Crested Geckos ( Correlophus ( Rhacodactylus) Ciliatus):
Crested Geckos are originally from New Caledonia, a group of islands between Fiji and Australia. These amazing geckos are the ideal reptile for beginners and experienced keepers. They are one of the easier to care for reptiles with simple, easy to meet requirements.
Size:
Male and Females reach a size of 8-10 inches and weigh in at 35 -60g. Hatchlings are about 2 - 3 inches and weigh about 2 - 5g. The time it takes them to reach adult size is 12-24 months
Life Span:
With proper care a crested gecko can live 15 - 20 years.
Housing:
Crested Geckos can be kept in a variety of enclosures. Some breeders use simple plastic tubs while others will use glass terrariums. They will spend most of their time high up hiding or resting so which ever enclosure you choose take the height into consideration rather then length. Be sure to supply your gecko with ample amount of hiding spots and foliage with things like coco huts and plants (real or artificial)
Enclosure Size:
The size of the enclosure will depend on the size of your gecko. you don't want your hatchlings to be in an enclosure that is to big and you don't want a single or a pair of geckos in an enclosure that's to small. For hatchlings a suitable size would be a 8 x 8 x 12" Exo Terra terrarium or 6 qrt (1.5 gallon) plastic storage box. Geckos up to 15g a 12 x 12 x 18" Terrarium or 16 qrt (4 gallon ) plastic storage box would be needed. This size will also be sufficient for a single adult crested gecko. If you have a pair of geckos i recommend an 18 x 18 x 24 terrarium or a 66 qrt (16.5 gallon) plastic storage box.
Quick Guide:
Hatchling (2-5g) housing: 8 x 8 x 12" terrarium or 6 quart plastic storage box
Juvinile (5-25g) housing: 12 x 12 x 18" terrarium or 16 quart plastic storage box
Adult (35 - 60g ) housing: 12 x 12 x 18" or 18 x 18 x 24" terrarium or 66 quart plastic storage box
Substrate:
There are plenty of choices out in the market when it comes to substrate but not all of them are safe for Crested Geckos.
Paper towel is probably going to be the easiest and safest substrate. Line the bottom of the enclosure and replace it when it gets dirty. The down side to paper towel is that you cant really spot clean it so it will need to be replaced more often and it doesn't really help keep humidity.
Peat moss with some sphagnum moss mixed in is another great substrate. It holds moisture witch will help with the humidity, it can be spot cleaned and can last several weeks before needing to be replaced.
Humidity:
The humidity in your Crested Gecko enclosure should be around 50% to 70% . To keep these levels mist the enclosure twice a day. Do not over mist and make sure to let the cage dry out before misting again. you don't want to have the enclosure soaked as this can lead to mold and bacteria development.
Lighting and Temperature:
Crested Geckos can be kept at room temperatures of 74 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, night time temperatures can go to low 70s .
*Temperatures above 82F will cause undo stress and a decline in health. Anything over 85F can be fatal especially to hatchlings. DO NOT use heating/basking lamps or heating pads*
Food and Water:
We use both Pangea and Repashy powdered Crested Gecko diets. serve in a dish that your gecko can easily access but not spill it. These powdered diets come in a wide variety of flavors. Insects are not a requirement but can be offered. Crickets would be the best choice but when feeding your gecko insects make sure that the insect is no bigger then the space between your geckos eyes. * Please make sure you do plenty of research before offering your gecko other insects other then crickets to make sure they are suitable for your gecko*
Feeding hatchlings is no different then adults.
Water should be accessible at all times in a shallow dish. Geckos will drink water droplets off the foliage or enclosure so misting at night when the gecko is more active would be beneficial . Hatchlings may not use a water dish at first to misting is important.
Handling and Temperament:
Newly Purchased Crested Geckos should not be handled for the first few weeks so they can adjust to there new environment and for them to get back to regular feeding. When you do start to handle, keep handling to short sessions about 5 to 10 mins. Most crested geckos will gladly sit on your hand, younger ones can be a bit jumpy but will normally calm down after a few sessions of holding. Crested Geckos rarely bite but if they do its of very little circumstances and usually a quick nip and they release
Fun Facts:
Crested Geckos do not have eyelids and clean their eyes by licking them
When a crested gecko drops their tail they tail does not grow back.
Crested Geckos toes have tiny claws to help them climb
Crested Geckos will "Fire Up" , which means their colors become brighter and sometimes makes them look completely different
they were thought to be extinct until they were rediscovered in 1994