Crested Gecko Seizures

The crested gecko is a medium-sized lizard popular in the pet trade. Crested geckos may have seizure-like symptoms if they are not given a proper diet, and these symptoms are a sign of serious health problems.

What look like seizures in crested geckos are not actual seizures, like those in a human or dog. These "seizures" are shaking and tremors that are brought on by other health problems, and only them.

If the seizure is caused by a calcium deficiency, the seizure-like tremors will be the last and most severe of many symptoms. Earlier symptoms include lack of appetite, lethargy, swollen limbs and a rubbery jaw. Because the gecko's bones are softening, the gecko may also develop bends or kinks in its spine and tail.

Seizures or tremors are most often the result of an insufficient diet. If a crested gecko is not supplemented with a calcium and vitamin powder or fed a complete prepackaged diet, it can develop a calcium-deficiency called metabolic bone disease.

Prevention is the best way to deal with crested gecko seizures, because the symptoms leading up to the seizures, like spinal deformities, are often permanent. Always feed crested geckos calcium-dusted crickets or a complete meal replacement product.

If there are no other symptoms present and the gecko appears to seize or twitch when handled or near other geckos, it's likely just a threat response. When threatened, crested geckos will shake, open their mouths, vocalise and twitch their tails.