Crested Gecko Care Sheet
Scientific Name
Rhacodactylus ciliatus
Size
25cm (10 inches)
Lifespan
Unknown due to Crested Geckos only being rediscovered in 1994 but over 10 years
Natural Distribution
New Caledonia
Recommended Products
Crested Geckos prefer to eat adult brown crickets. In the wild they regularly feed on these insects. These are recommended food.
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Crested Geckos naturally eat a lot of wild fruit. This complete diet offers balanced nutrition that they will love.
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Treat your Crested Gecko to a stylish new home. They will love it in this natural rainforest habitat kit.
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To recreate your Gecko's natural environment and keep your pet hydrated, regularly spray your pet's enclosure.
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Housing
Crested Geckos are from cooler climates so a glass terrarium is ideal. Glass allows heat to escape easily so your pet will not over heat. They are arboreal (climbing) so they like to have a high enclosure rather than a wide one. For a large adult or a group of youngsters a 45x 45x 60cm (18"x 18" x 24") is acceptable.
Substrate & Decor:
We use humus with our Crested Geckos. This absorbs water that is sprayed into the terrarium without turning mouldy. Crested Geckos are nocturnal and like places to hide during the day. Wooden Branches and artificial plants should be used to create a forest habitat with foliage to hide in. Artificial backgrounds can be used to create a more natural effect.
Heating
Crested Geckos prefer cooler temperatures. Being kept above 30oC (85oF) will usually stress your gecko and consequently affect it's health. During the day like like to be kept at around 24oC (75oF). This can sometimes be achieved by no additional heating at all. If not, a small heat mat on the back or side of the terrarium is enough to keep your pet warm enough. At night the temperature can be allowed to drop as low as 13oC (55oF). Temperatures should always be checked by a reliable thermometer.
Lighting
Although Crested Geckos are nocturnal they still need a day/ nigh cycle in order to feel happy. We recommend a 5% UVB light and most terrariums have their own lighting canopies available to hold the light in. The light should be on for 10-12 hours per day. This can be controlled by an electric timer.
Feeding and Water
Crested Geckos are omnivorous meaning they eat live food and vegetation Their diet is high in small soft fruit (non citrus), along with whatever invertebrates that happen within striking distance. In captivity, fresh soft fruits (and baby food) like Banana, Peach, and Apricot, are relished by Crested Geckos, as well as Crickets and as a treat small locusts, mealworms and wax worms. Your pet deserves the best foods possible so look after your live foods. Keep your crickets and locusts fresh, plump and full of vitamins by feeding them with Bug Grub and fresh vegetation. Remember, your Crested Gecko also eats whatever is in your live food&'s stomach. Also, don&'t allow your live food to dehydrate, you don&'t want to give your animals dried up half dead insects for dinner! Hydrate them with Bug Gel to keep them alive longer and mouth wateringly juicy. Care for your live food in their own enclosure, such as a Cricket Keeper. Live foods should be coated in a vitamin and mineral supplement such as Nutrobal to ensure the Crested Gecko is getting the best nutrition possible. A special Crested Gecko diet food is now also available, mix this with water and pour into their food dish.
Drinking water should always be made available to the Crested Gecko from a water bowl. Although they will drink from standing water Crested Geckos also lick the morning dew from rocks and plants for hydration, it is therefore important to mist the vivarium once daily using a water sprayer.
Handling
Crested Geckos are a good lizard for handling. They should be treated gently, with love and care allowing it to sit on the hands. They natural get around by jumping from branch to branch so don&'t be alarmed if yours suddenly decides to jump up onto your shoulder. Never grab or pick up a Crested Gecko by it's tail as they will shed the tail as a defence mechanism. It will not grow back!
Keeping Together
Males do not get on with each other as adults and will fight so only keep one per enclosure. Males can be kept with a harem of females providing the terrarium is large enough to accommodate them. Females are ok to be kept as a colony.
Maintenance
Regular spot cleaning of the terrarium should be performed to keep it hygienic for both the animal and the keeper. Dead live foods and the Crested Gecko&'s faeces should be removed when noticed. Change the substrate once a month or as required and clean the terrarium with a reptile disinfectant.
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