Native to New Caledonia, the crested gecko is an arboreal, nocturnal species named for the fringe of scales above its eyes.
Long thought extinct, it is now a widely kept pet gecko thanks to its straightforward care, gentle nature and the availability of complete powdered diets.
Crested geckos have adhesive toe pads and a prehensile tail, though adults frequently drop the tail and do not regrow it.
They tolerate ordinary room temperatures better than most reptiles, which keeps running costs low, but they need height, humidity and climbing cover to feel secure.
Housing
Use a tall, well-ventilated vivarium of at least 45x45x60cm for one adult, densely furnished with branches, cork bark and foliage for climbing and hiding.
As an arboreal species, vertical space matters more than floor area.
A bioactive setup with live plants helps hold humidity.
Keep temperatures around 22-26C; sustained temperatures above 28-29C are stressful, so a strong basking lamp is usually unnecessary in a typical home.
A low-output UVB tube is beneficial.
Maintain humidity around 60-80% by misting once or twice daily, allowing the enclosure to dry between mistings to prevent mould and respiratory problems.
Diet
Crested geckos do well on a commercial complete crested gecko diet (CGD), a powdered fruit-and-insect mix made up with water and offered in a shallow dish several times a week.
This food can meet their full nutritional needs, which makes feeding simple.
Supplement with gut-loaded, calcium-dusted live insects such as crickets or dubia roaches once or twice weekly for enrichment and protein.
Avoid feeding only baby food or fruit, which is unbalanced and causes deficiencies.
Provide fresh water daily, though they often drink droplets from misted surfaces.
Health
Look for clear eyes, intact toe pads, smooth shedding and steady weight.
Common problems include metabolic bone disease linked to poor calcium or UVB, retained shed on the toes that can cut off circulation, and floppy tail syndrome.
Overheating is a frequent and serious husbandry error that can be rapidly fatal.
A dropped tail is normal for adults and not an emergency, but a sudden change in appetite, weight or activity warrants attention.
As with all reptiles, seek a vet experienced with exotics.
Good ventilation and correct humidity prevent most respiratory and skin issues.
Temperament
Crested geckos are docile but can be skittish and are capable jumpers, so handle low over a soft surface until they settle.
They are nocturnal and most active in the evening.
With gentle, regular handling many become calm and will hop onto a hand.
They are best housed singly.
Males are territorial and will fight, and females can also compete or show aggression over food and space.
Solo housing removes the risk of stress and injury and is the responsible default for this species.
Small geckos dehydrate and lose condition quickly, and the tail is the fuel gauge.
Go now
Tremors, weak grip, or a jaw that will not close properlyGo now. Calcium and D3 deficiency.
Now
Today
Tail visibly thinning in a species that stores fat thereWeigh, then call with the trend. The fat store goes before the body condition does.
Today
Stuck shed around the toes or over the eyesRaise humidity, offer a damp hide, and call if it is not clear within a day. Constricting shed rings cost toes. This is the most common avoidable injury in geckos.
Today
Refusing food with weight lossCheck the cool-end and warm-end temperatures, then call. A gecko that cannot reach its preferred temperature cannot digest.
Today
This is general guidance for a healthy adult, not a diagnosis. An exotics vet who knows your animal always overrides it — and the time to find one is before you need one.
Can a crested gecko eat that?
Geckos split into two diets that share almost nothing: insectivores like the leopard gecko, and the fruit-and-insect species like the crested gecko. Check which one you have.
Never (13)
AlcoholNo safe amount at any body weight on this site.
never
AvocadoPersin.
never
CaffeineCoffee, tea and energy drinks. Cardiac and neurological toxicity at tiny doses for an animal this size.
never
ChocolateTheobromine and caffeine. Small mammals and reptiles cannot clear either.
never
CitrusAcidic, and it blocks calcium absorption.
never
FirefliesLucibufagins. Fatal to geckos.
never
GarlicSame allium toxicity as onion, and more concentrated by weight.
never
Insects larger than the gap between the eyesA recognised cause of impaction and neurological injury in small geckos. Size the feeder to the animal, every time.
never
LeekAllium family. Same mechanism as onion and garlic.
never
OnionOrganosulphur compounds damage red blood cells. The whole allium family is out.
never
RhubarbVery high in soluble oxalate, high enough to cause acute kidney injury. The leaves are worse than the stalks.
never
Salty or seasoned human foodSalt, oil and seasoning. Crisps, chips, seasoned leftovers and processed meat are all out.
never
Wild-caught insectsPesticides and parasites.
never
Rare treats (1)
WaxwormsVery fatty and habit-forming. Useful to get weight on a thin animal. One or two, rarely.
rare treat
Occasional (4)
HornwormsHigh water content; useful for a dehydrated animal. One occasionally.
occasional
Mashed fruitFor crested and gargoyle geckos only, and only as a supplement to a complete diet. Never for a leopard gecko. A small amount, alongside the complete diet.
occasional
MealwormsHard chitin and a poor calcium ratio. A leopard gecko fed only mealworms is a leopard gecko heading for calcium problems. A few alongside better feeders.
occasional
SuperwormsFatty. One or two.
occasional
Everyday foods (4)
Black soldier fly larvaeHigh in calcium, and readily taken. Several per feed.
everyday food
Complete crested gecko diet powderFor crested, gargoyle and chahoua geckos only, mixed with water. A complete food and the simplest way to feed those species correctly. Fresh, every other day, for fruit-eating species.
everyday food
CricketsStandard feeder. Gut-load for 24 hours before offering. Sized to the eye gap.
everyday food
Dubia roachesThe best routine feeder for insectivorous geckos. Sized no wider than the space between the eyes.
everyday food
That food is not on our list. Check which kind of gecko you have first — the two diets barely overlap — then ask an exotics vet.
Dust feeders with calcium to the schedule in the species guide, and keep a small dish of plain calcium available for insectivorous species.
Setup, monthly, first year and across a whole life, itemised and with the electricity worked out from the actual wattage. Published figures for the same animal disagree by a factor of four, so the calculator shows ranges rather than picking one.
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