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Crested Gecko Care Sheet

Scientific Name: Rhacodactylus ciliatus

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Description

Large amounts of these little nocturnal Geckos were discovered in New Caledonia. Prior to 1994, they were thought to be extinct.

Read more about the Crested Gecko in the wild including its background, natural habitat and characteristics.

 

Statistics

Natural Location: New Caledonia
Average Lifespan: Up to 10 Years
Estimated Size: 5" to 8"
 

Distribution Map

crested gecko range map
 
Captive Care Information
 

Food & Water

You can purchase a pre-made Crested Gecko Diet from most pet stores. This pre-made food provides a balanced diet, enriched with nutrients, suitable for a Crested Gecko. You should also offer them insects to supplement their diet. Offer them crickets, mealworms, butterworms, silkworms and waxworms. Always dust or spray your gut-loaded insects with a vitamin supplement; including calcium. You should also provide them with different types of baby food. Most fruit flavours will attract them, due to their sweetness. Feed the Crested Geckos their pre-made food, or the baby food, every night, removing all food not eaten in the morning. Feed the the insects at night, 2 or 3 times a week, once again removing the uneaten insects in the morning.

Most Crested Geckos will only lick droplets of water from leaves and from other surfaces inside their habitat. Some Crested Gecko keepers report seeing their Geckos lap water from a dish, so you can always provide a very shallow and sturdy water dish as well.

Lighting, Temperature & Humidity

Use a full-spectrum flourescent light to provide 10 to 12 hours of light each day. Humidity should be kept around 50%. You can establish this by misting the enclosure every night.

Remember that Crested Geckos are nocturnal. They will be sleeping or hiding during the daylight hours. In most cases, room temperature will do for Crested Geckos. If the room you are keeping them in especially cool, use an incandescent bulb or ceramic heat emitter to maintain a temperature of 70 - 75 degrees F. At night, allow the temperature to drop to somewhere inbetween 60 degrees F to 70 degrees F.

Housing

Make sure to provide an enclosure that is taller than it is wide. These little Geckos will climb all the time. A 20 gallon glass aquarium is suitable for a maximum of 3 Crested Geckos. Do not put two males together. Provide your Geckos with a live plant, making sure it is non-toxic, and multiple branches by climbing. They require places for hiding as well. You can use either potting soil, peat moss, sphagnum moss or any other mulch type material for the substrate.

 
 

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