Crested geckos are quickly becoming one of the most popular lizards. Please buy your crested gecko from a local breeder. They are quite reasonably priced and come in beautiful morphs and patterns.

Lifespan 10-15 years and up.

Size Babies 3 inches, Large adults 8-10 inches.

Substrates Cypress mulch, bed-a beast, sphagnum moss, peat moss – it can be mixed together. Paper towels.

Heating Daytime temps. 72 degrees to 80 degrees F. Above 80 degrees and they stress out greatly.
Night-time temps. can go to 65 degrees. I would recommend air conditioning or central air in the summer months. When in a pinch you can put cold/frozen ice packs on top of the tank and change them out often. Or putting ice cubes in a ziploc bag works also.

Lighting They need 12 hours ambient light, 12 hours of darkness. Crested Geckos don not need UVB lighting.

Humidity 65-75% is good.

You can have real plants to raise the humidity or mist with water often.

Diet Crested geckos are omnivores. Their natural foods are insects, nectars and fruit. The crested gecko diet is recommended – CGD it can be ordered online. Rapshy superfoods meal replacement powder. (MRP) One 16 ounce bag lasts up to a year and needs to be stored in a freezer. Mix one part CGD and two parts water. Use little plastic cups that can be reused. They fit into a magnetic shelf. Crickets, dubia roaches, wax worms, butter-worms can be fed in addition. Meal-worms are not recommended.

Housing Have a digital thermometer to keep a close eye on the temps. Babies can be housed in a 10 gallon aquarium, or a bin/plastic container can be used. Just make sure there are holes in the lid.

As they get older, a exo-terra terrarium are recommended. Length 18 inches, width 18 inches, height 18 inches. Twin doors open in the front and it has a screen top. You can decorate it with a foam rock wall in the back, many fake plants, leaves, vines and sticks. This will ensure that the crested gecko feel safe and secure. They love to climb, they are arboreal.

General information: Crested geckos can drop their tail, it is a common defensive behavior and it does not grow back. They do fine without a tail, just make sure the wound is clean and heals well. They should be handled gently because they love to jump! The temperament is very easy, they rarely bite and if they do it doesn’t hurt. They don’t have eyelids. They use their tongue to lick the eyes, I would imagine to keep them clean and to moisten the eye. The ease of care is a popular reason why they are popular.