Crested Gecko Eating his own poop? is this ok?

[LivinLikeLarry]

I recently got a new crested gecko that is only a few months old. when i moved him into his new tank from the pet shop to my house he wasn't eating, after a week or so i got him to start eating. But i always hear that to make sure you crestie is eating you should check for poop, but how am i supposed to do that when he eats it. i saw him do it twice; he eats his poop right as it comes out, is this normal? will he get sick? if so what can i do to stop him?

Thanks

 

[Aimless]

I got nothin'
I've never seen or heard of this with cresties.

 

[cassicat4]

Neither have I^.

What do you feed him? The only thing I can think of in relation to other species is that it's possible he's deprived of some essential nutrients in his diet, and is trying to reclaim it through "unconventional" means. Some reptiles will eat dirt, and it's theorized that this is the reason for doing so. Perhaps this is along the same lines?

 

[Hilde]

Is he actually eating his poop, or is he just licking to clean his nether regions?

 

[cricket4u]

Interesting topic I must say.

There's Coprophagy which is normally observed in herbivores and in baby reptiles. In this particular situation they eat their mother's stool in order to gain gut bacteria, in theory.

Then there's PICA which is the consumption of unusual objects such as stones. It is a method of gaining minerals or a way to help break down ingesta (not ideal).

Now, when I have heard of omnivorous or insectivores eating ther own fecal matter, some undigested food was observed by the keeper. There is no scientific data to back this up, only feedback from those who have experienced this situation. It appeared that the reptiles were underheated, not digesting properly, therefore they were trying to recycle.

So I'm curious LivinglikeLarry, have you had a chance to look at the fecal matter right before it was consumed? Any undigested portion? What temps do you provide and does she seek the warmest area?

 

[LivinLikeLarry]

Thanks all of you for answering, he has pooped and not eaten it recently, i found some in the leaves he usually hides in during daytime, but i feed him CGD almost every night, and there might be a undigested part of his poop, ill have to see if he does it again tho, thanks

 

[CrestedRick]

Don't feed him every night that may help lol

 

[LivinLikeLarry]

heres an update, i saw him do it again, and for some it doesnt even look like poop, itls like stringy and wet looking, it comes out of holes right next to the lump at the end of his tail, i have no idea whats going on.

 

[Aimless]

Are you sure he's that young? This sounds an awful lot like a gecko cleaning his boy bits. Can you post a pic of this gecko, preferably from the side?

 

[LivinLikeLarry]

ill try, and i think you are right about him cleaning his lower areas because what comes out and he ends up eating does not look like poop

 

[cricket4u]

ill try, and i think you are right about him cleaning his lower areas because what comes out and he ends up eating does not look like poop

What made you think it was fecal matter at first? The color is the total opposite. Well, it's good news after all for you.:biggrin:

 

[CrestedGeckos]

I haven't seen or heard of this behavior with Cresties either. Perhaps its because your new Crestie is lacking nutrients? It's just a guess though, but I have heard of other species doing this.