Crested Gecko Care Sheet 

 

 

Housing

 

The size of tank needed for crested geckos depends on their size.  A small gecko kept in a very large cage may become stressed and have a hard time finding its food.  For that reason, I keep my hatchlings, up to 4-5 grams, in medium sized Kritter Keepers.  These are outfitted with climbing vines, a piece of driftwood for shedding, and food and water dishes.  It really is that simple. 

 

Once they grow a bit larger, they are moved into 12x12x12 ExoTerra tanks.  These tanks contain potted plants for the juveniles to hide in during the day and climb around on at night.  Geckos this size can also be kept in 10 gallon aquariums or large plastic keepers.

 

10-15 gram juveniles to adult crested geckos should be housed in a 20 gallon tall aquarium or larger. Three adult cresteds can be comfortably housed in a 29 gallon aquarium.  I keep my breeding pairs in an 18x18x24 ExoTerra tank planted with live plants and vines.  Like the smaller versions, ExoTerras provide for easy access to food and water dishes, and make digging around for eggs much simpler than screen top tanks. 

 

Ideally, crested geckos will be best off in a tank that is taller than it is long.  There are now many glass and screen cages and terrariums to choose from, and you can usually find a bargain on websites like Craigslist.

 

Temperature, heating, and lighting

 

Temperatures for crested geckos should be maintained between 72 and 80 degrees for most of the year.   Once the temperature exceeds 85 degrees, the geckos become stressed, which could lead to illness or death.  Cresteds can tolerate night time temperature drops down into the low 60's as long as they are allowed to warm up again during the day.

 

A photo period of 12 to 14 hours of light is suitable for most of the year, with ten hours of light being appropriate during the winter months.  Lighting is most easily achieved with the use of fluorescent lights placed directly on the cage top. This will facilitate both the requirements of the geckos and any live plants within the enclosure should you choose to have them.

 

It is unnecessary to use UVB lighting for crested geckos, though I do use them on my female breeders to make sure their calcium stores are ample.  Some breeders simply use natural daylight for their geckos with success.

 

Diet and Feeding 

 

Adult crested geckos thrive on Allen Repashy’s commercial Crested Gecko Diet.  This is available at many pet stores, including the major chain stores.  After using it exclusively with my hatchlings, I have concluded that it does lead to a slow growth rate, which can be improved by adding insects to the diet. 

 

Crickets are the insect of choice for most crested geckos.  Juvenile crested geckos can be over-enthusiastic about their hunting, which can lead to accidental tail chomping of their tank mates.  For this reason, I feed crickets in a separate feeding tank.  This also allows for monitoring of food intake and prevents my adults from ingesting substrate, which can lead to impaction.  For maximum nutrition, I feed the crickets dry Crested Gecko Diet and dust them in pure calcium.

 

FAQ’s

 

Q-How much does a setup cost for an adult crested gecko?

A-This can vary greatly.  Here are two examples:

 

Top of the line setup with paper towel substrate

Medium Exo-Terra                                       $60

Fake Plants                                                  $15

Driftwood                                                   $10

Jungle Vine                                                 $15

Dome Lamp w/60 watt bulb                       $10

Hygrometer/Thermometer                         $15

Feeding Dishes                                           $5

Total                                                          $130

 

Bargain setup (try Craiglist)

29 gallon aquarium

             w/hood and light                           $20

Fake plants                                                 $5

Sticks and rocks

             from your yard                               free

Hygrometer and thermometer                   $15

Feeding dishes                                            $5

Total                                                          $45

 

Used aquariums are always for sale on Craigslist.  Try the keywords:  tank, aquarium, reptile.  As with any used items or items taken from outdoors, be sure to sanitize with a weak bleach solution and rinse several times before introducing to your reptile.  If you’re lucky, you can even find used Exo-Terras for sale from time to time.

 

It can cost more to set up a natural tank, costs of plants and substrate materials vary widely.  I have found that one small ficus (6” pot) has grown to almost entirely fill my 18x18x24 tank.  A few pothos cuttings from other, established plants, have filled in the rest of the tank.

 

Q-Can you sell me a tank to go with my gecko?

A-I can send your gecko home in a Large Kritter Keeper setup as a temporary home for your small gecko.  I charge $20 per setup, which includes silk plants, driftwood, and bottlecap feeding dishes.  These are not new setups, but are offered only for your convenience while you wait for your gecko to grow into his adult home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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