Crested Gecko

Why Is My Crested Gecko Pale? 6 Reasons to Consider

Noticed your gecko change color? Does it appear to be getting a little bit paler? Well, if this is your first gecko then, understandably, you may be a little bit worried about it. However, we can assure you that, in most cases, there is absolutely no need to be worried.

On this page, we are going to walk you through what can cause a crested gecko to turn pale.

Should I Be Worried That My Crested Gecko Is Pale?

In most cases, no. There shouldn’t be any reason to worry if you spot your crested gecko going pale. In extremely rare cases, it can be a sign of sickness. However, we cannot stress enough just how rare those cases are.

You should only really be worried if you are noticing changes in other elements of your crested gecko’s behavior. 

Shedding

Perhaps the main reason that a gecko turns pale is that they are shedding.

As you will know, geckos will shed every so often. This will involve them ditching the top layer of their skin, allowing a new layer of skin to come through. It is something that happens with the vast majority of reptiles.

Shortly before your crested gecko starts to shed, it may turn a slightly paler color. Keep an eye on them for a few days. It won’t be long before you start to see their skin peeling.

Remember, this is something that is 100% natural! Although, we must admit that it can be rather startling if you have never seen a gecko shed before.

Diet

Just like humans (and literally every other animal), crested geckos need a varied diet. This will ensure that they get all the nutrients and vitamins that they need.

This means that they shouldn’t just be consuming bugs. In most cases, you should be loading those bugs up with vitamins (you can get powders to put on the bugs for this job). You should also be feeding your crested gecko a variety of vegetables.

This is probably the second most common reason for crested geckos turning pale.

Mood

Mood can play a huge impact on the color of your gecko.

If your gecko is feeling stressed or isn’t getting enough sleep, then it could cause a huge change in its color. This may result in them becoming a little bit paler.

There are a lot of things that can impact the mood of your gecko, so think about whether your animal has gone through a change of routine. For example, if you have moved their habitat, you are handling them more/less, or perhaps you have moved another crested gecko into their enclosure. 

If your crested gecko isn’t sleeping enough, then this may be down to the fact that you are spending more time awake around them.

Habitat

Remember, crested geckos need to have an ideal habitat. They need to have the right lighting. They need to have the right amount of heat. They need to have the correct moisture content in the air. They even need to have things that can help to keep them entertained inside of the enclosure.

If the habitat hasn’t been set up perfectly for the crested gecko, then it could cause stress. As you already know from the previous section, this is something that could, ultimately, result in them changing their color.

It is important to set their habitat up correctly. If you don’t, then you could run the risk of your crested gecko getting seriously sick.

Age

Up until the age of 12 months, crested geckos tend to be dark in color. As they approach that 12-month mark, they will start to turn a little paler. This is nothing to worry about.

As your crested gecko enters the latter stages of its life (i.e. its last few years), it may turn even paler. Again, this isn’t something that you need to worry about. 

They Are Sick

In exceedingly rare cases, your gecko could be sick. However, it is rare that they will just turn pale when they get sick. It is likely that the paleness will be combined with a variety of abnormal behaviors.

For example, you may find that your crested gecko has stopped consuming food, or they may appear to be a bit withdrawn.

Obviously, if you believe that your crested gecko is starting to get sick, then you will need to get to a vet as soon as possible. The vet will be able to give your gecko a quick check-over to ensure that there is nothing untoward.

You should only ever use a specialist vet for this. Remember, not all of them are capable of dealing with geckos.

If your gecko is sick, then it really is a case of better safe than sorry. Chances are that your gecko isn’t seriously ill, and the sooner you get them to the vet, the easier the problem will be to fix.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why your crested gecko may have started to turn pale. It could be age. It could be diet. It could be because your crested gecko is feeling a little bit stressed. In most cases, it isn’t really something that you need to worry about.

However, if the color of your gecko is changing and you are also noticing changes in their behavior, then it may be worth heading to a vet. 

Chris

Chris is a reptile enthusiast, breeder, and blogger from the Milwaukee, WI area. After breeding hundreds of bearded dragons to supply local pet stores and owning many other types of reptiles, he is now focused on sharing knowledge to help owners properly care for their little reptiles friends.

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