Why does my crested gecko only eat food from one spot in his cage?

Crestview can eat crickets, but feeding solely crickets is not a healthy or balanced diet. At most, feed 5-7 appropriately sized crickets twice a week. The majority of the diet should be a crested gecko diet, such as one from Pangea or Repashy. If she doesn't get stressed being moved, you can feed her in a separate container if that is easier for you.

Check the temperature in his enclosure. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. Offer prey about 2 hours after the heat lamp turns on in the morning. Make sure he is well hydrated by soaking or misting him regularly. It may be a preference. If he is eating the Repashy CGD regularly, don't worry too much about him eating crickets or not.

It is always recommended to gut load all prey to maximize nutritional value. Crickets, mealworms and other prey typically arrive from suppliers with a piece of fruit or gel for moisture and cardboard or simple oats for food. When you get them home, offer a high quality baby cereal mix, tropical fish flakes and fresh greens and veggies. The nutrition they receive will then be passed on to Rio. Crickets are more nutritious than mealworms, especially adequately gut loaded crickets. Less chitin as well unless they are freshly molted mealworms. If you feed a diet such as Repashy, Rio shouldn't need additional calcium unless he has a deficiency. This would need to be diagnosed by your herp veterinarian. Since you feed other foods as well, he may not be getting enough calcium, so dusting any live prey would be recommended.

Created geckos naturally drink from drops of water on leaves. Make sure your enclosure has plenty of decorative plants with leaves and make sure to spray the enclosure down with water at least twice a day. You many never see her drink, but she will. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites. Offer fresh crested gecko diet daily. Repashy or Pangea are brands I recommend. You can also offer appropriately sized prey (crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, etc). Be sure to gut load them for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Confirm proper environmental parameters. Low temps can affect appetite and digestion in reptiles.

Those temperatures are much too cold for a crested gecko. Ideally, daytime temps should range between 78F and 85F with nighttime Temps no lower than the low 70s F. Low temps can affect appetite and activity in reptiles. Some form of prey is necessary as a protein source in addition to the fruit and vegetable mixes. Refer to the care sheet at the link below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Crested-Gecko/

It will take patience and consistency on your part. Spend time sitting by the cage. He may run or hide initially, but when he doesn't, place your hand in the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Once again, he may run and hide but make no attempt to touch or hold him. Once he stops running from your hand, use special food treats/prey to entice him onto your hand. Eventually, he will anticipate your presence as meaning a potential meal or treat.