- Crested Gecko Care -
Crested geckos are an aboreal species of gecko native to New Caledonia. They were actually considered extinct until they were rediscovered in 1994 and have since been found to make fantastic and hardy pets for both the beginner and advanced reptile keeper.
Crested geckos are fairly easy to keep and handle – they are very rarely aggressive, though an unhandled gecko can become skittish and they do not usually require any additional heating or lighting. Overall crested geckos make fantastic an interesting pets.
Crested geckos are fairly easy to keep and handle – they are very rarely aggressive, though an unhandled gecko can become skittish and they do not usually require any additional heating or lighting. Overall crested geckos make fantastic an interesting pets.
- Diet -
Crested geckos are very easy to cater for food wise and there are generally two main ways of feeding them:
Crested Gecko Diet: This is the cheapest, easiest and most convenient way to feed a crested gecko. Powdered crested gecko diet can be purchased online (I have used both the Repashy and Clarks’ diets) and mixed with water to make a thick liquid food. This can then be given in a small bowl which the gecko will then lick the food from. Crested Gecko Diet contains all the nutrients and food that a gecko needs and so can be solely fed to the gecko. There are many flavours available and I prefer to change them to provide some more variety for the geckos.
Crested Gecko Diet with Insects: Effectivley the same as above, but with insects given to the geckos a couple of times a week. Feeder insects should be about the same size as the space between the geckos’ eyes and can be gut-loaded before feeding for extra nutritional value. Gut loading is simply when the feeder insects are given fruit or veg before being given to the geckos – this then means the gecko will also eat the fruit or veg with the insects. Insects should also be dusted with reptile calcium powder before feeding. I mainly offer crickets, but waxworms and roaches can also be fed, though the former are very fatty so should be in moderation only.
Crested Gecko Diet: This is the cheapest, easiest and most convenient way to feed a crested gecko. Powdered crested gecko diet can be purchased online (I have used both the Repashy and Clarks’ diets) and mixed with water to make a thick liquid food. This can then be given in a small bowl which the gecko will then lick the food from. Crested Gecko Diet contains all the nutrients and food that a gecko needs and so can be solely fed to the gecko. There are many flavours available and I prefer to change them to provide some more variety for the geckos.
Crested Gecko Diet with Insects: Effectivley the same as above, but with insects given to the geckos a couple of times a week. Feeder insects should be about the same size as the space between the geckos’ eyes and can be gut-loaded before feeding for extra nutritional value. Gut loading is simply when the feeder insects are given fruit or veg before being given to the geckos – this then means the gecko will also eat the fruit or veg with the insects. Insects should also be dusted with reptile calcium powder before feeding. I mainly offer crickets, but waxworms and roaches can also be fed, though the former are very fatty so should be in moderation only.
- Decor -
Crested Geckos are an aboreal species and will appreciate lots of branches and plants to climb on and hide in. Fake plastic or silk plants are ideal as they an be positioned any way and do not need maintenance - only cleaning. Real plants like the weeping fig can be used and are exellent as they create ready made climbing places and hides, but may require additional lighting and care.
Cork bark, bamboo sticks and drift wood all make excellent climbing and hiding places, but any wood taken from outdoors must be boiled and dried to ensure parasites from outside do not infect the geckos.
Cork bark, bamboo sticks and drift wood all make excellent climbing and hiding places, but any wood taken from outdoors must be boiled and dried to ensure parasites from outside do not infect the geckos.
- Housing -
Crested geckos are easy to house and can be kept in simple tanks or decorated naturalistic terrariums. Hatchling geckos should be kept in smaller enclosures as sometimes they can have issues eating in too large a space. I use small faunariums for babies, which are cheap and can be re used for other things once my geckos move into larger housing.
Crested geckos are a boreal species of gecko so height is more important than width to allow them the space they need to climb. A vivarium 60cm high with a base 45cm square is large enough for between one to three adult geckos. Crested geckos can be housed in plastic or glass fish tanks or faunariums, glass terrariums made especially for reptiles or screen terrariums, though these may not hold humidity well. I use exo terra 45x45x60cm high terrariums for a breeding trio of one male to two females.
Males should never be housed with other males, and males should not be housed with females unless you are prepared for breeding. Most females will get on well, but make sure there is no bullying or tail biting in the enclosure.
Crested geckos are a boreal species of gecko so height is more important than width to allow them the space they need to climb. A vivarium 60cm high with a base 45cm square is large enough for between one to three adult geckos. Crested geckos can be housed in plastic or glass fish tanks or faunariums, glass terrariums made especially for reptiles or screen terrariums, though these may not hold humidity well. I use exo terra 45x45x60cm high terrariums for a breeding trio of one male to two females.
Males should never be housed with other males, and males should not be housed with females unless you are prepared for breeding. Most females will get on well, but make sure there is no bullying or tail biting in the enclosure.
- Substrate -
As geckos need a fairly high humidity, the best substrates are those which can hold moisture well. Eco earth, sphagnum moss and paper towels all make good substrates, though with the former two some will feed the geckos insects in a separate tub to prevent the risk of impacton (caused by the gecko ingesting substrate with the insects). I use eco earth as I find it attractive, clean, is not too expensive and easy to store. (It is dry when bought, water is added to create a soil like substrate).
- Calcium -
Calcium is essential for the health of crested geckos to prevent them getting unwell. A crested gecko lacking calcium will often have a “kinked” tail and in severe cases can result in fragile bones which will break easily. Calcium dusting feeder insects are a perfect way to supply additional calcium to a gecko. A sole Crested Gecko Diet should contain all the necessary calcium and nutrients.
Crested geckos store calcium in two sacs at the roof of their mouth, these can be checked by gently rubbing the sides of the gecko’s mouth. This should cause the gecko to open it’s mouth and the sacs should be visable as two pale white egg shaped orbs on the roof of the mouth. If they are shrunken or absent, the gecko is in need of extra calcium.
Crested geckos store calcium in two sacs at the roof of their mouth, these can be checked by gently rubbing the sides of the gecko’s mouth. This should cause the gecko to open it’s mouth and the sacs should be visable as two pale white egg shaped orbs on the roof of the mouth. If they are shrunken or absent, the gecko is in need of extra calcium.
- Humidity -
Humidity of around 60 to 70% is best for crested geckos as they are a rainforest inhabiting species in the wild. Using sphagnam moss or eco earth as substrate can help keep humidity up or using decorative waterfalls. The easiest method is to use a spray bottle daily and spray the whole enclosure. Allow the enclosure to dry before spraying again, most people spray once a day and sometimes twice a day for hatchlings or shedding geckos. Crested geckos will also drink the drops of water sprayed; most geckos will not drink standing water, so spraying is a good way to provide drinking water for them.
- Handling -
Crested Geckos are relatively easy to handle but should never be picked up by their tail as they may drop it. This is a defense against predators and the tails very rarely regrow. Young cresties tend to be more flighty than adults and I find it is best to simply allow them to walk over your hands to get them used to it and calm them down. Cresties may also jump, so it is important to handle them over a table or other surface to prevent them sustaining injury by jumping from a height.
