how to Properly Care for a Crested Gecko
Crested geckos, also known as Rhacodactylus ciliatus, are becoming increasingly popular in the world of herpetology. While they may not be as well-known as their cousin, the leopard gecko, crested geckos make excellent pets with their unique appearance and fun personalities. However, they do require specific care to thrive. In this article, we will discuss how to properly care for your pet crested gecko.
Understanding Crested Geckos
Crested geckos are fancy-looking lizards that originate from New Caledonia. They are arboreal creatures known for their distinctive ridges that run along their back up to their eyes and form spiky eyelashes. These lizards can reach up to eight inches in length and come in a variety of morphs and color schemes.
Along with being visually appealing, crested geckos also have fun personalities. They can be sweet and cuddly or stubborn and even slightly aggressive at times. Though, they generally socialize well with humans and make great display animals that enjoy being handled.
One captivating fact about crested geckos is that they can live up to 20 years when cared for properly.
Housing Requirements
Due to their arboreal nature, crested geckos require taller cages rather than ones with horizontal space. A 20-gallon enclosure is recommended for a single adult lizard with a screen top preferred.Many owners like to create a naturalistic environment for their cresties by adding living or faux plants into the enclosure along with cork or wood fixtures for climbing and hiding spots. ItS critically important not to overcrowd the cage with too much furniture or decor.
During daylight hours, cresties prefer temperatures between 78-82 degrees fahrenheit while nighttime temperatures can drop down into the 70s range. This can be achieved through a combination of heat and UV lamps and heating pads. It’s crucial to monitor the temperature with a thermometer to ensure your gecko is pleasant.
proper substrate is also important for crested geckos. A mixture of coconut husk and soil works well to maintain humidity levels, but paper towels or reptile carpet are also suitable options.
Moisture is another essential element in keeping your crestie healthy. Humidity levels should stay around 70 percent, which can be achieved through a humidifier, regular misting, or evaporation from the substrate.
Feeding Your Crested Gecko
Unlike many other species of lizards, crested geckos do not need live insects as part of their diet. There are now powdered food options available that contain all the necessary nutrients for your gecko’s health. however,if you have a wild-caught crestie that refuses to eat from a dish,you can feed them live insects such as crickets,mealworms,wax worms,and roaches along with fruit as an occasional treat.
It’s important to always provide clean water in a shallow dish for your crested gecko to drink from.
Tail Loss
Like many other lizards, crested geckos have the ability to drop their tail if necessary as a defense mechanism against predators. However, unlike other species where the tail will grow back over time, once a crestie loses its tail it will not regrow it. This does not affect their health but simply gives them the nickname “frogbutt” due to their stump-like appearance.
Conclusion
Crested geckos make unique and entertaining pets with their quirky personalities and variety of patterns and colors. If you’re interested in owning one yourself, Backwater Reptiles offers baby crested geckos for sale on our website. With proper care and attention given to temperature control and humidity levels, your crested gecko can live a long and healthy life.
Thanks for sharing these helpful tips! My gecko will appreciate it.