Crested geckos are cute and small. But sometimes, a crested gecko might stay small for long period of time, and not grow properly. In this post, we will answer the question ‘why is my crested gecko so small?’, and why won’t it grow? We will look at potential causes of stunted growth and the normal size of crested geckos at different ages.
In general, your crested gecko might be so small and not growing because it is not housed in a proper cage, temperatures and humidity are not correct, or it is ill (parasites, calcium and/or vitamin D3 deficiency) and more.
A healthy crested gecko should be gaining around 1 gram each month. Many crested geckos grow in spurs, with periods of no growth at all (winter especially). But if your crested gecko is over a year old and is less than 8-10 grams, there might be something wrong with it.
Reason 1: Your crested gecko is not eating enough
Your crested gecko might not be eating enough, which can cause slow growth. Once again, there can be different reasons why your crested gecko is not eating enough. Generally, small crested gecko will be full from few licks, while adults (30-40 grams) can eat around quarter of a teaspoon.
Low temperatures and humidity lead to poor appetite. Setting up optimal heating and humidity is one of the main problems that new owners face.
Another problem is that your crested gecko might not be enjoying what it’s eating. There are few different Crested Gecko Diets (CGD), and all of them have a different consistency and taste. Sometimes, manufacturers also change the taste and the texture, which your crested gecko might not like.
Try few different options and observe what your crested gecko likes more. Choosing its favorite type of food will help encourage it to eat more. But this doesn’t mean that your crested gecko should eat unbalanced baby food or fruits!
Crested geckos also enjoy specific consistency – some like thicker food, while others prefer more runny or even older, fermented (1 day old) food.
Pangea and Repashy are the main brands and come in different flavors like this, and your crested gecko might prefer one over another.
Reason 2: Temperatures, lighting and humidity in the terrarium are not optimal
If the temperature in your crested gecko’s tank is too low, it will impact the growth. Low temperatures will also impact digestion, energy levels and immunity. All of this will also impact your crested gecko’s appetite and general well-being.
Your crested gecko’s terrarium ambient temperature should be around 71-79 degrees Fahrenheit (21.6-26.1 Celsius). You should allow the temperature in the cool side be lower for cooling down – around 68-70 (20-21.1 Celsius).
But never allow temperatures to be lower than 70 degrees F in your crested gecko’s terrarium (or 65 F at night). If your room is colder than that, you will need to heat the tank to achieve higher temperatures. Crested gecko kept in low temperatures will not grow much at all.
Same goes for humidity – very low humidity will affect your crested gecko’s appetite. Very high humidity levels will cause bacterial and fungal growth, which can also impact your crested gecko’s health.
The ideal humidity in a crested gecko’s tank is 70% for the most of the day, but make sure to let the humidity to drop to around 50% for few hours a day to avoid bacterial & fungal growth. Mist your crested gecko before it eats, as this will improve its appetite.
Even though not necessary, you can even add a low UVA & UVB bulb (2.0 or 5.0) in your crested gecko’s cage to help with vitamin D3 and calcium production & absorption, as well as activity levels. Turn off UVB bulbs at night.
You can read all about ideal crested gecko lighting, heating and humidity in this post.
Reason number 3: Incorrect diet
Incorrect diet is one the main reasons that affects crested gecko’s growth. Before, you could hear people advising to feed crested geckos only baby food and different fruits (randomly mixed or only ones that the crested gecko likes). This is a big mistake and will not only lead to slow growth, but also nutrient imbalance and other diseases.
The problem is, different fruits have their own Ca, Phosphorus and other vitamin & mineral levels. It is wrong to feed your crested gecko baby food or any fruits that your gecko likes. The problem with this is that the fruits have to be mixed in a way to reach 2:1 (or 2.5:1) Ca:P ratio. Otherwise, wrong amounts of phosphorus will impact calcium absorption.
Another problem is that some fruits are high in oxalic acid (binding calcium and interfering with absorption) or goitrogens (impact iodine absorption). This is why commercial crested gecko diet mixes offer balanced and nutritious meals for your crested geckos, keeping nutrients in mind.
Of course, you can start preparing your own purees for your crested gecko on top of offering CGD. To do this, you will have to mix fruits in a way to reach 2:1 Ca:P ratios.
Reason number 4: You made sudden changes to the diet
Your crested gecko can start eating less if you make sudden changes to the diet that it doesn’t like. For example, it is always the best idea to offer live bugs to your crested gecko at least once a week.
Feeder insects will provide extra protein to help your crested gecko grow. They will also spark hunting interest, making your crested gecko move more and eat more. If you feed only CGD, your crested gecko will grow slower. And if you cannot handle live insects, you can at least offer CGD that contains insects!
Always offer bugs to your crested gecko first, before you start offering fruits. This is because your crested gecko is likely to reject bugs if you offer fruits first.
Also, offer crested gecko diet mixes before you start preparing any of your own purees (if at all). If your crested gecko gets used to fresh fruit purees, it will become a picky eater as a result.
Diversity is the key, and the complete crested gecko diet should be the main source of food for your crested gecko. A good choice of bugs for your crested gecko are crickets, Calci worms and Dubia roaches. You can offer other types of bugs too, but you will need to introduce them as soon as you can.
Reason number 5: Crested gecko’s terrarium is too big
You should never house a small crested gecko in a big 15-30 gallon terrarium straight away. Even a 10 gallon terrarium is too big for your crested gecko that is under 6-10 months old. Small geckos should be kept in 3-6 gallon tanks until reaching 15 grams!
So, instead, house your small crested gecko in a large-extra large (3-6 gallon approximately) Kritter Keeper like this. Believe it or not, small crested geckos will grow faster in a smaller enclosure. This is because your crested gecko will find it easier to find food & water, and will not feel stressed.
Once your crested gecko hits around 20 grams, then you can move it to a 15-30 gallon terrarium. For a 30 gallon terrarium, wait for your crested gecko to get to 25 grams at least. At this point, your crested gecko will be sub-adult/adult and will find it easier to navigate around. An adult will need a 40-50 gallon tank.
If the terrarium is a bit larger, you can include even 2 feeding spots for your crested gecko. For this purpose, magnetic ledges with cups inside like this work best for crested geckos.
Reason number 6: Your crested gecko is bullied
Bullying by other cage mates will definitely cause stress, especially in smaller geckos. Never house two males together. On the main mistakes that causes slow growth is housing babies/juveniles together. This way, one crested gecko can get bullied, getting less food and becoming stressed.
Always house each baby gecko separately. You might house crested geckos together, once they become adults (12-18 months old+) and of similar size. One adult male with 2-3 adult females is possible.
If you notice any problems with cage mates, please separate your crested geckos immediately. But the best way would be to have babies in separate containers until they become at least sub-adults (15-20 grams). This will definitely help with eating and confidence.
Reason number 7: Your crested gecko has parasites
If your crested gecko is infected with parasites, it can cause slow growth. Parasites cause imbalance and issues with nutrient absorption in the digestive system. Make sure to quarantine your new crested gecko and take its stools to the vet for an examination.
If your crested gecko has been with you for some time but it lethargic, has runny poop and other alarming symptoms, take feces for the examination as well. Fecal examination should be the first step to recognizing the issue of stunted growth.
Reason number 8: Your crested gecko is a slow grower
Every crested gecko grows at its own rate, even with good care. Some crested geckos grow slower than other, this is how it is and genetics play a big role here. If the husbandry is ideal and crested gecko is eating properly, then you should not worry.
Unless your crested gecko is too small for its age, then this is a clear sign that something is wrong. For example, if your crested gecko is 14-24 months and weighs only 10 grams, then it’s too small.
Crested gecko growth chart
- Hatchling crested gecko size: around 2 grams.
- 3 month old crested gecko: at least 3 grams
- 6 month old crested gecko: at least 5 grams
- One year old crested gecko size: 8-30 grams
- 1.5-3 year old gecko size: 40-55 grams
Please remember that every crested gecko has its own growth rate. There are even dwarf crested geckos, which stay small throughout their lives.
Summary:
If after reading this post you are sure that you have been doing everything right and your crested gecko is active and happy, then don’t worry. Some crested geckos indeed grow very slowly and in spurs. Please have the fecal test done, if you have not done so already. This can help fix parasite problem if your gecko has it.
If you mainly feed CGD, start offering 2-3 crickets per feeding, once a week. Some crested geckos won’t be interested in bugs, but introduction of bugs should not make your crested gecko not eat CGD. You can even offer CGD with bugs to help your crested gecko grow faster.
Get digital kitchen or jewelry scales (they are cheap and can be found for 10-15$) and weigh your crested gecko every week. Scales should weigh to the nearest 0.1 grams. Keep a journal.
Some crested geckos will take around 2-3 years to reach 35-55 grams, and this is normal. As long as your crested gecko is healthy, eating, pooping and being active, it should be fine.
Read more about crested gecko’s diet in this post.
If your crested gecko is not eating, read this post for more information and advice.