Crested Gecko Care
SET UP.
-
A minimum of 12 X 12 X12 tank is recommended, and should house no more than 2 geckos. I personally use 18 X 18 X12 or a 29 gallon standard tank with lid.
-
Substrate- eco earth base with coco-husk on top in a thin layer, this keeps moisture in the tank and keeps the mess down. For baby and smaller juvenile geckos paper towels are recommended until they are 6 to 8 months old…change towels weekly.
-
Provide branches, vines, and other climbing material like cork board. Some simple pvc tube pieces large enough for the gecko to crawl into is also a nice addition for daytime sleeping.
-
Crested Geckos are cheap and easy as far as lighting goes; no uvb/uva is required, (though I do give mine 4 hours under a tropical light each day), and temp in the tank should be between 67 and 72….typical room temperature in most households J
-
Provide fresh water in a heavy water dish daily, and crested gecko diet should be replaced every 48 hours.
GENERAL CARE
-
Crested geckos are very easy to care for, but the younger they are the more care they will need until they reach adulthood.
-
juveniles need misted a few times each day, though as they become adults they are very good at drinking out of a water dish, so misting can be reduced to once a night or just during shed times. An easy relief of this is to invest in a misting system on a timer to do this for you.
-
Juveniles between 2 and 3 months should be handled minimally. After 3 months or so, they can be handled and become quite tame as they mature. Unlike a lot of smaller or similar sized geckos, these are slower moving and easy to handle, even for children.
-
Because these little guys are great at temps ranging from 67 to 78 degrees, they can be given minimal heating elements depending on your room temp, therefore costing a lot less to keep than most reptiles. (I do keep a hood with a 25watt night bulb on over my 29gallon tanks so they have a temperature range to pick from) .It is also because of their temp range that if they should happen to get loose and not get captured right away, they can survive outside the tank for multiple days so long as they have access to water. It is important not to allow temperatures to rise above 82 degrees Fahrenheit at any time as doing so may cause stress, illness or death.
-
Humidity should be kept between 50-75%. Having glass terrariums with a screen top makes it much easier to keep a humid environment. Keep in mind there should be a short dry out period during each day.
-
Crested Geckos are awesome in that they do not require insects for those opposed to having crickets in their house, and instead can live off of Rapashy crested gecko diet or Pangea complete gecko diet. Crickets are nice when leaving on vacation though…J And since crested geckos can climb walls and crickets cannot, they can be overfed without worry of crickets eating your pet unlike leopard geckos, bearded dragons or other lizards that cannot climb walls. The crested gecko diet should be in a small dish and changed out every day/every other day.
-
A water bowl should also be provided, change the water daily. Be sure the water dish is not too deep that it will drown your gecko! Small geckos get a shallow dish and can get a deeper dish as they get older.
-
Crested are arboreal meaning they like to climb, so a vertical/tall tank with large climbing area is needed.
A basic set up should cost you around $100 for EVERYTHING including food. Crested Geckos live 12-20 years, so you should pick one you really want to have around for that long. They are easier and cheaper to care for than most other reptiles that require specialized temperatures and lighting. Enjoy your purchase and if you have any other questions or problems, feel free to call or email me. J
Kat
307-389-5086
