Crested Gecko Care Sheet
Crested gecko care sheet – This care sheet contains recommendations from our shop assistants.
Housing
The minimum vivarium size for a single Crested Gecko should be in the region of 60x45x60 cm but a larger, tall enclosure is preferred. Pairs or groups will need larger enclosures. Crested geckos need good ventilation, specifically at the top. Humidity is important, having good ventilation will help keep the humidity up and avoid mould. Bear in mind also that crested geckos love to climb!
Substrate
A variety of substrates can be used when housing Crested Geckos. Crestie Life soil is recommended. Coconut fibre or cage carpet are all popular choices either used on their own or mixed with sphagnum moss. Whichever substrate is used it should be kept slightly damp to maintain the humidity in the enclosure at about 65-80%. Good ventilation is essential to prevent stagnant conditions which could lead to disease.
It is essential to provide a variety of climbing and resting facilities for Crested Geckos. The vivarium can also be lined with cork bark slabs to provide a greater surface on which animals can move.
Heating
Temperatures in the region of 23-25oC are ideal during the day with a night-time temperature of 15-18oC – heat over 25oC can be stressful. A night-time temperature drop is highly beneficial for these lizards. Any supplementary heating needed to achieve the ideal daytime temperatures can be provided by low wattage heat lamp fitted to a thermostat and turned down at night. To check that the correct temperature gradient has been achieved the use of two thermometers is recommended, one near the heat source and one at the cool end of the vivarium.
Lighting
Crested Geckos are nocturnal and additional lighting is not essential for their long-term maintenance or successful breeding. However, exposure to distinct day-night cycles remain very important and the vivarium should be positioned so that it receives natural daylight, without being exposed to direct sunlight. Alternatively, some keepers prefer to provide a low-level UVB lighting tube kept on for 12-14 hours a day. 5-7% UVB in terrarium canopies is required.
Feeding
Crested Geckos are omnivorous and in the wild will eat nectar and soft fruits, as well as insects. The diet offered should be a mix of live insects – dusted with vitamin/mineral additive, (including calcium and Vitamin D3) – together with puréed soft fruits such as banana, mango, peach, etc. Alternatively, the diet can be based on one of the excellent complete Crested Gecko diets now available. Whatever diet is chosen it is important that Crested Geckos sufficient levels of both calcium and Vitamin D3 if metabolic bone disease and floppy-tail syndrome are to be avoided. Unlike many species, the dietary preferences of Crested Geckos do not change as they grow, and hatchlings should be offered the same diet as adults.
A shallow dish of water should be provided and changed regularly especially if the animals defecate in it. The tanks should also be sprayed regularly so that the animals can drink from droplets of water – you might use water-catching decor, too.
Problems that you may see are:
Impaction – If the Crested Gecko eats some substrate this may become impacted in the gut. This is a problem to be particularly aware of when raising hatchlings. Fine silica-based sands are implicated particularly with this problem although any substrate can cause it.
Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) – This is when the animal does not receive enough calcium or Vitamin D, causing the bones to bend and twist as they grow. Once the bones are deformed, they cannot be corrected, and the animal will be crippled for life. A good regime of vitamin supplementation and correct lighting will stop this disease from developing or worsening.
Floppy-tail Syndrome – Crested Geckos can be prone to this condition. Although requiring further research it is most likely caused by insufficient calcium and/or the lack of provision of adequate climbing and arboreal resting décor.
For any further information or advice please feel free to message us on Facebook or contact the store on 01902 494860
