Crested gecko care

Height is what counts. A single adult is happy in a 45 × 45 × 60 cm terrarium; juveniles do better in something smaller so they can find their food. Fill it with branches, cork tubes and real or artificial plants so the gecko can hide and climb at every level.

A bioactive setup with soil, leaf litter, springtails and isopods is a very good match for this species and keeps humidity stable.

Room temperature is perfect: 22 to 26 °C by day with a slight drop at night. Anything consistently above 28 °C is dangerous. Most homes need no heating at all.

Mist the enclosure in the evening so humidity peaks at 80 to 90 % and dries back to around 60 % by the next evening. Constant wetness causes skin and respiratory problems; a wet-dry cycle is the goal.

A complete powdered crested gecko diet (CGD) mixed with water is a full meal on its own. Offer fresh portions every other evening in a small cup and throw away leftovers after 24 hours. Small dusted insects once a week are appreciated but not required.

Crested geckos can be handled but they are jumpy and their tails do not grow back once dropped. Keep sessions short, keep your hands low over a soft surface and never grab from above.