Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

My Crested Gecko is about 3 years old. He refused to eat and has not eaten in about 3 months. He is stilla active and drinks alot of water.

I do have a heat pad under my tank for him to keep warm and a light on top of the tank.

Any suggestions, would be great!

Thanks

Are you serious about 3 months? He hasn't eaten in three months?

I'm going to hope you mean three weeks or something more reasonable. A trip to a herp vet is the best advice I can give, even 3 weeks is too long to be stress related.

Your crested shouldn't require a heating pad, I've only used one for crested when the heat went out for a few days here and the temp dropped below 65F. Perhaps the combination of light and pad is too hot? What are you temps? Really, without anymore information about enclosure, normal feeding schedule and food description, substrates, change in behaviors; there isn't a lot I can offer. But that is a long time to not eat anything if that is what you are implying... any poo? Go to the vet ASAP, sounds like it has been going on too long for our quick fixes. Good luck.
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Thank you for your reply, it has been about 3 weeks (sorry). Although, I did speak to a reptile store near my home. They are telling me he is cold and I need to get a heat flourescent bulb. I currently have a regular blue bulb with a underneath heat pad. I will try this and if it doesnt work take him to a vet.

Thanks again.

What are your temps? Cresteds are great at normal room temp and really don't require any additional heating unless you have a really cold room. Anything in the 70s is usually fine. Three weeks is really still too long, have you offered live food as well as crested gecko diet or babyfood? Even a sluggish crested usually won't turn down a cricket.

BTW florescent lights don't give off heat, I'm very confused by what they are telling you, if indeed they are telling you that you need that kind of bulb for higher temps. Is the store telling you that you need a basking type bulb?... that is simply not true, any temperature over 85F is very bad for the little crested and those are much hotter. Most heating pads are much hotter than that too and if you are using both it seems that it would be really too hot for the little one, unless you were keeping it in the garage in Minnesota or something.

Please do not wait much longer to find a vet or simply take it back to the store, adding more heat usually is not the answer for cresteds and I'm not sure they are being completely helpful for you and I am growing more concerned for the health of the little guy.
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Thanks for the reply. I hear so many different things to do, that it is confusing. I do have a heat pad that he loves and will not move from the spot. Are you saying then, you wouldnt get a lamp either? or one or the other? which is better? the room is pretty cold where he sleeps, I am in Chicago and it has been freezing here lately. I am thinking they meant to get him a heat lamp, although, like I said with the heat pad, you are correct. It would probably be too much for him. which is better?

I am going to try to feed him baby food, currently he eats meal worms only -

Thanks

Ok, going to try my question for a third time... WHAT ARE YOUR TEMPS? In the enclosure, you must have some sort of temperature gage otherwise I really can't tell you for sure. You must take the temperature in the enclosure in at least the hottest location if not in two or more locations.

Mealworms aren't really the best option, has that been his only diet? Have you ever fed Crested Gecko Diet (CGD)? This is the easiest thing to do, it has all the balanced minerals and vitamins he needs, just mix with water. To feed baby food you should be mixing fruit and proteins and it can be a bit more complicated. If he has been eating only mealworms the problem could be malnutrition or calcium deficiency... calcium deficiency is very serious and could be a real emergency. Again, a trip to the vet.

I live further north than you do and our gecko doesn't even have a light, simple sits next to the leopard gecko enclosure to get some light. We don't use a heating pad save for 3 days when the heat went out. Again, I NEED TO KNOW THE TEMPS. Those heating pads get very hot and anything over 85F is a problem. The gecko can burn himself without realizing it and you have to be very careful.

Get yourself a good caresheet ASAP, I would suggest crestedgecko.com has very detailed information and they are in wisconsin so you know it will work for you in the cold. Please do some reading and take the little one to the vet if it still hasn't eaten.
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock