New Crested Gecko not eating or defecating?

[Golden Raptor]

I recently purchased my first crested gecko at the narbc in Tinley Park, Chicago two weeks ago. He is 8 1\2 months old and seems to be friendly and active. When I brought him home after the car trip he was terrified and bouncing all over the place, when I opened his container he dropped his tail and fled. Now, two weeks later he seems much more relaxed and he seems to be doing just fine (I think crested geckos still look cool even without a tail). I have one concern though, he hasn't touched his crested gecko diet and has not pooped. I cannot find any apparent cause for this behavior; he has a clean cage with plants and hides and stuff to climb, I have offered the same diet he was raised on (pangea), and all his temperature and humidity requirements are met. he is active and healthy, and he readily tolerated two brief handling sessions. He seems not to have any health issues, his tail is healing fine, and he is responsive and alert.

I would like to know if crested geckos can go 2 weeks without food, if this behavior is normal for acclimating crested geckos, if anyone else has any experience with a situation like this, and if stressed cg starve themselves. Obviously, I need some solid advice. :|

 

[Crestie_mommy]

This is normal for geckos in a new environment. Try not to handle him until you see poop and know he's eating. Sine, geckos go a month without eating after being put in a new environment.

 

[Mogey]

I'd say there's nothing to worry about just yet. There will always be an acclimation period after transporting and putting a specimen in a new environment. As for your question if they'll starve themselves, they will not. Sometimes it can take picky eaters a while to get back on a feeding schedule, but they always eat eventually. If your enclosure is well set up, you might have just overlooked a poop. I never notice lick marks in my specimen's CGD (but I do sometimes find the footprints).

I'd say you have nothing to worry about, and this is indeed normal, even the tail-dropping. Sometimes, that's just an exaggerated stress reaction. And on the upside, I think tailless cresteds look like frog-monkeys.

Pictures of the enclosure would help us be certain, though.

 

[cricket4u]

and all his temperature and humidity requirements are met

I'm not sure what temperatures you are providing? Try offering a range of 70f- 80f with a warm area of 82f on a thermostat, if you're not already.

 

[Aimless]

also, just to be sure - is his cage in a reasonably quiet location, without a lot of light on it at night and not in a window?