Are Crested Geckos Good for Beginners?

In the wild, crested geckos are only found in one place: New Caledonia, which is a group of islands off the coast of Australia. In captivity, these creatures can be kept by new and experienced reptile owners who love the look of their long eyelashes and their friendly nature. 

How Big Do Crested Geckos Get?

Crested geckos will grow to a length of seven to nine inches long from head to tail tip when they are adults. Most crested geckos will reach their full length by 12 months of age, although they are only about one inch long as new hatchlings. 

How Big Should a Crested Gecko Cage Be?

A crested gecko cage should be a glass tank with a minimum capacity of 20 gallons. The best tanks are larger than this though and should include at least four to six feet in height. Crested geckos are very active lizards, so they must have plenty of space for climbing vertically. 

What to Include in a Crested Gecko Habitat

Crested geckos are nocturnal, and they do not like having extra lighting in their habitats either during the day or night. Because of this, having a hood or enclosure on your gecko’s cage is not necessary. However, these geckos need a source of heat that will keep their tanks regulated between 72 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime and between 65 to 75 degrees at night. You can add a heater to your gecko’s tank for this but be sure to not place the heater where your gecko can reach it to avoid burns. 

A good gecko habitat should also include live plants, a substrate, and branches or driftwood for climbing. These geckos like a well-humid cage, too, so be sure to mist their environment daily. 

What Do Crested Geckos Eat?

A big part of crested gecko care is giving a crested gecko what it would expect to eat in its natural habitat. When feeding your crested gecko, plan on giving it a commercial gecko food blend plus things like small insects and fruit pieces. A commercial food blend will provide your gecko with the base nutrients it needs, although you can give this food in limited quantities if you also offer other foods dusted with a gecko multivitamin powder. 

While crested geckos are not picky about the insects they eat, they are particular about the fruits they like. Crested geckos will only eat overripe fruits, and they do not like fresh fruit. Fruits you can give a crested gecko include bananas, peaches, passion fruits, mangoes, papayas, and apricots. However, some crested geckos will eat mashed or pureed fruits, such as those found in baby food. 

Do Crested Geckos Like to Be Handled?

Crested geckos can be handled for very short periods of time, although handlers should be cautious when picking up their geckos to avoid injuring them. Crested geckos, like all pets, will have individual personalities and may or may not like to be handled. That being said, it’s best to avoid handling your own gecko unless necessary until you learn the gecko’s temperament. 

Aside from some handling dislikes, crested geckos are generally very friendly and do not usually bite. You can certainly feed your gecko from your hands without problems.