You are looking for a nice and cute pet, and then crested gecko magically appears before your eyes. You start to wonder about crested gecko images, wondering if this is a good pet?
Crested gecko may have been an unfamiliar name a few years ago, but it has confirmed the position of a popular pet. It is more and more people choose crested gecko to be a companion, a new member of the family.
Just a few years ago, there was not much information about this lizard, but now the information about it is getting more and more detailed. This article will be general information about this pet, if you are looking to learn about it, definitely not to be missed.
Crested gecko Images
To understand crested gecko as well as its image, let’s take a look at the parts of crested gecko. You can also call this crested gecko surgery.
A typical crested gecko is about 8 – 10 inches long including the tail, and weighs about 32 -40 grams. However, there are those that weigh over 60 grams, and that is giant crested gecko.
Length and weight may also vary between male crested gecko and female crested gecko. Any crested gecko has the following body parts:
#1 Skin:
Crested geckos have skin similar to other geckos and reptiles, but their skin is quite thin. These smooth scales are thin but still quite durable, able to withstand certain impacts from the external environment.
Crested gecko is also skinned like a snake, this process helps the crested gecko’s skin change color and become stronger over time. They will remove the old skin layer by mouth and may rub on other objects to allow the skin to expand.
This skin may vary in color and pattern depending on the environment and the situation (as we mentioned above).
#2 Foot:
Crested gecko has 4 legs, each foot has 5 toes. More specifically beneath the feet is a cushion that allows it to climb and move easily across surfaces.
Their toes can also be flexed easily, so they can hold onto branches and surfaces more tightly. That’s why they can even climb on glass.
#3 Head:
The head of the crested gecko is triangular, slightly rounded at the edges. And the special thing is that the two crests run from the eyes to the body so that they are called crested gecko.
Don’t confuse these two rows of crested geckos into the feathers of the crested gecko. Sure, crested geckos never have hair.
#4 Eyes:
As mentioned above, crested geckos do not have eyelashes and eyelids so they are difficult to prevent dust and other small objects from getting into the eyes. At such times they will use their tongue to remove dirt. They also use this method to provide moisture to the eyes.
The eyes of the crested gecko can be rotated 360 degrees flexibly. They also differ between day and night. At night, when crested gecko is primarily active, the pupil will open wide so that it can be easily observed in the dark. In the daytime, the pupils will be narrower, avoiding the strong impact of strong light.
#5 Ears:
You may think that crested geckos have no ears, but they do have ears, although they are not clearly shaped. You can’t easily see the shape of the ears like some other animals, but the holes on either side of the crested gecko’s head are their ears.
Although the shape of the crested gecko is unknown, the ears of the crested gecko are very developed and very audible, they can detect the slightest noise around them. In addition, their ears are protected by a membrane from dirt and other agents.
#6 Tooth:
Crested geckos have teeth, even lots of teeth, with about 170. Although not too sharp, it is still enough for them to be able to digest insects and insects.
Their teeth are composed of small teeth, which are not dangerous to humans, but you should also limit your hands to their mouths because they can make them feel uncomfortable.
Where does crested gecko come from?
Crested gecko belongs to the geckos family, originating mainly in the rainforests of New Zealand, New Caledonia and Australia. However, wild crested gecko occur most often in New Caledonia, in the southwest Pacific region.
First discovered in 1866, it has been considered extinct for more than a decade. However, in 1994, a scientific rediscovery proved that crested geckos were never extinct.
It was later propagated and conserved by researchers and scientists. The number of crested geckos is increasing with races guarantee.
While reptiles and lizards are a pet choice, crested geckos are still just an unpopular creature. After that, people began to want to learn about a new, more special and interesting species.
That makes crested gecko a new type of pet, more and more people choose and love.
Basic information about crested gecko
Why is crested gecko so popular? What are they different from other geckos? The answer to this question is simple, crested gecko eyes.
Crested gecko has two crested lines extending from the eyes to the body. They are also known as eyelash gecko because the lines that run from the eyes look like it has eyelashes.
In fact, crested gecko has no eyelashes and it is these lines that make it look special.
#1 Crested Gecko environment:
As you probably know, crested gecko lizards are climbing animals, and their bodies are born to do that. That is why you should choose the enclosure that is blocked on the ceiling. You would not want them to climb to the edge of the tank and escape. Trust me!
It’s also because they like to climb and spend most of their time in the tree, so you should keep this in mind when choosing a pet enclosure. An enclosure should preferably be a vertical enclosure larger than horizontal. With this space, you can decorate more branches, foliage, vines to provide climbing space for crested gecko.
A good crested gecko habitat is that it can provide it with climbing space as well as trees that mimic nature. You can also use real trees to decorate the enclosure, providing crested gecko the most natural habitat.
Another note that you should keep in mind is not to choose too large enclosure. The size of a full grown crested gecko is about 8 inches including the tail so don’t waste a lot of space. So a 10 -20 gallon tank is enough for one to two cretsed geckos.
REPTI ZOO Mini Reptile Glass Terrarium is an enclosure sized very well suited to crested gecko. It has good vertical and horizontal width just enough to give crested gecko the most comfortable climbing space.
Not only that, the enclosure has a safety cover, which prevents crested geckos from escaping by climbing out. The front door has a sturdy lock so you can rest assured of the safety of crested gecko.
The raised bottom provides you with a decorative space and stimulates crested gecko’s digging behavior. However, this space is quite narrow so if you want to use a lot of decorations, you should consider.
Another product is the Exo Terra Rainforest Habitat Kit, providing you with a complete enclosure at an affordable cost. This is a good investment option for beginners.
This kit includes substrates, thermometers, light sources and decorations. So you do not need to prepare many items for living space for crested gecko.
However, this enclosure does not include heat sources and also has no wire ports to connect other electrical devices.
#2 Crested gecko handling:
How do you play with crested gecko? Is it on the arm or the shoulder? This is the most popular hobby with reptiles and lizards. Especially they are not too large size should be a lot of fancy ages.
Crested gecko is a very benign and docile animal that will let you touch and move it. However, they are also prone to stress and panic, especially baby crested gecko.
That’s why you need to be good at crested gecko handling. When you are new to the new environment and people, it can jump on you or try to escape when you approach it. All you need to do is gently stroke it and place it in your palm before you move it to another position.
Do not speak loudly or shout when you try to approach it for the first time. Treat it gently so that it feels that you are not a threat. Crested gecko will become more docile when it feels familiar with your treatment.
You should also agree with all family members about how to handle crested gecko. Especially children, because they are very active and may not understand clearly what is gentle treatment.
You should also limit crested gecko to strangers, people who do not have much experience in pet care or who are frightened with crested gecko.
#3 Crested Gecko feeding:
Most reptiles and lizards are omnivores, and crested geckos are no exception. When in the wild, they eat everything they can find from insects to fruits.
Because of the cushioning under the feet, they can move easily in the tree, as well as be difficult to fall off the surface. With a long tongue is an advantage, spiders or moths are not a challenge for them.
Currently on the market there are many commercial foods for crested gecko, from baby to adult crested gecko. You can choose any kind of food to provide meals for them.
But I also recommend giving them live food for one or two days a week to improve their diet and avoid boredom.
You can crush fruits or berries like strawberries, bananas, apples, etc. to give them a vitamin-rich meal. Or you can also feed them worms, insects, crickets to provide protein meals for pets. However you should note that the size of the food is not too large for crested gecko to eat more easily.
Pangea Fruit Mix Apricot is a crested gecko powder blend that uses apricots as the main ingredient in addition to other ingredients.
This product provides the perfect amount of Vitamins, proteins as well as calcium for the development of crested gecko. The taste of familiar tropical fruits will not cause any difficulties for crested gecko.
Repashy Crested Gecko MRP Diet is another fruit based product, and this fruit is a mango. Mango is a tropical fruit with a great aroma and flavor, providing enough nutrients necessary for crested gecko.
This product also has some other ingredients from vegetable fat, so the nutrients are strengthened. You just need to mix this with a little water to complete the crested gecko meal.
BASSETT’S CRICKET RANCH Live Crickets are a great choice for meal changes and providing crested gecko protein.
You can use crested gecko power to feed your pet on weekdays and use crickets on two weekends to stimulate their appetite. Crickets are also a great factor to stimulate the crested geko’s hunting instinct.
However, crickets also move very quickly and they are quite small for you to catch easily, so you should remove some legs to limit their ability to move.
Crested gecko morphs
Like other geckos, crested geckos are polymorphic animals, which means their colors can vary depending on the situation. Crested gecko has many colors and patterns and they can change alternately, the combination of these two elements is crested gecko morphs.
Without being conserved and propagated by researchers, crested geckos have less morphology than they do now. However, after being propagated and applied advanced science, the crested gecko morphology becomes more diverse and richer.
The color and pattern of crested gecko can often change, but depending on the situation, their morphology will be different. And there is crested gecko morph guide.
Usually, crested gecko does not show its formal form before reaching adulthood. In the first few months, they usually have a dark red or dark yellow form. Regardless of crested gecko gender, the color is always dark.
However, when it comes to adulthood, crested gecko will gradually show its formal appearance. Between 6 months and 1 year of age, crested geccko will gradually form its own form. You will distinguish most clearly as they mature and reproduce.
During this time, crested gecko shedding took place more. The morphology from which it is also formed and certainly the scalp layer is not its fixed color.
Besides, its form will be able to change according to its surroundings. If you feel a threat is at stake, crested geckos will often change color to the surrounding environment. Some will even darken the color when sleeping in case of danger.
If the ambient temperature is too high, the crested gecko will also change color. Crested gecko also changes shape according to mood, especially when under stress.