Help!

Rd121788

New member
ot my baby crested gecko about two days ago. The first day i brought him home he ate rapashy off my finger he only took 3 licks and chomped on a little as well but that was it he hasn't eaten since. I have tried taking him out and seeing if he will eat it and he keep running away from it. Idk if that normal but I'm worried about him not eating. He is a month old. I will say he is very active though he is always jumping around. I also still leave food and water in his enclosure just in case. Can someone please give me some advice I need help!!
 

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Please share a photo of this little guy's setup and details about care and all. Pictures of him, too, will be appreciated. :)

If you stick with this new thread of yours you will get the best advice.
 
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Rd121788

New member
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Sianness85

New member
Why don't you leave food in his viv? Just in case what? Mine didn't eat visibly for about 6 days after she moved in. But she had water and some special jelly in with her so I knew she'd East of she wanted to. My more experienced boyf said not to worry and she's eaten Crickets since.
 
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CrestedL

New member
Im new, but after my research on them before I got mine, I heard they some tend to go on a hunger strike when you buy them, perhaps from stress of shipping or whatever their reasons. I would advise not to keep on hand feeding your gecko because it will teach him/her to be dependent on you of food, and will not eat independently otherwise. If you are majorly concerned, like he/she is skin and bones, you can do it but try to refrain from it. I was a lucky owner with mine and it started eating right when I gave it food and now eats every night, but to teach them, try putting a little repashy or what food you use into a bottle cap or small dish, but don't put a ton, just enough to cover the bottom, and try leaving him/her alone. Later on you can check to see if there are lick marks in the cap, and you can see if he/she is eating. Stress can also cause them to not eat so try to minimize that, hope that helps, sorry if my info is off context.
 

CG10

New member
Babies are strange eaters, so you have to be very patient and hand feed them like you would a toddler. At least that has been my experience. I just keep passing small lick size portions in front of the baby until they begin to lick, then allow them to jump around and repeat the process. I'm not worried about them chomping the food. As long as you ensure they are getting well misted daily and feed at least every other day, they will do fine. Expecting them to feed everyday has been a major chore from the six babies I have. Some will eat one cricket a week, while others just don't like crickets.

The food I've found to be best received is Pangea Watermelon. I do hydrate these dudes everyday directly, if I don't see them actively licking their environments.
 
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CG10

New member
Im new, but after my research on them before I got mine, I heard they some tend to go on a hunger strike when you buy them, perhaps from stress of shipping or whatever their reasons. I would advise not to keep on hand feeding your gecko because it will teach him/her to be dependent on you of food, and will not eat independently otherwise. If you are majorly concerned, like he/she is skin and bones, you can do it but try to refrain from it. I was a lucky owner with mine and it started eating right when I gave it food and now eats every night, but to teach them, try putting a little repashy or what food you use into a bottle cap or small dish, but don't put a ton, just enough to cover the bottom, and try leaving him/her alone. Later on you can check to see if there are lick marks in the cap, and you can see if he/she is eating. Stress can also cause them to not eat so try to minimize that, hope that helps, sorry if my info is off context.

This is true. Some of my juvies went on hunger strike early on, but I don't allow it for more than two days. I patiently handle them, feeding them with the handle side of a long cricket tweezer. I just swipe some pangea on the handle end and they lick without issue more so than licking from my finger. My finger tends to distract them. In two weeks these guys are just fine.

I have a new 12 month male biter that was crazy, but after feeding him crickets only for three weeks he now allows me to handle him without issue and he enjoys eating pangea fruit mix. That ex-aggressive biter now wants to hang out on my hand and tour the place as if he's a new pal.
 

CrestedRick

Active member
With babies you need to give them a good 2-3 weeks in their new set up. That means no handling, no changes to the tank or decor movement. Put some CGD in a deli cup and leave in the tank preferably somewhere that's elevated. Some don't take long others do. And remember its easier to find poop than to try to see if food is missing as they only eat an amount around the size of their eyeball.
 
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