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Q: Crestie not growing
Posted By:

RhacoDelicious

In Relation To:

Noumea

I have had one of my crested geckos for a year, and she eats alright and does everything healthy. She has not grown very much in the past year, how come she has hardly grown? Any help is appreciated.


Points: 100
Topics: General Health , Genetics
Tags: Gecko, Growth, Rhacodactylus
Species: Lizards > Geckos > Correlophus ciliatus
Administrative: Show/Hide

Assisted Answer 10/13/2011 7:23:08 PM

ApocalypticHerps

Cresties can take 2-3 to reach adulthood, unless you offer them insects, the extra protein can boost the growth, but with only crestie diet it takes longer.

 
Assisted Answer 10/13/2011 7:44:43 PM

Doomtrooper

Maybe  gecko steroids would help ?

 
Accepted Answer 10/13/2011 9:26:30 PM

Aimee

the question is pointless without both weights, and more husbandry info.

temperature is a big factor. if your house is really cold she'll grow more slowly without supplemental heat.  and how often/how much are you feeding her?  and are you sure she's a "her"? boys tend to be leaner until they get into maturity.

most important, how old is she and what does she weigh?

 
Member Comment 10/14/2011 2:48:42 PM

ZacksRhacs

Cresties grow in spurts.  It takes them a few months after hatching before they start to really put on weight.  Then they slow down again when they reach about 25g -30g.  It can take a few months before they start another growth spurt.  They'll continue to grow in spurts like this for the next couple years.  Breeding, stress, cooler temps...these will all factor into how long and often these spurts will be.  And lets not forget, geckos (like humans) are all different and will grow at their own pace.  Now,even if you got her as a hatchling and hasn't been breeding, she should be at the very least 25g by now.  

 
Assisted Answer 10/14/2011 3:12:59 PM

Skelegirl

I remember when I first got baby cresties, mine grew faster than my friends' did (we all bought them @ the same time).  Mine got supplental bugs (gutloaded, appropriately sized crickets) and heat (via 60w incandescent day and night bulbs...my house runs cold in the winter).  If you're that concerned about her growth rate, you could try adding both of those.  If you're patient, she will grow just fine on crested gecko diet (NOT baby food), it will just take longer.

 
Assisted Answer 10/15/2011 9:23:00 AM

Tiger Onzuka

Does this Gecko have a larger cagemate? These guys will definitely establish a pecking order somewhat like birds in a backyard feeder.

Also keep the cage design SIMPLE for babies and juviniles, so they can find all the live food. We use egg crates in large Herp Havens for this here.

Using a 12 x 12 inch egg carton flat we rip it in half. Then rip the other half into two peices. Put the larger peice along the back. And ONE small peice covering one side of the large egg flat.

This gives a nice hiding space and plenty of walls to explore. Hiding spots help make them feel secure. We use GLAD Press'n Seal on top of new born's cages for added humidity.

One water bowl and temporary food dish. Paper towel folded in half for the bottom. VERY SIMPLE SETUP!

Otherwise, if you are meeting all the husbandry needs for temperature they should be fine. They are nocturnal so you do NOT need a basking light or direct light from a bright window.

We have not found any fool proof formula for standard weights over time. However, babies that like both the CGD and dusted Crickets usually to grow faster here.

We feed our colony every two days alternating CGD and dusted Crickets. We put just under 10% Calcium in the CGD, too.

Do take note if they are eating the diet mix. For fussy Geckos you can add a small amount of flavor such as Mango or Papaya Phase 2 baby food.
However you should only do this as a last resort or occassional treat.. These guys definitely love sugar and will become addicted! LOL

Enjoy your Crested Gecko. They are much more hardy than people think! :-)

 
Member Comment 10/16/2011 9:00:13 AM

Jenw
Has he been checked for parasites?
 
Member Comment 11/5/2011 7:59:35 AM

TomPiperni

I took in three crested geckos a while ago, all were about 3 months old. I had them for over a year and none of them grew a bit, literally. The temperature was fine, one of them was even eating crickets, but they were still the size of babies. I still have one of the three (the other two were sold) and he's about the size of a 7 month old, (after giving him a good amount of crickets and switching his food from clark's to repashy). All my other geckos have always grown fine and are infact quite the chub-balls. I can't explain why this has happened but as long as your gecko seems happy and healthy, in my case there wasn't much I could do besides wait, and keep a close eye on the little guy. Good luck!

 
Member Comment 6/4/2013 2:50:00 PM

Cenobite

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