Crested geckos have been around for a long time, but 26 years ago they were at risk of extinction. It is fortunate that scientists have discovered and conserved them, after which it was popularized as one of the most chosen lizards as pets.
Besides leopard gecko, crested gecko is widely known as a small pet, extremely easy to raise and does not cost much. So they are ideal pets for beginners or for children because they do not pose much threat.
Before that, you need to learn about crested gecko care so you can keep them in good condition. If cared for properly, it can live up to 20 years with you.
Here are some informations along crested gecko care guide that we will provide for you.
Crested Gecko Facts
The origin of crested gecko names is their appearance. Crested gecko has a different appearance than other geckos. They have crests running from the eyes to the back, this crest has diverse sizes and colors, none of which are similar.
#1 Crested gecko behavior:
Crested gecko is a docile animal, they do not threaten or injure crested gecko breeders. Therefore it is a safe pet for both children and those who do not have much experience.
However crested gecko is easy to get stressed and scared. When they sense a danger is imminent, immediately crested geckos will reflect back by jumping away suddenly. Even if they sense real danger, they will lose their tails.
The crested gecko’s tail cannot be replicated as many reptiles do, so you should behave softly and softly so they don’t feel threatened.
Some crested geckos will react more aggressively than others. They may jump straight into your face or body if they are scared. The crested gecko’s feet have specialized pads so they can climb easily, jump high and move on many different surfaces.
#2 Gecko crested life span:
Crested gecko was once thought to be extinct in the last century, but fortunately scientists have found it in time to preserve it. Today crested gecko has been widely bred and has even become one of the most popular pet reptiles. This is why crested gecko care sheets become very important.
After being discovered and conserved, crested geckos are living in a better environment, which is why this species is greatly improved.
Crested gecko is moderate in size, neither too big nor too small, so it is loved by that size. The adult crested gecko is about 8 inches in size, of which the tail takes up to 4 inches.
When reaching adulthood, each crested gecko can weigh from 30- 35 grams, reaching 8 inches in length. They are fast growing adults, about 14-19 months. That’s why the species is guaranteed for a short time.
In particular, crested gecko can have sex when it reaches 9 months of age. However, the time is not ideal for her to get pregnant, the ideal time is when she reaches adulthood.
Both men and women exhibit cloacal drive, so this cannot be used as a crested gecko gender determinant.
Both male and female crested geckos can live up to 20 years if they live in an ideal and disease-free environment.
#3 Crested gecko sexing and breeding:
Crested geckos are pets that are easy to mate. As mentioned above, even when they are not mature they still mate with their partners. By the age of 4 months, many crested geckos will satisfy their needs.
However, it is not until the ninth month that crested geckos are sexually fully developed, but this is still not the best time for crested geckos to lay eggs. At this point, you should learn about crested gecko egg care and baby crested gecko care to prepare gradually until crested gecko actually spawn.
Once they reach adulthood, a male crested gecko can mate with one or more female crested geckos. The female will lay 1 or 2 crested gecko eggs within 1 month after mating.
You should not allow too many crested geckos to coexist in a cage. Two crested geckos, one male and one female are enough to mate. If there are too many females in a cage, it is very likely that the male does not mate enough with all the females or there is a dispute between them.
Or simply not enough space for crested gecko hatchling care. Crested gecko’s eggs have very thin shells and also need the right temperature and humidity to hatch. Therefore, besides providing a crested gecko habitat, you should consider crested gecko hatchling.
Provide crested gecko cages with eggs or a mixture of moisture and soft so that crested gecko can lay eggs and incubate them in them. Note that high and stable humidity must always be maintained for the egg container and cage to facilitate egg laying and hatching.
Or you can use the incubator to ensure the safety of crested gecko eggs. Let the incubator operate at about 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the eggs will hatch after about two months, 10 days faster than hatching naturally.
One thing to note in crested gecko care book is the color of crested gecko eggs. Normally, healthy crested gecko eggs will have a pearl color, and diseased eggs will have a yellowish color. If the color is yellowish, it is mainly because the adult crested gecko lacks calcium or the female crested gecko is too old to lay eggs.
Factors that directly affect crested gecko
#1 Temperature:
As you probably know, crested geckos are thermoplastic animals, so their body temperature will vary with the temperature of their environment. This is very dangerous if the temperature is too low or too high.
For a crested gecko care list like this, it is definitely indispensable to choose the correct temperature for crested gecko. The ideal temperature range for crested gecko during the day is from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, at night is from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you always maintain this ideal temperature for crested geckos, their development will be much more convenient. Crested gecko is very susceptible to stress and heat stress if the ambient temperature is too high, and it is easy to stop working if the temperature gets too low.
You can use heat mats or light bulbs to provide crested gecko heat. However, when using light bulbs to provide heat, you should note the location of the light bulbs with climbing accessories. Avoid putting them too close to each other as crested geckos can get burned as they climb.
Fluker’s Heat Mat for Reptiles is a product you can consider choosing to provide heat for your pet. This heat mat has received a lot of positive reviews from customers over the years.
With this heat mat, you can place it in multiple positions on a portable basis. You can place it on the sides of the tank or on the bottom of the tank.
With this design, it is best if the bottom tank is not raised or does not allow much substrate. However I recommend that you do not mount it in that position because crested gecko can burn.
This mat can adjust the temperature to your liking, the maximum temperature is 100 degrees F, so that you can adjust the temperature suitable for crested gecko during the day and night.
If you do not want to use heat mats, there is another option that can provide crested gecko heat, which is Zoo Med Ceramic Heat Emitter.
This is a standard ceramic heat exchanger, chosen by many for crested gecko cages. This product has a capacity of 25 Watt, very suitable for a small sized animal like crested gecko.
In particular, this ceramic heat emitting does not glow but only provides heat so it performs its role well. Its lifespan is also greatly enhanced when only performing one function.
However, you should use this product with the thermostat to give the most accurate temperature.
#2 Lighting:
Many people think that crested geckos are nocturnal animals so light doesn’t matter to them. This is a misconception because light is one of the important factors that directly affects crested gecko.
You should provide light for crested gecko both day and night. You can light up with any light bulb, which contains UVB which is not really required but still necessary for the absorption of crested gecko.
For the night, you should not use white lights with high power because it can affect the vision of crested gecko. Choose green or red light instead. This is the crested gecko care tips we want to share for you.
Zoo Med Basking Spot Lamp is a good choice to provide crested gecko lighting. This product includes a reflective coating that helps to improve the temperature most effectively.
This coating is very durable, will not be damaged when exposed to high temperatures for a long time so that you can be assured of its longevity.
It also comes with a red light bulb, so you can use it to light up at night. From there, crested gecko is guaranteed not to affect his life cycle and behavior.
#3 Humidity:
Moisture is also one of the important factors for crested gecko, especially for crested gecko baby care. Crested gecko needs shedding to grow, and moisture is what makes the process easier.
The most appropriate moisture for the development of crested gecko is about 60 – 80%. For tropical areas with high humidity, the humidity in the environment is quite close to the ideal level. However, in areas with low humidity, it is advisable to use supportive devices to maintain this humidity.
You must provide crested gecko moisture throughout the day, especially at night when they are mostly active. It is recommended to spray the crested gecko cage 2 times during the day and 1 time at night.
Evergreen Pet Supplies Reptile Humidifier / Fogger is a highly regarded product that can provide an ideal wet environment for crested gecko.
This humidifier can hold up to 2 liters of water so you don’t need to fill it often. Besides, it also has the feature to turn off automatically when the tank runs out of water.
Despite its large size, this humidifier is completely smooth when operating. No longer an obsession with your sleep every time you moisturize your pet.
It also comes with a user guide, though it’s easy to assemble, and how to care for a crested gecko tips. So that you can own a lot of benefits with this investment.
#4 Substrate:
Why does substrate affect crested gecko? Many people may wonder this, but the substrate plays an important role in keeping moisture as well as providing other operating spaces for pets.
The substrate acts as a moisturizing agent for the crested gecko habitat. Not only that, it is also a direct contact with the pet droppings, so if you do not choose the appropriate substrate or are not often interested in it will have a significant impact on crested gecko.
You should use substrates from coconut fiber, moss, peat, plantation soil or simply paper towels. These materials are very soft, do not harm crested gecko but also retain moisture very well.
Exo Terra Coco Husk Terrarium Substrate is a substrate that has become popular recently. The reason for the trust is that this product is 100% natural and provides an ideal environment for crested gecko.
This substrate is compressed from tropical coconut fiber so it is very suitable for a species of tropical origin like crested gecko. These natural coconut fibers can absorb and retain moisture very well for a long time.
Not only that, this substrate can slowly release moisture to the crested gecko’s habitat. It is also very safe for baby crested gecko with its softness.
This substrate is easy to clean and replace, it can also provide a digging space and stimulate the pet’s natural behavior.
Conclusion
When you start choosing crested gecko as a pet, you should also start researching crested gecko care. While crested geckos are easy-to-follow and obedient pets, they also need to be cared for. Spending some time to research on it will definitely help a lot for your pet journey.