Crested geckos are inquisitive, and can be both slow moving and jumpy. However, if your crested gecko has recently become lethargic and is not moving, you might start worrying whether it’s sick, sleeping or dead. In this post, we will discuss how to tell if a crested gecko is dead or sleeping, death symptoms and possible crested gecko death causes.
Is my crested gecko dead? Death symptoms.
- Not reacting to the touch
- Crested gecko not breathing
- Pupils not reacting to the light
- Bluish spot on the belly (bile leaking out)
- Mouth wide open (possibly with substrate in it)
How to tell if my crested gecko is dead?
First of all, never panic if you see your crested gecko laying on the floor and not moving much. Crested geckos can sometimes act lethargic and somehow ‘play dead’, as people refer to it.
This is because crested geckos are generally not active during the day and tend to rest and sleep before becoming active towards the end of the day. Some crested geckos won’t react to the touch and look like they are not breathing – but in reality they are just sleeping.
A crested gecko can die either from a prolonged mistreatment, stress or illness, or suddenly – from a serious fault in the setup or similar. So if your crested gecko is laying down and is very lethargic, it can be still alive and you can help it survive.
The best way to tell if your crested gecko is dead is to approach and possibly pick it up. Check if your crested gecko is breathing – place your finger on its ribcage and see if it’s moving. Also have a look under its throat – it often moves when breathing.
If your crested gecko is not reacting to the touch and doesn’t wake up within few minutes of handling, it can be dead. In this case, shine some light in its eyes (not too bright or too close) and check if the pupils dilate at all.
Few hours after crested geckos die, they get a bluish-green dot on the belly. This is a leaking bile (from gallbladder) that stains the tissues and is visible through the belly.
Do not jump to conclusions about your crested gecko being dead very quickly. Even if your crested gecko lays in one spots all the time, it could be shedding and stressed. If you have just brought your crested gecko home, then it will move a little during the first few weeks.
Crested gecko possible death reasons
There might be different reasons why a crested gecko can die. As mentioned above, some factors might lead to a slow body wasting, while others – to a quick death.
- Serious infection or internal problems – have you noticed any blood in the poop, has your crested gecko been lethargic and has it lost weight? Was the crested gecko housed with many other geckos that could be suffering from a contagious infection (pet store or at home)?
- Physical injury – falling from high structures, broken bones, brain injury, damage to internal organs.
- Very high temperatures – this can kill very quickly, even in an hour or less. If there is no temperature gradient in the cage, your crested gecko can die easily from high temperatures. Temperatures of over 80 F (26.6 Celsius) will cause heat stroke and overheating. Especially if there is no gradient.
- Chemicals used to clean/paint the enclosure – chemical gases can actually kill a crested gecko. If you decide to paint, seal the cracks or even clean the tank, remove your crested gecko from the tank and keep it in a different room while doing so. Let the tank off-gas before returning your crested gecko. Only use reptile-safe chemicals and always dilute the chemicals such as bleach if using them at all.
- Dehydration – again, caused by high temperatures, low humidity and lack of misting. Crested geckos can die quickly from dehydration. Signs of dehydration include sunken eyes, wrinkly skin, lethargy.
- Cage mate attack – cage mate can injure and kill the gecko by biting.
- Serious impaction or choking – your crested gecko can die from substrate or other object impaction. Don’t assume that your crested gecko died from impaction only if you see it substrate in its mouth, though. Dying crested geckos open their mouth and can get substrate in there.
- Egg-binding – sometimes crested gecko’s eggs can get stuck in the oviducts, causing egg-biding (due to nutritional deficiencies such as calcium crash, physical build, lack of an egg-laying site). Eggs might also rupture in the crested gecko’s belly. X-Ray and physical examination can help confirm this.
Sudden and slow crested gecko death
If your crested gecko has died suddenly and for no apparent reason, there could possibly be an internal issue. This could also be caused by spikes in temperature while you were away.
Another reason could be ingestion of substrate and internal bleeding – is your crested gecko housed on sharp substrate such as bark/wood chips or similar? Crested geckos should never be housed on substrate like this, and even though soil can be used, even it can cause impaction.
But in case of chips and similar substrate, it won’t be passed and kill your crested gecko quickly if ingested. Main symptoms that your crested gecko is impacted is a bloated belly, weight gain, no pooping and refusing to eat.
However, if your crested gecko has been declining for some time, then this is potentially something that has been going on for a while. This could be, for example, lack of vitamins or minerals, parasites or another illness.
Crested gecko stress
If your crested gecko is extremely stressed, it might be acting lethargic and lay in one spot most of the time. Stress can be caused by various factors – such as other pets, loud noises, wrong setup, too much handling and more.
Prolonged stress will suppress the immune system, leading to inability to fight infections and cause slow wasting of the organism.
In this case, even shedding can cause a severe reaction. Normal shedding should not cause serious reactions – only slight lethargy and possible poor appetite. Make sure that your crested gecko is misted and the tank is covered with around 70% hides and foliage like this.
You can read what can make your crested gecko stressed and how to avoid it here.
Crested gecko death and necropsy
In case you cannot find out the reason of your crested gecko’s death at all, then necropsy (dissection and examination of internal organs and body cells) can help. Even though you will have to pay for the necropsy, it can help you determine the reason of the death.
This is useful if you loved your pet and would like to know the reason. Also, if you suspect an infection that could possibly affect other reptiles that you have (if you have any).
To take your crested gecko for a necropsy, you will have to put it in a zip bag and refrigerate until you take it to the vet. Refrigerating will help slow down decomposition. However, do not freeze your gecko because it will affect the results. Your vet should give you detailed instructions on this.
How to help a dying crested gecko?
If you believe that your crested gecko is dying or has died, try warming it up and misting it. You can also make a sauna for your crested gecko that could potentially help revive it.
To make a sauna for your crested gecko, take a small container and fill it with warm (room temp) paper towels. Place your crested gecko in there for 10 minutes and close the lid.
Once again, always take your crested gecko to the vet if you believe that it’s sick and review the husbandry if something seems wrong. Death can often be prevented by changing the setup and other factors.
You can read what can make your crested gecko stressed and how to avoid it here.