Top Reasons Your Crested Gecko Is Not Eating
By: Jason
Last Updated: March 17, 2023
Even when a crested gecko gets fed a proper, healthy diet, sometimes it just won’t eat. A crested gecko not eating is stressful.
In some cases, a problem causes a change in appetite. Most of these are not life-threatening issues, and there are easy steps you can take. It might even be that nothing is wrong.
The most common reasons a crested gecko is not eating include habitat problems, diet issues, stress, and illness. Other times, a crested gecko’s appetite may go down as its body is going through changes, like aging, shedding, brumation, and related to reproduction.
Keep reading to learn more about the most common reasons your crested gecko is unwilling to eat and the steps you can take to figure out what is going on and fix the issue.
Surroundings & Conditions That Reduce Hunger
Factors related to their environment and diet can be the source of the problem. When one of these is the issue, the pet owner can take the needed steps.
Period of Adjustment
If you just brought a new crested gecko home, it will be stressed and scared. It takes time for a pet to get used to its new home, which can make it too nervous to eat.
While your crested gecko needs time, an ideal habitat set-up will speed up this process. Branches, plant leaves, and bark are all familiar. Things to climb and some dense foliage will also help it feel safe.
Action Steps. Give your crestie plenty of places to hide in its enclosure. Minimize handling at first. Offer food in a dish, not hand feeding or with tongs during this time.
Be patient, especially for that first week.
Habitat Problems
The source of the problem might be enclosure size, temperature, or humidity.
Too much or too little room can create problems. Small tanks don’t have much of a temperature gradient. If your crested gecko gets too warm, it won’t want to eat; if it doesn’t have a place to cool down, that could be the culprit.
A tank that is too large might be stressful, too. Smaller spaces create a sense of safety for little cresties. If your pet feels unsafe, it may skip a meal. It might even have trouble finding its food!
Crested geckos are “cold-blooded,” an outdated term to mean their body temperature goes up and down with the temperature around them.
When they get too hot or cold, crested geckos can’t properly digest their food and won’t eat.
Action Steps. Set up the habitat to be between 68 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, with the heat source of one end.
Just like temperature, humidity can impact hunger. Crested geckos do best with 60-80% humidity. If there aren’t enough water droplets in the air, their thirst keeps them from eating.
Spray the tank with mist twice daily and monitor how humid the tank is with a digital hydrometer.
Issues with a tank can arise over time and are relatively easy to check off the list of why your crested gecko is not eating.
Diet Issues
Another common reason a crested gecko might not eat is because of the food itself.
Like people, not all lizards like the taste of everything. They might have a particular brand of CGD they are used to eating. It could be that they like their puree thicker (made with less water) or thinner (made with more water). Many cresties have no interest in live feeder insects at all!
If your pet is new to you, learning what they like may take some time. But if you’ve had your crested gecko for some time, you may know what they prefer- and this could still be an issue.
Some pets enjoy eating the same food forever, while others want variety. Food can be scarce in the wild, so they would be hard-wired to eat many things. This approach also helps them get all the nutrients they need.
Whether it is because they are bored or need a different nutritional make-up, the food itself might be the problem.
Action Steps. Change the food. Offer multiple options to see if one type of food or method works. More variety here is healthy on many levels.
Natural Cycles Impacting Appetite
Regular changes to the body and time of year can cause hunger to fluctuate. These are typically the least scary because they aren’t “issues” and require fewer drastic measures on your part.
Shedding
When geckos gain or lose weight, they need a new layer of skin that fits their larger or smaller size.
Shedding is normal. Hatchlings shed weekly, while adults may only shed once a month.
While shedding, a crested gecko’s color gets dull or pale. Your pet might also have trouble climbing smooth surfaces as their toe pad skin changes.
Action Steps. Keep the humidity at 80% or more. Limit handling your crestie while they shed. Make sure there is something rough, like bark or a branch, for them to rub against to remove the skin. Leave the shed in the tank with your pet- it will eat it to get the nutrients from it.
Brumation
Many animals have a time of year when they “do less” to save energy, most often during the cold winter when their food is scarce. For some animals, this is called hibernation; for reptiles, this is called brumation. The two processes aren’t the same but have a lot in common.
Brumation “activates” when the temp drops and access to usual food sources decreases.
Unlike hibernating animals, brumating animals do not eat more food before their dormant period begins. They also wake up to eat and drink small amounts before going back to “sleep.”
Most crested geckos in captivity do not brumate because their tanks stay warm and lit by artificial light.
Action Steps. Follow our guide to brumation. Continue to offer food and water.
Breeding / Reproduction
Most female crested geckos eat less as their bodies get ready to lay eggs. Male crested geckos might eat less during the breeding season as they focus on finding a mate.
While the breeding season runs from the end of March to the end of October (in the US), the pause in eating is usually only a few days.
Action Steps. None. This seasonal change passes by itself.
Aging
Younger crested geckos need to eat more often than adults.
Juveniles (less than one-year old) need CGD daily and live feeder insects once or twice a week. Adults (a year and older) need CGD every 2-3 days and insects once a week.
Older adults will eat less often as they slow down.
Action Steps. Offer less food, less often. Track their weight and consult with your vet if there is noticeable weight loss.
Health Issues & Not Eating
Sometimes, a health condition is a culprit when a crested gecko has stopped eating. This category of issues requires more expertise than most pet owners possess.
Impaction
Impaction is when there is a block in the digestive tract. It occurs when a reptile has eaten something it can’t digest.
When a crested gecko can’t get the waste out of its system, it doesn’t want to eat anything new.
Several things can cause impaction. Eating insects that are too big, eating feeders with a tough exoskeleton (like mealworms), and dehydration are the most typical.
Besides not wanting to eat and not pooping, a pet lizard with impaction might show signs of weight loss and not be moving around much.
Action Steps. Impaction is a big deal and may be fatal if not treated. Consult with an exotic vet as soon as you can.
Feed smaller, softer insects to your crestie once the impaction is over.
Illness
Just like people, crested geckos can get sick. It doesn’t happen often, but since the loss of appetite is a common symptom, it is worth considering when a crestie stops eating.
Action Steps. Talk with your vet ASAP. It may not be clear what is wrong. Some tests take time to run, and some interventions take time to work.
Conclusion
Crested geckos stop eating for a lot of different reasons.
Some crested geckos eat small amounts of food at a time and are inconsistent eaters. They might stop eating for a few days and then start up again without needing anything from you. If it is keeping a healthy weight, don’t worry.
Natural cycles affect how often a crested gecko eats. When they are shedding or laying eggs, they eat less. As their bodies fully develop, they eat less because they do not need as many calories.
Sometimes, not eating is a sign that something is wrong and your pet needs your help. Always start with the easiest things to check and change; humidity level, set-up, temp, and food. Remove any likely sources of stress. Note your pets’ behavior and weight.
If they are losing weight or have gone two weeks without eating, they need to see a vet who works with reptiles. Some issues require the help of an expert. You don’t want to wait too long before talking with them. The things you noted will help their assessment.