By Nick Hammond 
Crested geckos, with their vibrant colors and quirky personalities, are among the most popular pet reptiles. For new and seasoned owners alike, understanding their pet’s bathroom habits is a key part of ensuring their health and happiness.
Crested geckos typically poop every 1–2 days, with babies pooping daily and adults every other day. Frequency depends on diet, age, and environment. Regular pooping indicates a healthy gecko.
This comprehensive guide explores the frequency of crested gecko defecation, what affects it, what healthy poop looks like, and how to address potential issues. By monitoring your gecko’s waste, you can gain valuable insights into their diet, health, and overall well-being.
The frequency with which crested geckos poop varies depending on several factors, including age, diet, size, and environmental conditions. Generally, a healthy adult crested gecko poops every 1 to 2 days, indicating a well-functioning digestive system.
Juvenile geckos, due to their rapid growth and higher food intake, may defecate more frequently, often daily or every other day.
Baby crested geckos, which eat small, frequent meals to support their development, may poop daily or even multiple times a day. These patterns can fluctuate based on individual differences and external factors like stress or temperature.
- Age and Size:
Baby and juvenile crested geckos have faster metabolisms and eat more frequently to fuel their growth, leading to more frequent defecation. Adults, being fully grown, typically poop less often, around 2–3 times a week. For example, a baby gecko may poop daily, while an adult might only defecate every other day or less, depending on their feeding schedule. - Diet:
The type and amount of food a crested gecko consumes directly impact how often they poop. A balanced diet of high-quality commercial crested gecko diet (CGD) like Pangea or Repashy, supplemented with occasional fruits and live insects (e.g., crickets or roaches), promotes regular digestion. Overfeeding can lead to more frequent, messier poops, while underfeeding or a diet lacking variety may cause constipation or irregular bowel movements. Foods that are harder to digest, such as large insects with tough exoskeletons, may also slow down digestion. - Environmental Conditions:
Temperature and humidity play significant roles in a crested gecko’s digestive health. Ideal temperatures for crested geckos range from 72–78°F (22–26°C), with slight drops at night. If the enclosure is too cold, digestion may slow, leading to less frequent pooping. Similarly, low humidity (below 50–70%) can cause dehydration, which may result in constipation or hard, dry stools. Proper husbandry, including maintaining optimal temperature and humidity, ensures regular bowel movements. - Stress and Adjustment Periods:
Crested geckos are sensitive to stress, especially when introduced to a new environment. It’s common for a newly acquired gecko to eat less and poop less frequently during the first 1–2 weeks as they adjust to their new home. Stress can also cause temporary changes in poop consistency, such as runny stools. Once the gecko feels comfortable, their eating and defecation patterns should normalize.
To gauge your crested gecko’s health, it’s essential to know what normal poop looks like. Crested geckos excrete waste through their cloaca, producing two main components: feces and urates. Here’s what to expect:
- Feces: Healthy feces are typically brown or dark brown, cylindrical, and have a soft, moist texture, often described as resembling toothpaste or pudding. The size varies depending on the gecko’s age, ranging from the size of a grain of rice for babies to about 0.5 inches for adults.
- Urates: Urates are the white or yellowish-white, semi-solid portion of the waste, representing the gecko’s urine. They are often passed alongside the feces but can be excreted alone. Urates should be firm and not overly liquid. A small amount of clear liquid may accompany the urates, which is normal.
Healthy poop is odorless or has a mild smell that dissipates quickly once it dries. The presence of a strong odor, unusual colors (e.g., red, green, or yellow), or abnormal textures (e.g., runny, dry, or crumbly) may indicate health issues that require attention.
Monitoring your crested gecko’s poop can help you detect potential health problems early. Here are some common abnormalities and their possible causes:
- Runny or Watery Poop (Diarrhea):
Diarrhea, characterized by loose, watery stools, can result from stress, dietary changes, overfeeding, or parasites. For instance, gut-loaded insects or foods with high water content (e.g., berries) may cause temporary runny stools. Persistent diarrhea can lead to dehydration and requires veterinary attention if it lasts more than a few days. Adjusting the diet and ensuring proper hydration can often resolve minor cases. - Constipation or Infrequent Pooping:
If your gecko hasn’t pooped for more than a week, they may be constipated, often due to dehydration, low enclosure temperatures, or impaction (a blockage caused by ingesting indigestible material like substrate). A warm soak in a 50/50 solution of water and unflavored Pedialyte, combined with a gentle abdominal massage, can help stimulate defecation. If the issue persists, consult a reptile veterinarian. - Unusual Colors:
- Red Poop: Reddish poop may result from consuming foods with red pigmentation (e.g., berries) or, more concerningly, could indicate blood in the stool, which requires immediate veterinary evaluation.
- Green Poop: Green feces may occur if the gecko eats plant matter it cannot digest properly.
- Yellow Poop: Yellow poop can signal excessive fat intake, often from overfeeding fatty insects like waxworms.
- White Poop: A white glob of poop may consist solely of urates, which is normal if the gecko is eating a highly digestible diet like CGD with minimal waste. However, persistent white-only waste should be monitored.
- Undigested Food in Poop:
Finding undigested insects, such as black soldier fly larvae, in your gecko’s poop may indicate that their diet includes too many hard-to-digest foods or that the enclosure temperature is too low, slowing digestion. Reducing insect feedings to 1–2 times per week and ensuring proper temperatures can help. - Parasites:
Tiny moving particles in the poop or cloudy mucus may indicate a parasite infestation, which can cause diarrhea, weight loss, or lethargy. A fecal sample should be tested by a veterinarian to confirm and treat parasites.
To ensure your crested gecko poops regularly and stays healthy, follow these care tips:
- Provide a Balanced Diet: Offer a high-quality CGD as the primary food source, supplemented with live insects (e.g., crickets or roaches) 1–2 times per week. Avoid overfeeding insects, as this can lead to digestive issues or obesity. Dust insects with calcium supplements like Repashy Calcium Plus to support overall health.
- Maintain Proper Husbandry: Keep the enclosure at 72–78°F with 50–70% humidity. Mist the enclosure daily to provide hydration, as crested geckos often drink water droplets from surfaces.
- Monitor Feeding and Pooping: Use a shallow dish for CGD to observe lick marks, which indicate eating. If you see poop, it’s a good sign your gecko is eating, even if you don’t witness it directly. Spot-clean the enclosure regularly to prevent bacterial growth.
- Minimize Stress: Limit handling during the first month after bringing a new gecko home to reduce stress. Quarantine new geckos for 30–90 days to monitor their health and ensure they’re eating and pooping regularly.
- Check for Impaction Risks: Use paper towels or other safe substrates, especially for babies and juveniles, to prevent ingestion of loose substrate, which can cause impaction.
Poop frequency depends on diet, age, health, hydration, and temperature. Stress, improper food, or low humidity can slow digestion, while a balanced diet and healthy setup keep their bowel movements more regular and predictable.
Geckos eating soft fruit diets often poop more frequently, while insect-heavy diets make poop less frequent but firmer. Balanced nutrition with commercial gecko food plus insects helps keep pooping normal and digestion healthy overall.
Younger geckos usually poop more often because their metabolism is faster. As crested geckos grow older and larger, their digestive system slows, so adults naturally poop less often compared to babies or juveniles.
Active, healthy geckos digest food better and poop regularly. Sick or stressed geckos may poop less or develop runny stools. Observing activity levels and poop habits helps you spot health issues early on.
Healthy crested geckos usually poop every one to two days. Babies often poop daily, juveniles nearly daily, and adults about three to four times per week, depending on diet, activity, and living conditions.
Baby geckos have fast metabolisms and eat more often, so they poop daily, sometimes more than once. Frequent pooping is normal at this age, showing that food and digestion are working as expected.
Juveniles still poop often, usually four to seven times weekly. Their bodies are still growing, and their metabolism stays active, so frequent pooping is common and means they’re digesting food and staying healthy.
Adult crested geckos poop less often, usually three to four times per week. Their slower metabolism and larger body size reduce frequency, but regular, well-formed poop shows they’re healthy and properly cared for.
Healthy gecko poop has two parts: a brown section and a white urate section. It should be soft but formed, without strong odor. Consistent appearance means your gecko’s diet and digestion are working well.
Normal poop is firm yet slightly soft, not runny or rock-hard. Loose poop may signal stress or parasites, while dry or crumbly droppings often mean dehydration or low humidity inside their enclosure.
Healthy poop is brown with a white urate. Yellow, green, red, or black colors suggest issues like parasites, diet imbalance, or dehydration. Always watch for sudden changes in color and texture carefully.
Normal crested gecko poop doesn’t smell strong and the odor fades quickly. A foul or long-lasting smell often signals digestive problems, improper diet, or infection, which may need attention from a reptile veterinarian.
Signs include pooping less often, runny stools, no urates, or unusual colors. If your gecko hasn’t pooped for over a week or shows discomfort, it may need proper care or a vet visit.
Constipation means fewer or harder poops, while impaction happens when something blocks digestion, like sand or large insects. Signs include no poop, bloating, or straining. Warm baths or a vet visit may help.
Diarrhea looks watery or runny and may appear often. Causes include stress, parasites, spoiled food, or poor diet. Persistent diarrhea dehydrates geckos quickly, so it’s important to check conditions and contact a vet.
Keep geckos healthy with good food, hydration, and habitat. Regular feeding, misting, and proper temperature help digestion. Handling gently, providing exercise space, and monitoring poop patterns also support healthy, normal bowel movements.
Offer commercial gecko food, insects like crickets or roaches, and occasional fruit. A varied, nutrient-rich diet ensures better digestion and prevents constipation or diarrhea, helping your gecko maintain regular pooping habits naturally.
Hydration is key for digestion. Mist the enclosure daily, provide a small water dish, and feed moisture-rich food. A well-hydrated gecko will have normal, soft droppings and avoid constipation or chalky urates.
An ideal habitat has proper temperature, humidity, hiding spots, and safe substrate. Good conditions reduce stress, improve digestion, and encourage regular pooping. A clean, stable environment helps your gecko stay healthy and comfortable.
Crested geckos don’t pee liquid like mammals. Instead, they release a white, soft substance called urate along with their poop. Healthy geckos pass urates every one to two days, showing proper hydration and normal digestion.
If your crested gecko exhibits persistent changes in poop frequency, consistency, or color—such as diarrhea lasting more than a few days, no poop for over a week, or signs of blood or mucus—consult a reptile veterinarian.
Bring a fresh fecal sample for testing to rule out parasites or other health issues. Other concerning symptoms, such as lethargy, weight loss, or loss of appetite, should also prompt a vet visit.
You can handle your gecko daily, but keep sessions short and gentle. Too much handling may cause stress or discomfort.
Most crested geckos poop and release urates every one to two days. Babies go more often, while adults are less frequent.
Stress shows through hiding, refusing food, tail twitching, rapid breathing, or odd poop changes. Gentle care helps reduce stress quickly.
Healthy poop has a soft brown part and a white urate. It should be formed, not watery, and smell very mild.
Crested geckos don’t bond like dogs, but they recognize gentle handling and routines, becoming calmer and more trusting over time.
Mist the enclosure once or twice daily to keep humidity right. Proper misting helps hydration, shedding, and healthy digestion for geckos.
A safe enclosure, proper food, hiding spots, good humidity, and gentle handling make geckos feel secure, comfortable, and truly happy.
Feed juveniles daily with small meals. Adults usually eat every other day. Balanced feeding supports growth, health, and regular digestion naturally.
Monitoring how often your crested gecko poops is a vital part of responsible pet ownership. Healthy geckos typically poop every 1–2 days, with babies and juveniles pooping more frequently than adults. By understanding the factors that influence defecation—such as diet, age, and environmental conditions—and recognizing what healthy poop looks like, you can ensure your gecko thrives. Regular enclosure maintenance, a balanced diet, and prompt attention to abnormalities will keep your crested gecko happy, healthy, and pooping on schedule. If you notice persistent issues, don’t hesitate to seek professional veterinary advice to address potential health concerns early.