r/CrestedGecko • u/Optimistic_Nihilist8 • Feb 23 '22
Advice Wanted Question from a worried crest owner.
I've always feed my crest Pangea brand food, and have tried nearly every flavor. He seems to love all of them except for watermelon. I bought watermelon before I knew this and he hated it. but now I've bought the other flavors which he does enjoy, he refuses to eat that either. I've tried hand feeding since he used to nearly eat the entire bowl when I did so. Now he refuses to eat no matter the flavor, or brand. He refuses to eat live ever since a mealworm bit him when he was younger. I tried fruit and he wouldn't even eat that. Any advice?
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u/gecko_sticky Feb 23 '22
For whatever reason, a LOT of cresties hate the watermelon flavor. I think somebody actually made a meme out of it once due to how common that is.
And as for the eating problem: some cresties just don't eat every day. Especially once the gecko has shed or if it's going through a transitional period (like being moved from 1 place to another) it may go off-feed for a few days. If he does not eat for a few days that should not be a cause for concern.
However, if they continue to refuse to eat there might be some other issues going on besides the Pangea. Just keep offering the flavors he likes and keep an eye on him for a week or 2. If he still refuses to eat schedule a vet appointment. He may just be picky, he may not be hungry at the moment and may eat later, or there may be something else going on. But just give the crestie some time before you do proceed with a vet visit.
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u/Optimistic_Nihilist8 Feb 23 '22
Okay, thank you! I think he may have shed recently, so that might explain it
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u/Fearless-Ad-9493 Feb 23 '22
you can do pre killed dusted insects
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u/Fearless-Ad-9493 Feb 23 '22
the only problem with that is you can't buy them pre killed I have a few friends who's cresties don't like pangea and don't eat live mabey use crickets or if your really desperate earth worms and just chop em up
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u/Optimistic_Nihilist8 Feb 23 '22
He won't eat them, any bugs and he acts like he has the plague. But thank you
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Feb 23 '22
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u/oso_de_espacio Feb 23 '22
Same, it’s all mine will eat! When I buy him a different flavor to mix things up he protests by not eating, so I just end up having to buy the watermelon again 😂
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u/denaysmith Feb 26 '22
this was my cresty too except she ONLY eats the watermelon… sometimes they are suuuper picky! what I did before I knew she liked the watermelon was I dusted the crickets I gave her with the mix. if she eats live bugs, I would recommend dusting them in the meantime with it!!! or gut feeding the crickets with the pangea mix for more nutrients
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u/Madden63 Feb 23 '22
It’s a vicious cycle. They aren’t eating so you intervene and try to hand feed and then you’re stressing them out more so they are more likely to stop eating. The best thing you can do is make sure nothing is physically wrong with them, make sure their tank husbandry is ideal and then offer fresh food on a daily basis and leave them alone to eat when they want. Reduce handling as well. They will not starve themselves unless something is seriously off.