A Crested Gecko could live quite well in a tank with paper towels on the bottom and something to climb. But that wouldn't look very nice and the gecko wouldn't be very happy. The best tank is one that caters to the needs of this arboreal reptile from the rain forests of New Caledonia and looks appealing to the human eye. These are just the basics; a larger more complex tank can easily be created from these bare bones.
Buying a Tank for Crested Geckos
The ideal minimum tank size for one adult Crested Gecko is between ten and twenty gallons. Never house more than one male together or put a male and female. And never try to cram more than one adult gecko into anything smaller than twenty gallons.
Crested Geckos love to climb as high as possible. Select a tank that is high rather than wide or long. An enclosure that is at least 12 inches wide and long and 18 inches high is a good start.
Choosing the Right Substrate for Crested Geckos
Paper towels are great for young geckos who might accidentally swallow other bedding materials. Never use sand in a Crested Gecko habitat! Even adults will ingest it and could die from complications. Most owners prefer something other than paper towels for aesthetics.
There are two options: a solid substrate or an earth-like one. The hard one would be something like a slab of cork bark, or styrofoam designed for reptile backgrounds. The solid backgrounds work just as well on the bottom of the tank.
Shredded bark or coconut fiber make great bedding, especially when mixed with some moss. Be sure to purchase these products from reptile suppliers, don't just get them from outside. This method looks great, provides many more decoration options, and increases humidity.
A Cave For Hiding and Shedding
Crested Geckos will need some sort of container for shelter and for shedding. This container can just be an empty plastic food container with a hole cut in the lid or a store-bought fancy reptile shelter. The shelter should be partially filled with moss and kept moist, but not wet, to provide a humid, warm place to shed.
Be sure to check the moss for mildew and replace it frequently. It's very important to keep it slightly damp so that the geckos can easily shed their skin. If they don't have a warm, humid place to go to shed they could have issues and even lose toes!
Climbing and Hiding Places for Crested Geckos
Bendable vines can be bought from reptile suppliers to put in tanks. Crested Geckos love to climb these vines and at least one should be added to every tank. Mold the vine so that it goes around the tank and all the way up to the top. Fake vines with leaves can be bought and coiled around it to make it look more realistic and provide places for the gecko to hang out.
The bigger the variety of things to climb and places to go is, the happier the gecko will be. A keeper will eventually learn where the gecko likes to go and master spotting him among the leaves.
Decorations and Watering a Crested Gecko Tank
These tanks don't have to be limited to fake plants! Aquarium decorations are perfect to stick inside! They're pet-safe and able to withstand the humidity of a Crested Gecko home. Many geckos love to climb on and hide inside various aquarium decor.
Crested Geckos are dew-lickers. That means they prefer water droplets to a bowl of standing water. They will also drink from moving water if the owner decides to include a waterfall. It's important to mist the tank with fresh de-chlorinated water at minimum twice a day to raise humidity and provide water for the gecko.
Heating and Temperature Watching for Crested Geckos
Crested Gecko environments should be kept in the mid-to-low 70s. Cresties are nocturnal and do not require UV bulbs like other reptiles so a clamp lamp or light strip is not needed unless used for a heat bulb. In-tank heaters like rock heaters should be avoided as they can burn the gecko. The best heater is a heat mat mounted on the outside of the tank. Know the size of the tank and purchase an appropriate sized heat mat and thermostat.
The gecko should have a warm area and a cooler area to go to in order to regulate its body temperature. Keep an eye on where the gecko goes. If it spends all of its time right where the heater is located the rest of the tank may be too cold, Always know the temperature range of the tank and frequently check the temperature inside the cave; it should be as hot if not a degree or two hotter than the hot side.
Be sure also to have a humidity gauge and keep the tank between 65% and 75% humidity. The tank shouldn't be soaking wet and the substrate should have a chance to dry out. Make sure the cave hide is between 70% and 80%.
Enjoying and Keeping Pet Crested Geckos
The New Caledonian Crested Gecko can live for over 15 years if properly cared for. Make sure it is fed well and provide an exciting tank for it to live in. Crested Geckos are a joy to watch and always intrigue guests. Even people who dislike reptiles often find themselves drawn to the funny face of this lizard. Crestie keepers who make sure that they see to all of the habitat needs of their gecko will be rewarded with many years with this interesting pet.
Katie Ouderkirk - Katie Ouderkirk started working at a barn when she was ten. As the years went on she worked at a number of different barns, two zoos, and ...
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