If you have to be away from your home for a few days, there are several things that you can do to ensure the well-being of your crested gecko. Whether you’re wondering if your crested gecko needs a water bowl or whether they require more hydration than you may have realized, what are the minimum water requirements for crested geckos, or how long can crested geckos go without water?
Crested geckos obtain hydration from their environment, absorbing air’s humidity and ingesting water droplets within their enclosure. Your crested gecko should never go without water, although it can survive for up to three days.
Learn how much water crested geckos require to survive and how long they can go without water.
What is the water requirement for crested geckos?
Their habitat must contain a water dish. They can drink from it and soak it when they require additional hydration. Also, you must mist their cage twice daily to ensure they receive enough water. Geckos like misting and will lick water droplets from their habitat’s surfaces.
It is advisable to utilize a 20-gallon-capacity, tall glass habitat. These containers retain moisture more effectively and make it easy to maintain the ideal environment for your gecko. Providing adequate water to sustain the habitat’s humidity between 70 and 80 percent is essential.
Crested geckos do not consume a large amount of water. Instead, they absorb most of it through their skin; thus, it is normal for your crested geckos only to drink a few times per week. Nonetheless, always provide your crested gecko with clean water whenever necessary.
How to Identify a Dehydrated Crested Gecko
There are various indicators of dehydration in a crested gecko. If you observe these symptoms, ensure your crested geckos are hydrated.
- Dry or flakey-looking skin
- Skin having more wrinkles than average
- Stretched skin that doesn’t recover
- The bones protrude through the skin.
- Wavy tail
- Sunken eyes
- Loss of appetite
- Gecko looks unwell and lazy.
There are varied reasons that can cause dehydration in crested geckos. You must provide them a clean water and regulate their habitat’s temperature and humidity. If you do not follow this routine, your crested gecko will likely not receive adequate water.
In general, keep monitoring for any of these indicators of dehydration. You must respond quickly if you observe them.
How To Treat a Crested Gecko with Dehydration
Treatment will depend on the severity of dehydration in crested gecko. You must bring your gecko to a vet if he is suffering from extreme dehydration. Vet can administer an intravenous fluid to aid in hydrating your crested gecko.
Dehydration of a mild nature can typically be treated at home. Offer your gecko a new water source for drinking and soaking, and soak them as necessary. At this point, your gecko should heal pretty quickly.
In most conditions, your crested geckos should recover rapidly after receiving water. You must, however check on your crested gecko daily and keep providing clean water. Moreover, it is also essential to monitor humidity levels in their enclosure so it doesn’t get too dry.
More Ways to Keep crested geckos Hydrated
The following are some measures you can do to ensure that your crested gecko receives an adequate amount of moisture daily.
Spraying the Tank
Misting aquarium is a crucial element of caring for crested geckos. Many geckos prefer to soak in their water bowls rather than drink from them. Since they absorb most of their water, misting is one of the better ways to provide additional water.
Spritz your crested gecko tank with water, using a spray bottle. You must ensure enough water is sprayed on the plants and glass in crested gecko habitat for water droplets to develop. When thirsty, the gecko will lap up these drips.
In addition, spraying tank increases humidity, which is crucial for your gecko’s health. Generally, the enclosure should be sprayed twice each day. Many crested gecko owner prefer to do it once in the morning and once in the evening.
When misting them, it is also a opportunity to check on your crested geckos. If they appear dehydrated, you must take further measures to assist in their recovery. Always contact a vet if your crested gecko appeared ill.
Include Moss in the Tank
Putting sphagnum moss in the tank is another technique to guarantee that crested gecko receives sufficient water. When you wet their tank, moss retains the moisture, allowing gecko to drink from it when necessary.
In addition, moss slowly releases the excess moisture back into the air, increasing the humidity for your crested gecko!
Sphagnum moss is a great addition because it does not compact quickly; therefore, it last a long period. Many crested gecko owners include it in their gecko vivarium.
You can use Dropper for Additional water
A water dropper can be used to rehydrate crested geckos too. Fill dropper with clean water and apply water droplets to tank’s leaves and other surfaces with dropper. If your crested gecko is thirsty, it will consume them.
You may also hold dropper over their mouth and let them lap up the water. But you shouldn’t do this if your gecko is skittish; it could create stress.
Conclusion
When you suspect your gecko is dehydrated, contact your veterinarian first. Crested gecko’s enclosure must constantly contain enough water for geckos to drink. Moreover, it is vital to mist your gecko regularly; therefore, don’t forget to do this.