko.

Tips to Reduce Hiding

Provide Proper Enclosure Size

Leopard geckos are terrestrial lizards that need sufficient floor space to feel secure. An adult leopard gecko needs a minimum enclosure size of 20 gallons long, but bigger is always better. A 40 gallon breeder tank provides more room for hides and decor.

If the enclosure is too small, the gecko will feel cramped and stressed.

Offer Adequate Hides

Having proper hides is crucial for leopard geckos to feel safe and secure. There should be a minimum of three hides – one warm hide on the warm side, one cool hide on the cool side, and one humid hide in the middle. The hides should be snug and enclosed on three sides.

Provide multiple options and sizes of hides so the gecko can choose what it likes best.

Maintain Ideal Temperature Gradient

Leopard geckos are ectothermic and rely on external temperatures to regulate their body temperature. Ideal temperatures are 88-92°F on the warm side and 70-75°F on the cool side. Use an under tank heater regulated with a thermostat for the warm side.

If temperatures are off, the gecko will become stressed trying to find its optimal temperature zone.

Lower Stressors and Enrich Environment

Too much handling, loud noises, vibrations, other pets, and a barren cage can stress a leopard gecko and cause it to hide more. Try to minimize stressors and enrich the habitat. Add branches, fake plants, a natural substrate like eco earth or paper towel, and rocks for climbing.

Also provide a proper day/night light cycle of 12-14 hours.

Check for Illness and Parasites

Sometimes excessive hiding can be a sign of illness or parasites like worms or mites. Look for other symptoms like weight loss, loss of appetite, unusual stools, vomiting, or skin irritation. Take the gecko to an exotic vet for a checkup if health issues are suspected.

Treating medical problems can help eliminate unnecessary hiding.

When to Seek Veterinary Care

Drastic Behavior Change

Leopard geckos are generally docile, calm pets. If your leopard gecko suddenly becomes aggressive, fearful, or overly skittish, it’s a sign that something is wrong. Drastic changes in your gecko’s normal behavior almost always warrant a trip to the vet.

Your veterinarian can examine your pet, run tests, and determine if there is an underlying health issue causing the behavioral changes.

Weight Loss

It’s normal for leopard geckos to lose a little weight during breeding season or while adjusting to a new environment. However, significant or prolonged weight loss is a red flag. Leopard geckos have fat reserves in their tails, so tail thinning is one of the first signs of weight loss to watch for.

If your gecko is rapidly losing weight, take it to the vet right away. They can check for parasites, infections, inadequate nutrition, and other issues that may be causing weight loss.

Lethargy

While leopard geckos are crepuscular and sleep often during the day, a lethargic gecko is cause for concern. Healthy leopard geckos are generally quite active when awake – climbing, exploring, hunting feeder insects.

A lethargic gecko, on the other hand, will be sluggish and uninterested in normal activities. Take note if your gecko sleeps continuously for multiple days or no longer has an appetite. See your exotic vet promptly to diagnose and treat any potential illness.

Loss of Appetite

Appetite loss in leopard geckos can stem from a variety of issues – mouth rot, impaction, infection, parasites, etc. If your gecko stops eating for more than a day or two, don’t wait to call your vet. These reptiles rely on regular feeding to stay healthy.

Prolonged lack of nutrition can lead to liver and kidney problems. Your vet will thoroughly examine your leopard gecko and determine why it has lost interest in food. Treatment may include hydration therapy, parasite removal, antibiotics, and assisted feedings.

Conclusion

While leopard geckos naturally hide often, excessive hiding may signal issues with habitat, temperature, stress, or health. Carefully inspect your leopard gecko’s enclosure setup, heating, diet, and overall wellness. Make adjustments to reduce stressors and optimize their environment.

If behavior doesn’t improve, seek exotic veterinary care to diagnose and treat any underlying illness.

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