Guide to Crested Gecko Info, Care, Terrarium Set-Up
One of the most popular privately owned reptiles that deserves all the best
What is a Crested Gecko?
Crested Geckos (Rhacodactylus ciliatus) are perhaps one of the most recognized and popular exotic reptiles that are privately kept as pets. Wild specimens are only found in one singular location in the entire world, the Pacific island of New Caledonia. Not only are Crested Geckos endemic to the island, but so are Gargoyle, Lechianus, Chahoua, and Chameleon Geckos as well!
Crested Geckos are iconic for their fringed crest that runs bilaterally from their eyes, closer towards their tail. The little bit of crest that is on their eyes is where they got their other name, the eyelash gecko.
This species was first discovered in 1866 by Alphonse Guichenot, a French zoologist. They were not noted of since and were considered to be extinct until their rediscovery. They were rediscovered in 1994, and specimens were field collected to establish captive populations over fears of actual extinction. Selective breeding of crested geckos and other species has led to countless phenotypic patterns and pigmentations that are commonly referred to as morphs. Any individual that does not express a morph, and instead has natural coloration, is referred to as a "wild type".
Like most lizards, Crested Geckos have the adaptation of dropping their tail when they feel threatened or under distress. This is called caudal autotomy. This is a natural defensive behavior with varying viewpoints on the level of pain that geckos experience when this occurs. Because the break-off occurs at a fracture plane, an area where it is supposed to break, when necessary, pain is hypothesized to be minimal or lesser than otherwise. Once caudal autotomy occurs, Crested Geckos actually cannot regrow their tails. Instead, Crested Geckos will have a short, stubby tail.
Adult Crested Geckos measure around 7-9 inches long from head to tail. Their tails are prehensile and can carry their bodyweight! Sexing Crested Geckos is also quite distinguishing and straight-forward. Males will have hemipenal bulges, whereas females will have a smooth area that is ideal for egg laying.
The average lifespan in captivity is around 15-20 years for a Crested Gecko.
Why are Crested Geckos Important?
Despite being a very popular pet reptile, Crested Geckos and other New Caledonian species are very important models/ambassadors for biodiversity, conservation, and evolution. New Caledonia's local ecosystems are unique, with native species being found nowhere else that have developed adaptations specific to their niche and environment. In order to conserve the natural habitat of these species, proper education, awareness, and compassion must be present to prevent extinction.
Do Crested Geckos have Species-Specific Needs?
Yes, like every species that is kept in captivity, Crested Geckos have their own species-specific needs that are similar to other reptiles, but not identical. Below are the sections pertaining to how to properly care for a Crested Gecko and to fulfill those species-specific needs.
How to Care for a Crested Gecko
What Habitat Size for a Crested Gecko?
Crested Geckos are arboreal, meaning that they climb and do best with plenty of vertical space. This means that an enclosure/habitat needs to have dimensions favoring height over width.
Crested Geckos are a solitary species and are best kept alone without conspecifics. Adult Crested Geckos should only be together for breeding only. It is not recommended to keep an adult pair of crested geckos together due to potential risk of harm from aggression and territoriality.
At a minimum, adult geckos should have 20-gallon enclosure for ample space to perform species-specific behaviors. This can be achieved with a standard aquarium, converted into a terrarium, or a 20-gallon terrarium. An 18x18x18" terrarium is a little over 20-gallons but provides great opportunities to construct bioactive terrariums for many animals. We strongly encourage keeping most reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates in bioactive set-ups when at all possible. For a lightweight enclosure that can be transformed into a bioactive set up with silicone, we suggest purchasing a 16x16x24 PVC Enclosure that is perfect for Crested Geckos and other arboreal species!
Using aquariums requires an additional step if you want to provide additional vertical space for your gecko. We strongly recommend purchasing a terrarium conversion kit, that lets you use a standard fish tank on its side. You would place/assemble the conversion kit on the open size of the tank, sealing it in place with aquarium-safe silicone adhesive.
Crested Geckos should have ample climbing and environmental enrichment to have an exceptional quality of life. We recommend using artificial plants and vines, cork bark and other wood. Live plants are best for crested geckos as they provide natural climbing and resting spaces, and can provide additional ones once they grow!
*We sell magnet holders to secure and suspend artificial plants for geckos as well!
What Size Habitat Should a Baby Crested Gecko Live In?
Baby Crested Geckos (under 6 months) should never be placed in large enclosures. Young geckos are very prone to being unable find their food in larger enclosures. To prevent welfare concerns arising, it is best to keep baby and juvenile crested geckos in smaller enclosures.
Baby Crested Geckos will do best with a paper towel substrate, 1-2 small artificial plants for decor, and a small cork bark piece inside a 6 qt. plastic bin with ventilation.
Juvenile Crested Geckos (7 mos-18 mos.) will do very well in a 12x12x18 enclosure until they reach adulthood.
Can Crested Geckos Live in a Bioactive Terrarium?
Yes, we strongly encourage consider keeping your Crested Gecko in a bioactive terrarium. Bioactive set ups promote the most opportunities for species specific behaviors to occur, which are excellent observable signs of positive animal welfare. A bioactive terrarium also assists with humidity and temperature gradients, waste management, and animal comfort!
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What is the Perfect Climate for a Crested Gecko?
Crested Geckos are a tropical species, and thrive under the following climate parameters:
Day-Time Temperature: 72–78°F
Night-Time Temperature: 65–70°F
Humidity: 60-80%
Crested Geckos are ectothermic, meaning their body temperature is not self-regulated like with mammals and birds. If these parameters are not met, it will cause stress to your Crested Gecko and can cause immune suppression, slower metabolism, and potential respiratory infections/illnesses. To properly monitor your enclosure's climate, we suggest purchasing a set of Digital Thermometers/Hygrometers.
Do Crested Geckos Need UV Light?
UV light in UVA and UVB wavelengths is beneficial for many animals. UV exposure helps synthesize Vitamin D3, metabolize calcium, and has some other positive health benefits. Crested Geckos do not necessarily need UV light to thrive in captivity, although providing very low intensity to provide trace amounts of UV can benefit their captive health. We recommend purchasing an adjustable LED UVA/UVB light with a timer to ensure that if you wish to provide UV light, you can do so precisely! Providing trace amounts of UV light is also beneficial for live plants in bioactive terrariums.
What Should I Feed My Crested Gecko?
Crested Geckos are omnivorous and should be fed a complete diet in captivity to ensure they are provided ell essential vitamins, nutrients, and minerals to have optimal welfare.
Pangea, Repashy, Gargeer, and Blue River Diets are all popular brands that have high-quality complete diets for Crested Geckos and other reptile species. Providing different flavors of complete diet also helps increase food enrichment opportunities for Crested Geckos, similarly to humans! We usually do a 50:50 mix of Pangea Fig with Insect and Pangea Growth and Breeder. The ideal consistency of any powdered diet mix should be 2 teaspoons of water for every 1 teaspoon of complete diet. Food should be removed within 24 hours of offering it to your gecko. We recommend purchasing these reusable 3D printed bottle cap feeding cups alongside a magnetic feeding ledge for your Crested Gecko. There is a large option for the magnetic feeding ledge that can safely hold larger feeding cups.
Crested Geckos should be offered food towards the late afternoon or evening hours because they are a nocturnal species. Depending on the life stage of your gecko (baby, juvenile, adult) it will need to be offered food more or less than it would at a different stage.
Baby Crested Geckos require food daily and should be offered 1 teaspoon of complete diet
Juvenile Geckos require 2 teaspoons of complete diet 4-5 times a week, or every other day
Adult Geckos require 2-3 teaspoons of complete diet three times a week, or every other day.
In addition to complete diets, Crested Geckos also benefit from live prey as food enrichment such as crickets and dubia roaches. Live prey should be no larger than your gecko's head. Live, gut-loaded insects should be offered 1-2 times per week. We recommend using this gut-loading diet to ensure that your insects are full of nutrients that can then be transferred to your reptiles.
Baby crested geckos should receive 1-2 small/pinhead crickets each time
Juveniles should receive 2-3 small crickets each time
Adult Geckos should receive either 1x small dubia roach, or 3-5x small crickets.
Where Should I Purchase My Crested Gecko?
If you are interested in having a Crested Gecko, you should always purchase from a reputable breeder who can trace their genetic stock and can attest to the quality of their animals.
Conclusions:
Thank you for reading this article on Crested Gecko Care. If you have any questions, please contact us at our email address: scholarlyexotics@gmail.com; we will respond back as soon as possible!
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