Crested geckos are one of the easiest pet reptiles to keep, and they are often recommended for newbie herpers. While they are quite hardy by nature, crested geckos can easily become dehydrated if their environment and husbandry aren’t just right. Knowing how to identify a dehydrated crested gecko is essential and can save your scaly pet’s life!
Most newbie gecko owners think that placing a water dish inside the crested gecko’s tank is all it takes to keep their pet hydrated. In reality, nothing can be farther from the truth! In their natural environment, crested geckos will drink droplets of rainwater off plant leaves to stay hydrated. Because of this, most captive geckos will actually refuse to drink water directly from a bowl.
This means simply leaving a water dish inside your crested gecko’s enclosure isn’t enough! You’ll have to mist the enclosure daily, keep the humidity high, and include water-catching decorations to help keep your gecko hydrated.
In this article, I’ll tell you more about the causes and symptoms of dehydration in crested geckos and how to rehydrate your gecko before they become severely dehydrated and in need of more advanced veterinary help.
Crested Gecko Dehydration Causes
While geckos make the best low-maintenance pets, it’s important to remember that most crested geckos won’t drink water from a water dish. In general, cresties will stay hydrated the same way they do in the wild: by drinking water droplets they find on plant leaves.
This is an important thing to keep in mind when setting up a tank for your crested gecko, as you want to make sure that it mimics their natural environment as closely as possible. These particular geckos are native to very warm, humid habitats where there’s always an abundance of water droplets on plants and other surfaces.
With that being said, check out the leading causes of crested gecko dehydration.
Lack of a Water Source
As I’ve mentioned previously, just because you’ve placed a water dish inside the gecko’s tank, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to drink from it. As it turns out, many crested geckos can be fussy about how they drink their water.
Like I touched on earlier, some geckos will only drink droplets of water they find in their environment, like those on plant leaves and other tank decorations. Keep a close eye on your pet crestie once you bring them home to get a better idea of their drinking habits.
If your pet reptile prefers to lap up small droplets of water from leaves, spray the inside of the enclosure heavily to create enough water for your pet to drink. Even if your pet prefers droplets, you should still place a water dish inside the enclosure.
Additionally, make sure the
water bowl is always full of fresh and clean water. The dish shouldn’t be very deep, since crested geckos can easily fall in and drown. This is especially true for hatchlings and juveniles, so be extra careful when selecting and setting up a water dish.
High Temperatures
Crested geckos prefer their
If the temperature inside their enclosure goes above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, your crestie will become too hot and start losing water rapidly.
Furthermore, the higher temperature will cause all the water from the tank to evaporate more rapidly, leaving your crested gecko without any water droplets to drink from.
To prevent temperatures from reaching unsafe levels, set up at least one
Low Humidity
Crested geckos come from a tropical and very humid environment, so it’s important to ensure ideal humidity levels inside their enclosure. Generally, you should keep the humidity levels between 60% and 80%. Anything lower than that can cause your crestie to become dehydrated and develop all sorts of health problems as a result.
To maintain appropriate humidity levels inside your crested gecko’s enclosure, use a spray bottle (or an automatic misting system) to mist the entire tank twice a day with purified water. Also, set up a digital hygrometer to measure humidity levels and make adjustments whenever they start to drop.
Dry Food
If your crested gecko is dehydrated yet they are drinking enough water and the conditions in their enclosure are ideal, look at their food as the possible cause of the dehydration.
If you are feeding dry commercial food to your gecko, they might not be getting enough moisture from their diet. Feeding your pet reptile dry food isn’t always a cause of dehydration, but it’s something worth considering if all other husbandry needs are met.
To lower the risk of dehydration this way, soak your gecko’s food in water before serving it or mist it with a spray bottle. This way, you’ll amp up their water intake.
4 Crested Gecko Dehydration Signs
Knowing to spot the dehydration signs early on is essential in helping your pet make a full recovery. Generally speaking, any sudden changes in behavior or changes in eating and drinking habits are causes for concern and shouldn’t be chalked up as a random occurrence.
Listed below are the most common symptoms. If you notice any of them, you must act quickly and start rehydrating your pet!
Loss of Elasticity in the Skin
One of the easiest ways to tell whether your crested gecko is dehydrated or not is to look at their skin. Normally, the moisture cresties receive from their environments and drinking water helps them maintain firm and smooth skin. So, when crested geckos are dehydrated, it quickly shows in their skin appearance and texture.
To see if your crestie is dehydrated, gently pinch a small area of their skin. If the pinched area quickly returns to normal position, chances are, they aren’t dehydrated. The pinched area of the skin won’t bounce back and will remain raised and rigid if your crested gecko is dehydrated.
Besides remaining pinched, the skin will also feel very dry to the touch. Another clear sign that your crested gecko is dehydrated is if their skin is starting to flake when you run your finger over it.
Loss of Appetite
Loss of appetite is a common symptom of dehydration in crested geckos. However, instead of trying to get your reptile to eat, you should first attempt to get them to drink water.
Once your crested gecko becomes rehydrated, their appetite will return, and they will start eating normally again. However, if your gecko is drinking enough water but still refusing to eat, this can be a symptom of another health problem not related to dehydration.
Hips and Ribs Sticking Out
Protruding hips and ribs are also a sign of dehydration in crested geckos, but only in adult cresties, not hatchlings and juveniles. This is mainly because juvenile crested geckos have naturally protruding hips and ribs. These areas usually fill out when cresties become older.
Since dehydration causes the skin to become tighter around the bones, it may appear that your reptile’s bones are sticking out like they have lost some weight. If you suspect your crestie isn’t drinking enough water and their hips and ribs start sticking out, this is a clear sign of dehydration.
Lack of Energy
It’s not uncommon for crested geckos to become lethargic when they are dehydrated. However, in order for you to determine whether your scaly pet is less energetic, you need to know what their usual energy levels are. If besides a lack of energy your gecko also exhibits any of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s safe to assume they are dehydrated.
How to Rehydrate a Dehydrated Crested Gecko?
If after checking and adjusting the temperature and humidity levels inside the enclosure and filling the water dish your crested gecko remains dehydrated, it’s time for proactive measures.
In the case that your crested gecko is severely dehydrated, they will need to see the vet immediately! The vet will try to administer fluids via feeding tubes or subcutaneous injections.
For mild and moderate cases of dehydration, try the following treatments for quick rehydration:
Misting
Mild cases of dehydration in crested geckos can usually be treated with daily misting. Besides misting your gecko’s enclosure regularly, you may also need to soak your crestie in lukewarm water if they are dehydrated.
As long as your crested gecko is dehydrated, you’ll have to mist their enclosure more often than usual and make sure they have enough water to drink. This means ensuring there are plenty of water droplets on plants and fixtures and ensuring the gecko’s water dish is full of clean and fresh water.
Sauna
One of the quickest and most effective ways to rehydrate a crested gecko is to create a mini sauna using a small plastic box with air holes. Soak a paper towel in lukewarm water and use it to line the bottom of the box before placing your crested gecko inside.
As the water evaporates, it will create a sauna effect, which will help rehydrate your reptile through its skin. Furthermore, the sauna effect will create condensation on the sides of the box, giving your pet a chance to drink the condensation as an additional means of rehydration.
Fresh Fruit
Try feeding pureed fruit mixed with water to rehydrate your crested gecko. Fruit is tasty, sweet, and full of water, and it can be a great solution if your gecko is picky or just isn’t interested in drinking or eating anything else. Small amounts of pureed bananas, figs, papaya, or sweet melon can be mixed with water offered to your crestie.
If your crested gecko is refusing to eat, use a syringe or an eye pipette to administer the pureed fruit into their mouth. However, make sure that you aren’t forcing food on your pet, as this can cause additional stress and worsen your reptile’s overall state.
Electrolyte Boost
If your crested gecko is refusing water or you are worried that water isn’t enough to rehydrate them, you can use electrolytes to support faster hydration. Mix half water, half electrolyte-rich solution, and use an eye dropper or pipette to administer the liquid to your pet’s mouth.
Highly diluted electrolyte solutions such as sugar-free sports drinks, watermelon juice, or coconut water are all safe for crested geckos to drink. Unlike plain water, these drinks taste sweet and may entice your crested gecko into drinking enough to combat the effects of dehydration.
FAQs About Crested Gecko Dehydration
Do crested geckos absorb water through their skin?
Yes, Crested geckos, fascinating creatures native to New Caledonia, have a unique ability to absorb water through their skin.
This process, known as dermal drinking or “drinking through the skin,” allows them to stay hydrated in their natural habitat where water sources may be scarce.
How do I know if my crested gecko is dehydrated?
It’s easy to spot signs of dehydration in crested geckos if you know what to look for. Some of the most obvious symptoms of dehydration to look for include wrinkled and flaky skin that feels dry to the touch, sunken eyes, protruding hips and ribs, kinked tail, sticky tongue, and sticky or dry membranes.
Other more general symptoms to look for include stuck shed on toes, tail, and the head, lethargy, loss of appetite, and constipation.
It’s essential to spot the early signs of dehydration and get your crested gecko treated as soon as possible. This way, you will prevent dehydration from becoming too severe and requiring a trip to the vet.
How long can a crested gecko go without food and water?
Crested geckos can go without eating for two or three weeks, but they can only survive a week at most without water. If your crested gecko goes any longer without food or water, take them to the vet right away. Refusing food and water for prolonged periods of time can be a sign of serious underlying health problems, so it’s essential to get your pet the necessary help it needs.
Why is my crested gecko drinking so much water?
Drinking more water than usual is usually a sign of dehydration in crested geckos. If your gecko is drinking more water than what is normal for them, you should first check the settings inside your gecko’s enclosure to ensure the temperature and humidity are at appropriate levels. Make adjustments to the lighting and misting as needed.
In most cases, lack of proper husbandry and dry diet are the leading causes of dehydration in crested geckos. The sooner you find out the cause of the problem, the sooner you can fix it and start rehydrating your crested gecko.
Keep Your Pet Hydrated
Crested geckos are one of the easiest reptiles to keep, but you’ll need to stay on top of their husbandry needs or risk having a dehydrated crested gecko on your hands. Be sure to monitor temperature and humidity levels inside your pet’s tank to prevent them from becoming dehydrated.
If you notice all the usual signs of dehydration, like flaky and dry skin, sunken eyes, and loss of appetite, start rehydrating your leopard gecko right away! If your gecko’s dehydration becomes too severe, veterinary intervention will be needed, so it’s essential to act quickly.
