Strange Crested Gecko Deaths

[ClarifiedChaos]

Today, I found two of my crested geckos dead. I'm not sure how they passed, but I'd like to know how so it doesn't happen again. I've looked on the internet, but I haven't been able to find anything.

Well, the two of them were about seven or eight months old. They were extremely healthy. Both were growing properly - one was twelve or thirteen grams and the other was fifteen or sixteen grams. They were being fed CGD regularly. I would occasionally throw in crickets for them to catch. They had branches, hides, and were on a paper towel substrate in a ten gallon tank. Both were active and eating well. Just before they passed, they were running around their tank constantly. Even during the day when the lights were on. When I found them this morning they were hard as rocks and their eyes were sunk in. I thought they may have gotten too hot, but I thought when cresteds died from overheating their mouths would stay wide open.

Another reason I don't think they overheated is because I had three of them housed together, but the third is fine.

If anyone has any idea what they may have died from, please let me know as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Rachael

[Salzy]

I'm sorry for you loss. That must be very tough to deal with when you don't know why it has happened.

It's very hard to say what may have caused their deaths. Yeah, it could possibly be due to heat or dehydration or anything like that. Did you mist regularly and provide water? How warm was the cage actually getting?

I would honestly get the bodies to a vet as soon as you possibly can. If there was anything obviously wrong with them, a vet might catch it with a quick necropsy. We haven't heard much about any disease or organism outbreaks recently, but I wouldn't rule it out. It could happen. Did you notice anything else odd going on with them? Runny stools or sunken eyes or anything out of the ordinary?

[dcarter]

Since you mentioned heat I assume that my be a factor. Temps over 80 are stressful for a crested and while some can withstand warmth for short periods of time others will be more sensitivee. Depending on your misting and availability of water dehydration mixed with heat is also something to think about. What were the rooms temps? Running around during the day is abnormal and indicates a stressor was there making them active during a period they should have been sleeping. I am sorry for your loss, but it sounds like it may have been husbandry related and not disease which is actually good because you can fix this issue and protect everyone else.

[ClarifiedChaos]

I'm not quite sure what temperature it was exactly, but I think it was probably right around 80. I keep other species in the same room so I try to keep it warm for them. Plus, it's a smaller room with a lot of heat lamps.

I've already cooled it down for the one left in that cage. Hopefully that was the problem.

Thank you for your help.
Rachael

[dcarter]

I know I keep snakes in a room that is warmer on purpose and because of this have moved my rhacs to a different area. I don't know if it is possible for you to move the 10 gal. elsewhere, but if so it may be worth it

[Zookeeper Gabe]

If you can't move them out you may want to try a different style of enclosure instead of a glass tank that is going to hold heat well

[geck123]

glass is a poor insulator.i can't think of a common material used for caging that holds heat any less,except screen.

Originally Posted by Zookeeper Gabe

If you can't move them out you may want to try a different style of enclosure instead of a glass tank that is going to hold heat well

[Zookeeper Gabe]

Originally Posted by geck123

glass is a poor insulator.i can't think of a common material used for caging that holds heat any less,except screen.

That was my point, even if it's not the glass there could have been poor ventilation among other issues.