Gecko Information
Care
Crested Geckos are one of the easiest reptiles to own because of their simple habitat needs, easy feeding, and friendly disposition.
Habitat
Crested geckos flourish in average household temperatures. No extra heat lamps or mats are needed. Keep them between 65 and 85 degrees, and they will do great. A small enclosure with plenty of places to hide works great. One male and up to several females can be housed together. Don’t house males together. We prefer a semi-natural vivarium for our breeders. We use moss and bark for the floor and plastic plants and vines for easy cleaning. Cork Bark flats can be a great addition.
Feeding
Crested geckos can be fed every other day with no concerns. Hatchlings should, however, be fed every day. Many commercially produced gecko foods are available and provide complete nutrition. We use Pangea mixes as our staple food. They are extremely easy because you mix them with water and come in many flavors. We also regularly supplement our feedings with calcium-dusted crickets. We have seen incredible growth by including crickets in their diet, especially at younger ages.
Disposition
Crested geckos can be a fun addition to any home because they are exciting and fun to interact with. Cresties are nocturnal and are active at night and hide by day. All of ours are very social and are frequently found curled up under a log together or lying next to each other.
Frequent handling will relax them and get them accustomed to being with you. Hand-to-hand walking and climbing are frequent activities. Over time, you will notice nuances in their personalities and appreciate their individuality.
Breeding
Join the excitement of baby Crested Geckos.
Mating
Cresties are super easy to breed and incubate. Place a male and female or group of females together, and the females will lay fertilized eggs for 9 to 10 months after introduction. Some breeders recommend separating the adults after breeding, but we have had great success leaving them together year-round. We have found them to be very social and appreciate the interaction.
The females will lay a clutch of two eggs each month. Two months later, the eggs will hatch. We use small containers filled with damp New Zealand sphagnum moss as a laying box in their cages. Bioactive cages can be a bit more challenging since the females will likely lay in the substrate.
Incubation
Once the eggs are laid, it is time to incubate them. They can incubate at room temperature or in an incubator to minimize temperature swings. We place the eggs in a small container with damp perlite or HatchRite. The goal is to create high humidity, not to keep them wet. Check the container regularly, and you will soon see two baby geckos. It is important to get them out of this container right away since they will shed in the first 24 hours.
Shedding problems are a big concern for hatchling geckos. Having proper humidity helps them shed appropriately. Pay special attention to any shed stuck on a tail. This is frequently the cause of a dropped tail for captive-bred geckos.
Morphs
One of the most exciting parts of this hobby is the amazing diversity of the animals.