What to Do If Your Crested Gecko Is Not Eating

Help! My Crested Gecko Isn't Eating their Crested Gecko Diet!

Crested geckos are phenomenal pets, but one common concern for new keepers is whether their gecko is eating enough. If your gecko appears to ignore its food, it’s important to look at several components. Often, geckos are eating, but the signs may not be obvious.

This guide will help you determine if your crested gecko is eating and provide actionable steps to encourage healthy eating habits.

Is Your Gecko Really Not Eating?

The first step is to determine whether your gecko is truly not eating or if you’re just missing the signs. Crested geckos are crepuscular and often eat while they are most active - just after dusk.

To confirm, look for:

Lick marks in their food dish. A small amount of thickly mixed food and shallow dishes will help you spot lick marks more easily.
Feces in their enclosure, which indicates digestion. If they are pooping, they are eating.

If these signs are absent, consider whether the environment or feeding practices could be affecting their appetite.

Creating a Healthy Environment for Eating

For optimal growth and appetite, your gecko’s enclosure and husbandry practices must align with their needs. This is especially important for young geckos, which are in vital growth stages. Here are essential steps to encourage eating:

1. Choose the Right Enclosure Size

Geckos can become stressed or overwhelmed in enclosures that are too large, especially when they are young or newly rehomed.

For young juvenile geckos, consider a 6-32 qt quarantine bin with proper ventilation.
For adults, a 12x12x18 or 64 qt tub for quarantine works well. However, juveniles may struggle to find food in such a large space and it is recommended to quarantine smaller and gradually upgrade when you notice signs of eating and steady growth for the greatest success.

If your gecko isn’t eating in a large enclosure, downgrading to a smaller, simpler setup can reduce stress and help them locate their food. Keep new arrivals in quarantine with paper towels as substrate for at least 30 days to monitor health, feces, and eating habits.

2. Maintain Proper Temperature and Humidity

Environmental factors significantly impact a gecko’s appetite.

Temperature Range: Maintain ambient temperatures between 72-78°F. Geckos may eat less if they are too cold or stressed by excessive heat. Avoid temperatures above 85°F, as heat stress can be fatal.
Humidity Levels: Provide overnight humidity spikes (up to 80%+) with a heavy misting and allow humidity to drop to 40-50% during the day. Constant high or low humidity can cause stress, respiratory issues, or dehydration.

For a safe, gentle source of heat, consider a UVB bulb (6% or shadedweller) and/or a full-spectrum grow light bar to provide a safe temperature gradient.

3. Offer a Proper Diet

Crested geckos thrive on a balanced diet. Prioritize high-quality crested gecko diets (CGD) such as Blue River Diets, Pangea, and Repashy to name a few. These diets are nutritionally complete and essential for growth.

Experiment with food consistency: Many geckos prefer a thick smoothie texture over thinner more watery options.
Feed insects sparingly. Wait until your gecko is reliably eating CGD before introducing gut-loaded and calcium-dusted bugs 1-2 times a week. Avoid using bugs as the primary diet if geckos are snubbing crested gecko diet, as geckos might refuse their staple food and hold out in favor of insects.

Pro Tip: Use shallow silicone feeding cups or bottle caps to encourage feeding. These dishes allow easy access for your gecko to walk up to them and eat, and make it simpler to spot lick marks.

4. Use the Right Substrate

Loose substrates like soil or bark can make it difficult to spot feces and confirm if your gecko is eating. In cases of suspected food refusal:

Switch to paper towel substrate to easily monitor for feces.
Being able to quickly spot feces helps you stay on top of whether your gecko is eating, and allows you to collect a sample for veterinary testing if needed.

Troubleshooting Persistent Eating Issues

If your gecko continues to avoid food despite an ideal environment and diet, consider the following:

Avoid Hand-Feeding: While tempting, hand-feeding can make geckos dependent and less likely to eat from a dish. Only resort to this under veterinary advice.
Monitor Weight: A healthy adult gecko typically weighs around 15-35g by its first birthday, depending on environmental factors like room temperature, frequency of feeding live insects, and enclosure size. Use a small gram scale biweekly to track your gecko’s weight over time.
Seek Veterinary Care: If your gecko shows signs of illness, significant weight loss, or unusual behavior, consult a reptile savvy veterinarian.

Key Takeaways

Most geckos eat when you’re not looking. Look for subtle signs like lick marks or feces to confirm.
Optimize the enclosure size, temperature, and humidity to reduce stress and promote healthy eating.
Feed a balanced crested gecko diet first, offering insects only when complete and balanced crested gecko diets are being reliably consumed.
Monitor their environment and use simple substrates such as paper towels to monitor feces and rack their health effectively.

With the right care and attention, your crested gecko will likely resume healthy eating and thrive in your care. If you’re ever in doubt, seek guidance from experienced reptile keepers or a qualified reptile vet.