HEALTH / LIFESPAN

CRESTED GECKOS ARE A BIG COMMITMENT IN TERMS OF LIFE SPAN. THESE GECKOS LIVE FOR AN AVERAGE OF 15 YEARS, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CASES OF CRESTED GECKOS LIVING TO SEE THEIR 20'S!

A ROUTINE CHECK UP WITH AN EXOTICS VET IS ALWAYS

RECOMMENDED AS IT MAY HELP CATCH AN ISSUE THAT MAY NOT BE VISIBLE TO THE UNTRAINED EYE.

WHEN STRESSED, THESE GECKOS WILL DROP THEIR TAIL SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO NEVER GRAB THEM BY THEIR TAIL.

HOUSING

AS UNFORTUNATE AS IT IS, CRESTED GECKOS ARE SOLITARY ANIMALS AND ARE NOT SAFE TO COHABITATE.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, CRESTED GECKOS ARE ARBOREAL. THIS MEANS THAT THEY APPRECIATE A TALLER ENCLOSURE RATHER THAN A LENGTHIER ONE.

THE MINIMUM SIZE ENCLOSURE FOR A SINGLE ADULT CRESTED GECKO IS A 29 GALLON TANK THAT MEASURES 30"X12" X18" OR AN 18"X18"X24" FRONT OPENING ENCLOSURE LIKE AN EXOTERRA BRAND ENCLOSURE.

HUSBANDRY

CRESTED GECKOS ARE CREPUSCULAR TROPICAL REPTILES WHICH MEANS THEY ARE MOST ACTIVE DURING DAWN AND DUSK. IT ALSO MEANS THEY REQUIRE HIGHER TEMPERATURES DURING THE DAY TIME IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE UP TO PAR. UVB CAN BE PROVIDED, BUT IS NOT NECESSARY ALTHOUGH IT HAS PROVEN TO BE BENEFICIAL.

HEATING

DONT REQUIRE SUPER HIGH TERRATURES. SE GECKOS

APPROPRIATELY LOW WATTAGE HEAT BULB WILL DO JUST THE TRICK IN BRINGING THE TERRARIUM'S AMBIENT TEMPERATURE TO AROUND 75°.

AT NIGHT TIME, LET THE TEMPERATURE DROP TO 65°-70° BY TURNING OFF ALL HEATING AND LIGHTING.

HUMIDITY

CRESTED GECKOS NEED RELATIVELY HIGH HUMIDITY AROUND 60% -80%. BECAUSE OF THIS, REGULAR MISTING AND THE POSSIBLE ADDITION OF A REPTILE FOGGER MAY BE NECESSARY.

SUBSTRATE

THERE ARE PLENTY OF SUBSTRATE OPTIONS FOR A CRESTED GECKO, BUT WE RECOMMEND ORGANIC REPTISOIL. REPTILE WOOD-CHIP SUCH AS THE FOREST-FLOOR PRODUCT WORK GREAT AS WELL. YOU CAN EVEN MIX THEM TOGETHER TO CREATE A SUBSTRATE MOST ACCURATE TO WHAT THEY WOULD EXPERIENCE IN THE WILD!

FEEDING

CRESTED GECKOS ARE OMNIVORES MEANING THEY EAT BOTH FRUIT AND INSECTS.

IN CAPTIVITY, MOST OF THEIR DIET WILL COME FROM AN ADD-WATER FOOD SUCH AS REPASHY OR PANGEA.

THEY WILL ALSO ENJOY A VARIETY OF FEEDER INSECTS SUCH AS CRICKETS, DUBIA ROACHES, HORNNORMS, BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE, AND WAXWORMS.

SOME OF THE PASTE FOODS WORK AS A FULL MEAL REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF THEIR NUTRITIONAL MAKE-UP.

IF YOUR GECKO IS STILL YOUNG IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE EATING. A FEEDING LEDGE WITH A BOWL OF PREPARED FOOD WILL HELP WITH THIS. YOU CAN ALSO TRY SPREADING SOME OF THEIR FOOD ALONG DECORATIONS AS IT WILL HELP THE GECKO FIND FOOD NATURALLY.

FEEDING YOUR GECKO BY HAND OR WITH TWEEZERS IS A GREAT WAY TO BOND WITH YOUR GECKO!

CLEANING

CRESTED GECKOS ARE GENERALLY CLEAN IN COMPARISON TO OTHER PET REPTILES.

REMOVE ALL WASTE AS IT IS DEPOSITED INTO THE SUBSTRATE.

REPLACE ALL SUBSTRATE ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS.

CRESTED GECKOS MAKE GREAT CANDIDATES FOR A BIO-ACTIVE TERRARIUM! ASK US HOW THE ADDITION OF LIVE PLANTS AND A CLEAN UP CREW CAN EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR SUBSTRATE!