Care guide for Crested Geckos

Crested geckos come from the island country of New Caledonia. These arboreal geckos spend
most of their lives in low shrubs and small trees. The crested gecko was thought to be extinct
until 1994, a team of researchers on the islands rediscovered the geckos and brought them into
captivity. Their care along with their small size, amazing range of colour and pattern, and great
personality has made them one of the most popular geckos kept in captivity today.

Download this care guide here.

Habitat and Housing

A suitable enclosure is essential for their health and wellbeing. The size of the terrarium
recommended depends on the age of the gecko. If a juvenile gecko is put in too large of a cage, it
may not eat well and get stressed out. Before upgrading your gecko, they must be eating
regularly etc, if you upgrade your gecko and their behaviour changes and does not normalize
within a month or two, rather down grade them. Some prefer smaller/safer enclosures.

Enclosure

Type: Vertical-oriented terrariums are ideal as crested geckos are arboreal and love to climb.
Sizes:

For hatchlings I recommend something not bigger than 20 x 20 x 30
For 3 – 9-month-old geckos ( +/- 10g ) I recommend a 30 x 30 x 45
For 9 months and older (+/- 30g )   a 45 x 45 x 60

Decorations: Fill the enclosure. If it is to open, they can stress, hide and not eat. Cork bark hides,
tunnels etc is amazing, as cork bark doesn’t rot or mold. You can use fake or real plants. I
recommend real plants only for experienced keepers.
Substrate: Coco peat, terrarium mix, paper towels for babies (in rare cases they can bite into
substrate and choke, they grow wiser with age) Avoid substrates that can cause impaction, such
as sand or gravel.
Maintenance: Regular cleaning is essential to prevent bacteria buildup. Spot clean weekly and
perform a full substrate change monthly.

Temperature and Humidity

• Temperature: Maintain a gradient between 18°C to 28°C.
  In winter, heat mats with a controller are recommended. Do NOT use heat lamps. These dry out
  the enclosure to much and can cause burns easily
• Humidity: Aim for 60-80% humidity. Mist the enclosure daily on hot days and every second or
  third day in winter.

Feeding

Crested geckos are omnivores with a diet composed of fruits, insects, and specialized
gecko food.
Recommended feeding schedule: Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays.
I highly recommend feeding insects. Insects have a high protein percentage and geckos
need this to grow up healthy. Feed minimum once a week. Insects you can feed are crickets
and roaches. Mealworms are too hard for them to digest. Remember to gut-loaded your
insects occasionally. They like carrots and butternut. Dust insects with calcium powder
before feeding them to your gecko.
You can provide water bowls, just make sure its small enough that they don’t drown. But
crested geckos mostly drink water from the droplets when you misted the enclosure.

Health and Wellness

Regular monitoring and appropriate care ensure a healthy gecko.
Common Health Issues

• Metabolic Bone Disease: Caused by calcium deficiency. Prevent by using calcium
  supplements.
• Respiratory Infections: Maintain proper humidity and temperature to avoid respiratory
  issues.
• Shedding Problems: Provide humidity and rough surfaces to aid shedding.

Behaviour and Handling

Understanding their behaviour and proper handling techniques will ensure a positive
experience for both you and your gecko.

• Nocturnal: Crested geckos are active at night and will mostly hide during the day
• Docile: Generally gentle and can be handled with care. Avoid excessive handling to reduce
  stress.
• Techniques: Support the gecko's body and avoid restraining movements. They like to be on
  the highest point. So, keep that in mind when handling them.
• Crested geckos can drop their tails and they won’t grow it back. These geckos are called
  Frog butts. They can drop their tail for random reasons, but it rarely happens under normal
  conditions.
• Crested geckos shed as they grow. Most of the times you won’t even notice it as they eat
  their shed. This is instinct habit, so in the wild the predators won’t find clues where the
  geckos are hiding.
• They can fire up and fire down. This means their colours change a bit. It can appear
  brighter when fired up or duller when fired down. They do this for many reasons and there is
  no problem if your gecko is mostly just the one.

Conclusion

Crested geckos are wonderful pets that require easy but specific care to thrive. With proper habitat, diet, and
attention to health, your crested gecko can lead a healthy, happy life. If you ever need advice or help, please send
me a message ;) I’m always happy to help =)