Pet store crested gecko

Before I start off, I know it's a pet store and not exactly a reputable breeder. I know I took what some would call a "risk".

25 days ago I purchased a crested gecko from a pet store. It was a small gecko with a scab on its back just above the tail, and a decent amount of feces stuck to its behind. I bought this gecko because I figured it had a better chance with me than at the store with 7 or 8 larger geckos in the same tank.

I brought it home, did several warm soaks to loosen up the week old waste and all was well. Shed went well, scab was gone, feeding great on Repashy and crickets as treats, pooping normally, and gaining weight.

3 days ago it stopped eating and even shaking its head at food. I figured it was about to shed due to it becoming slightly darker. Today it's dead. I'm not worried about refunds or calling out the store. I want to know what I missed. Can someone with more experience please give me insight to this? I've never had reptiles just flat out die. Last time I checked the weight was consistent at 2.3g and no signs of malnourishment. I've never heard of anything dying after only 3 days of not eating.

Thank you.

What is your set up like?

This cage

Halogen Day and night bulb to keep temps around 75-80F, I was using larger wood mulch bedding. Misting 2 or 3 times a day. Hanging and standing fake plants.

My first thoughts were maybe mouth rot?

They need no heat. They like cooler, no lower than 65. Fed every other day, food thick like a smoothie, yet slides off. Day humidity at 50% to 60%, night time up to about 90%.

Paper towels as bedding, safer for them. Did you dust crickets with calcium. Repashy has lower amounts of calcium.

Okay so heat wasn't good, humidity was good, food was good, crickets were gut loaded with flukers cricket quencher calcium fortified. I tried calcium dust several times but absolutely no interest.


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Feed carrots, potatoes, greens to the crickets. I keep a bowl with a coffee filter in it to keep crickets from drowning.

Other than that, sad to hear. A vet exam or necropsy could only explain.

Yeah I wanted to take it to my local exotics vet to get a clue but that would've voided my refund with the store. Thanks for the info though about heating.


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You're Welcome, could be MBD, or just issues before coming home with you.