If your reptile won’t eat, it is important to try to identify the reason. Without knowing why your reptile won’t eat, you will likely have little success in correcting the problem. Once you have identified the reason or reasons your reptile won’t eat you can set about fixing the situation and, hopefully, have your reptile eating well again soon. There are many different reasons a pet reptile won’t eat, including 
health reasons, environmental causes, situational problems, or psychosocial reasons. In each case, there is a specific and identifiable cause that needs to be corrected in order for the behavior, and therefore the health, of the reptile to improve.
Health-related reasons a reptile won’t eat can include illness, dehydration, constipation, impaction, and parasitic infestation. If you see signs your reptile is sick, it is important to have him checked by a herp vet. A reptile that is dehydrated, because fresh water is not available or because he is choosing not to drink, may also choose not to eat. Be sure your reptile has plenty of fresh water and that the water is being presented in an appropriate way for the species. A reptile that has swallowed a foreign object that is now impacted in its intestines, or one who is constipated, may also stop eating.
There are environmental reasons a reptile won’t eat. A reptile new to his surroundings may be stressed from the move and not have settled in enough to eat. If there are not enough hiding places or the overall environment is too small, many reptiles won’t eat. An environment with too little UVA light exposure can result in a reptile who won’t eat, mainly because he may not see his prey clearly enough. Ambient temperatures that are too warm or too cold, or a lack of a basking spot can also be a reason a reptile won’t eat.
A reptile won’t eat in the “wrong” situation for a meal. If you are feeding your reptile too often, he will likely refuse some meals. This can also be the case if you feed too much at any one meal. If you feed your reptile prey that is not part of his natural diet, or frozen prey that is not yet fully thawed and warmed, you may find your reptile won’t eat. Some reptiles eat only during the day, while others eat only at night. Feeding your reptile during the wrong part of the day can cause him not to eat.
Psychosocial causes such as stressful surroundings or difficulty with cage-mates can mean a reptile won’t eat. 
Chameleons are loners and become agitated around other reptiles. If your chameleon can see his own reflection while he is trying to eat, it can cause so much stress that he would not eat. Likewise, a reptile whose enclosure is in a high-traffic area of your home, or who is being fed at the same time as a dog or cat is being fed nearby, may find the situation too stressful and the reptile won’t eat.
There are a myriad of reasons why a reptile won’t eat. You, as a responsible pet owner, need to identify and correct these reasons. If you have exhausted all of the options you can think of and your reptile still won’t eat, be sure to consult a professional. It is helpful to keep a written record of what was offered to your reptile, when it was offered, what (if anything) was eaten, and some notes about the environment. This can be helpful in further investigating why your reptile won’t eat.
QC-PR-011607-AM
