Looking After Your Crested Gecko

About

Crested geckos are found throughout the rainforests of southern New Caledonia. Crested geckos will generally live for 15-20 years in captivity and will grow up to approximately 20cm in length including the tail. They can come in a variety of colourings depending on how they are bred.

Housing

A tall glass enclosure is needed for crested geckos, ideally 45 x 45 x 60cm terrarium for a single adult. The main heat source should come from one side of the top of the enclosure, creating varying temperature levels at all heights of the terrarium. This allows the crested gecko to find cooler areas while still being up high as they may feel vulnerable at lower levels. You can use a heat mat stuck onto the outside of the glass controlled with a thermostat. In larger enclosures, a ceramic heat source with thermostat can be used instead, position the interior furniture so that your crested gecko is able to come and go from the heat. The ideal temperature at the top of the tank should be 26-28°C whilst the lower levels should be 20-24°C.

Humidity should be between 60-70% with boosts of 80%, this can be measured with a hydrometer. To keep the humidity at the correct level you will need to spray the tank 3-4 times per day or install an automatic mister. Humidity is important as it helps to aid shedding.

A UVB light is also required. It is essential for reptile vision and helps stimulate appetite, it also enables reptiles to make vitamin D3. If they do not get enough UV it can cause serious health problems. You can use a rainforest 7% UVB bulb which must be replaced every 6 months.

You should use coco brick, moss and bark chip as a substrate as this will help to keep the humidity levels high. Some people prefer to use newspaper or kitchen towel as it is easier to clean and reduces the risk of ingestion.

Feeding

Crested geckos are omnivores, this means they will eat fruit as well as insects so should be given both. Any live food should be gut loaded (fed) before feeding to your crested gecko, this will make the insects more nutritious which will in turn help to prevent illness and disease. You can gut load your live food on a range of leafy greens and root vegetables.

Crested geckos should be fed on crickets and locusts depending on their size (the insects should be no larger than the width of your crested gecko’s head), if the crickets are too large then they will not be able to be consumed. You may also feed your crested gecko mealworms and waxworms but feed these sparingly as they are fatty. Calcium powder should be added to the bugs that are
fed to help with calcium intake.

You can also feed a range of fruits to your crested gecko. These include: berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), banana, watermelon, apricots, mango and cantaloupe. There is a lot more they can eat but always check before feeding new things as some things may be toxic to them and make them unwell.

You primarily want to offer fruit or vegetables daily and insects 2-3 times weekly. Place all food into a ceramic bowl as some substrates, if ingested, can cause impaction.

You may also feed Repashy Super Foods, a powder supplement for crested geckos, that helps to ensure they are receiving the correct nutrition.

Water should always be supplied but some crested geckos prefer to drink from the water droplets on the leaves. Water must be changed daily.

Cleaning

Spot clean the tank daily removing waste and uneaten food. You should clean the entire enclosure once a month. A reptile safe disinfectant should be used.

Health

here are potential health problems as you can get with all reptiles if they are not correctly cared for.

MBD: The main health problem in captive reptiles is MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease), which is caused by incorrect diet, lack of calcium and Vitamin D3 which  is absorbed through UVB light. If you do not supply your crested gecko with the correct diet or UVB then this disease could set in with devastating effects. If you suspect MBD, take your crested gecko straight to a specialised exotic veterinary practice.

Shedding problems: Naturally lizards shed their skin, when you start to see skin peeling away don’t be tempted to pull it off as this could cause skin tearing and infection, the skin will fall off naturally. They also often eat the skin they have shed due to wild natural instincts but it could also mean they are not receiving enough calcium in their diet. If your crested gecko is struggling to shed, then you can give him a warm bath. Warm baths will help to loosen the skin comfortably. You can also increase the humidity for the shedding period.

Handling

Give your crested gecko time to settle in, then begin with 5 minute handling sessions. Allow your crested gecko to climb onto your hand. Never pick up or hold by the tail — crested geckos drop their tails if stressed, which reduces their climbing ability. The tail will not grow back. During handling make sure your crested gecko does not get too cold.

Behaviour

Crested geckos are arboreal which means they prefer to be high up off the ground. They use the sticky pads on their feet to help them to grip onto any surface and use their tail as a fifth limb to help hold onto branches.

Crested geckos are nocturnal, so night time is the best time to feed them.

Crested geckos are most happy housed individually. In some instances co-housing females is possible, providing your set up is large enough to be able to provide numerous basking, hiding and eating areas but co-housing can cause stress and potentially lead to injury. Males must not be housed together.

Female crested geckos may lay eggs whether they  have mated or not, this can start from 15 grams in size but some go for years not laying. It’s best to provide a suitable lay box to prevent the chance of them becoming egg bound — a life threatening complication.

You Will Need…

• Terrarium
• Enclosure furnishings Substrate (enclosure base) Lay box (females only)
• UVB light source
• Heat mat or ceramic heater Two thermostats
• Spray bottle or automatic mister Hydrometer
• Food & water bowls
• Live food
• Calcium & vitamin supplements Reptile safe disinfectant
• Good book on crested geckos