Why is my crested gecko not eating?
A crested gecko that stops eating is usually reacting to its environment, most often an enclosure that's crept too warm, humidity that never dries out, or complete diet (CGD) that's gone stale. Cresties are room-temperature animals, so heat that would suit other reptiles can quickly put them off food or worse.
Too warm is the biggest risk
Crested geckos thrive at ordinary room temperature, roughly 22–26°C (72–79°F), and sustained heat above about 28°C (82°F) is genuinely dangerous to them, it stresses them, suppresses appetite, and can be fatal. If you're using a heat source, check it hasn't pushed the enclosure too warm; often the fix is simply removing added heat rather than adding more.
Humidity with no dry-down
Cresties need humidity that cycles, misted up in the evening, then allowed to dry down before the next misting. An enclosure that stays constantly wet, with no ventilation and no dry period, stresses the gecko and invites skin and respiratory problems that put it off food. Aim for humid nights and a drier daytime, not a permanent swamp.
Stale food, new home, or a seasonal dip
Crested geckos are fussy about fresh food, CGD left out more than a day or two goes stale and gets refused, so offer a fresh helping and try a different flavour or brand if it's ignored. A newly-acquired or newly-moved gecko often won't eat for a week or two while it settles; keep the setup stable and handling minimal. A mild seasonal cool dip can also naturally quieten appetite for a spell.
Track the weight, not the meal
Cresties eat little and often overnight, so an untouched dish on any given morning isn't unusual and it's easy to miss food that has been eaten. Weigh weekly on a digital scale in grams: steady weight is reassuring even through a few quiet nights, while a downward trend is the real signal that something's wrong.
When to see a vet
See an exotics vet if weight is steadily dropping, if refusal comes with lethargy, sunken eyes, weight loss, laboured breathing or floppy limbs, or if a gecko that's been overheated stays off food once temperatures are corrected.
One reading rarely tells the story. What matters is whether it's an isolated blip or part of a trend, so look at recent weight, feeding intervals, shedding, temperature and behaviour together.
baskr keeps those records in one place and watches the pattern for you, so you can see whether something has genuinely changed with your crested gecko, before it becomes a problem.
Track my crested gecko freeRelated questions
Why did my crested gecko suddenly stop eating?+
Check temperature first, an enclosure that's crept too warm is the most common and most dangerous cause. Then look at whether the CGD is fresh, whether humidity ever dries down, and whether the gecko is newly settled or reacting to a seasonal cool-down.
Is my crested gecko not eating because it's too hot?+
Very possibly. Cresties are room-temperature animals and sustained heat above about 28°C (82°F) is dangerous, it suppresses appetite and can be fatal. Check your temperatures and, if needed, remove added heat rather than adding more.
How long can a crested gecko go without eating?+
A healthy adult can go a couple of weeks without harm, which is why new geckos often fast while settling. Hatchlings have far less reserve, so track the weight trend in grams rather than counting missed nights.
Why won't my crested gecko eat its CGD?+
Usually the food is stale, cresties refuse CGD left out more than a day or two. Offer a fresh portion, try a different flavour or brand, and make sure the enclosure isn't too warm, which also kills appetite.
baskr provides husbandry guidance, not veterinary advice. For anything involving weight loss, injury or illness, always verify with an experienced keeper or an exotics vet.