Crested Gecko Care Guide

Updated August 24, 2026: We revised our enclosure-size guidance to better reflect evolving Crested Gecko husbandry standards and to clarify the importance of functional, usable arboreal space.

Crested Geckos (Correlophus ciliatus) are one of the most popular pet reptiles, and for good reason. Native to New Caledonia, these arboreal geckos are known for their incredible variety of colors and patterns, unique personalities, and fascinating climbing and jumping behaviors.

Crested Geckos can be an excellent choice for both new and experienced reptile keepers who are prepared to provide the proper environment and long-term care. Their commercially available complete diets, moderate temperature requirements, manageable adult size, and adaptable nature make their day-to-day husbandry relatively straightforward compared with many reptile species.

Like all reptiles, Crested Geckos have specific requirements for housing, temperature, humidity, nutrition, enrichment, and veterinary care. They are also a long-term commitment, with lifespans that can extend well beyond 15 years with proper care.

Let's break down what you need to help your Crested Gecko thrive.

HOUSING & ENCLOSURE SIZE

Crested Geckos are arboreal animals that spend much of their time climbing, jumping, resting on branches, and moving through vegetation. Because of this, both enclosure size and how that space is utilized are important parts of proper husbandry.

Crested Gecko husbandry standards have continued to evolve over the years as we learn more about their behavior and long-term care. For many years, a 12" × 12" × 18" enclosure was commonly considered appropriate for an adult Crested Gecko. More recent husbandry recommendations have shifted toward encouraging larger habitats, with approximately 18" × 18" × 24" becoming a common benchmark for an average adult.

We support providing additional space whenever practical. However, enclosure dimensions alone do not determine the quality of a habitat.

Usable Space Matters

For an arboreal gecko, simply providing a tall enclosure is not enough. The goal should be to turn as much of the available volume as possible into functional, usable habitat.

A properly designed enclosure should provide climbing, hiding, and resting opportunities throughout the lower, middle, and upper portions of the habitat.

We recommend incorporating:

• Horizontal and diagonal branches
• Cork bark and climbing surfaces
• Vines
• Elevated ledges and hides
• Live or artificial foliage
• Multiple resting locations
• Areas of dense cover
• Multiple routes through the enclosure

Ideally, your Crested Gecko should be able to move through much of its habitat using branches, vines, plants, ledges, and other climbing structures rather than relying primarily on the enclosure walls or floor.

A larger enclosure that contains mostly unused open space does not necessarily provide more enrichment than a slightly smaller enclosure that has been thoughtfully structured from bottom to top.

Hatchlings & Small Juveniles

Smaller grow-out enclosures are often beneficial for hatchlings and young juveniles. They make it easier to monitor feeding, hydration, waste, growth, and overall health while still providing appropriate climbing opportunities.

As the gecko grows, the enclosure should grow with it.

Juveniles & Subadults

Growing Crested Geckos should be provided with increasing amounts of vertical space, climbing structure, foliage, and opportunities for exploration.

An enclosure around 12" × 12" × 18" has traditionally been a very common size for juvenile, subadult, and even adult Crested Geckos.

As husbandry standards have evolved, many keepers now choose to transition larger juveniles and adults into more spacious habitats.

Adults

Adult Crested Geckos should be housed in a vertically oriented, well-structured enclosure that allows them to climb, jump, hide, rest, explore, and choose between different areas of their environment.

Many current husbandry recommendations use approximately 18" × 18" × 24" as a benchmark for an average adult Crested Gecko, and providing additional space is encouraged whenever practical.

However, there is no single enclosure dimension that accounts for every individual gecko or every enclosure design.

A thoughtfully designed habitat with slightly smaller overall dimensions can still provide appropriate long-term housing for many adult Crested Geckos when the available space is fully utilized with climbing structures, foliage, elevated resting areas, hiding locations, and enrichment.

Larger enclosures can be especially beneficial for larger-bodied or particularly active individuals.

Ultimately, we recommend evaluating the individual gecko and the quality of the habitat as a whole, rather than relying solely on one measurement.

Housing Multiple Crested Geckos

We recommend housing Crested Geckos individually.

Individual housing eliminates competition for food, hiding areas, climbing locations, and other resources while allowing each animal's feeding, weight, health, and behavior to be monitored more accurately.

Adult males should never be housed together due to the risk of aggression and injury.

Males and females should only be introduced intentionally for responsible breeding. You may keep them housed together as long as they are fully matured adults, similar in size, and they get along fine. Continue to closely monitor them to ensure both geckos are maintaining adequate weight and size. If you notice one gecko may be picking on the other, we recommend seperating the geckos into their own individual enclosures.

CHOOSING A TERRAGUARD HABITAT

TerraGuard Habitats were designed around the same principle we emphasize throughout this guide: creating usable arboreal space rather than simply providing empty enclosure volume.

TerraGuard Seed – 8" × 8" × 12"

Our smallest habitat is designed primarily for hatchlings and small juvenile Crested Geckos.

Its compact size makes it easier to monitor young animals while still allowing plenty of room for branches, foliage, feeding locations, and climbing structure.

TerraGuard Classic – 11" × 11" × 17"

The Classic provides additional growing room for juvenile and subadult Crested Geckos while maintaining a manageable footprint.

When properly scaped, it provides multiple levels of usable climbing and resting space as the gecko develops.

TerraGuard Canopy – 12.5" × 12.5" × 21.5"

The Canopy was designed specifically to maximize vertical arboreal space within a compact footprint.

When properly furnished with horizontal and diagonal branches, vines, foliage, elevated hides, ledges, and multiple climbing routes, the Canopy can provide appropriate long-term housing for many adult Crested Geckos.

For adult animals, we strongly recommend utilizing the enclosure from bottom to top rather than leaving large areas of unused open space.

Larger habitats may be preferable for particularly large or highly active individuals, but proper enclosure design and usable space remain extremely important regardless of overall dimensions.

TerraGuard Paradise – 22" × 12.5" × 23"

The Paradise expands significantly on the horizontal living space available to the gecko while maintaining the vertical orientation Crested Geckos naturally utilize.

It is an excellent choice for adult Crested Geckos, larger individuals, highly active animals, or keepers who simply want to provide additional room for climbing, planting, enrichment, and naturalistic scaping.

This size was also designed to potentially keep a breeding pair of Crested Geckos together. The extra width allows both geckos to have plenty of room for multiple hides or even seperate feeding dishes. Please monitor geckos very closely if they are housed together.

MORE COMING SOON...

Our Approach to Crested Gecko Housing

Crested Gecko husbandry will continue to evolve as we learn more about reptile welfare, enrichment, nutrition, lighting, and natural behavior.

At Guardians of the Geckos, we encourage keepers to provide as much appropriate and usable space as practical while remembering that enclosure dimensions are only one component of good husbandry.

A successful habitat combines adequate space with climbing opportunities, foliage, elevated resting areas, proper temperature and humidity cycles, balanced nutrition, fresh water, enrichment, and regular health monitoring.

Our goal is not simply to provide an enclosure large enough for a gecko to live in.

Our goal is to create an environment that allows that gecko to climb, explore, hide, rest, make choices, and thrive within the space provided.

Updated August 2026 to reflect evolving Crested Gecko husbandry recommendations and to better clarify the importance of functional, usable arboreal space.

Enclosure Setup & Enrichment

A Crested Gecko enclosure should provide much more than empty vertical space.

Provide a variety of:

• Horizontal and diagonal branches
• Cork bark
• Vines
• Ledges
• Live or artificial plants
• Elevated hiding areas
• Shaded areas
• Multiple climbing surfaces

Foliage and cover should be distributed throughout the enclosure while still leaving enough room for the gecko to move and jump between different areas.

Horizontal and diagonal resting surfaces are particularly useful. A well-designed enclosure gives the gecko choices and encourages natural climbing, resting, hiding, and exploring behaviors.

Naturalistic and bioactive enclosures can provide additional opportunities for exploration and enrichment when properly designed and maintained.

Substrate

Paper towel is an excellent option for quarantine, hatchlings, newly acquired animals, or whenever closely monitoring waste and health is important. In this set-up we strongly recommend providing a humid hide for your gecko. This creates a high humidity micro climate that can assist your gecko with shedding and maintaining proper humidity levels.

For established animals, naturalistic substrates designed for tropical reptiles can also be used.

Bioactive enclosures may incorporate appropriate soil mixtures, coconut fiber, bark, leaf litter, live plants, and cleanup crews.

Avoid substrates containing fertilizers, pesticides, aromatic wood products, or other materials that may be harmful to reptiles.

TEMPERATURE, LIGHTING & HUMIDITY

Temperature

Crested Geckos should have access to a temperature gradient that allows them to choose between warmer and cooler areas of their enclosure.

A good general range is:

Daytime Ambient: 72–78°F
Warmer Upper Areas: Approximately 78–79°F
Cooler Areas: Approximately 68–74°F
Night: Temperatures can safely fall into the upper 60s°F for healthy animals.

Avoid prolonged temperatures above approximately 80F, particularly when the gecko cannot retreat to a cooler area. Excessive heat can quickly become dangerous.

Depending on your home's temperature, supplemental heating may not be necessary. If additional heat is used, it should be controlled by an appropriate thermostat while maintaining cooler areas within the enclosure.

Always monitor temperatures with an accurate digital thermometer rather than relying on guesswork.

Lighting

Although Crested Geckos are primarily active during the evening and nighttime hours, they should still experience a consistent day/night cycle.

Approximately 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness works well for most setups.

Quality LED lighting can provide visible daylight while also supporting live plant growth in naturalistic and bioactive enclosures.

Avoid red, blue, or other colored nighttime bulbs. Crested Geckos should be allowed to experience darkness at night.

UVB

Historically, Crested Geckos have commonly been maintained without UVB when receiving a nutritionally complete diet containing appropriate vitamin D3.

Modern reptile husbandry increasingly recognizes that appropriately provided UVB may offer benefits even to crepuscular and nocturnal species.

For this reason, we recommend providing appropriate low-level UVB when the enclosure and setup allow it.

Crested Geckos are considered a low-UV species. UVB strength and placement should be selected based on the fixture, enclosure height, screen obstruction, distance from the animal, and manufacturer's recommendations.

Always provide plenty of foliage and shaded areas so the gecko can choose whether to be exposed to UVB.

UVB should not be placed behind glass or acrylic, as these materials significantly block UVB radiation.

Humidity

Crested Geckos benefit from a natural humidity cycle rather than constantly high humidity.

A good general target is:

After Evening Misting: Approximately 70–80%+
During the Drying Period: Approximately 50–60%

The enclosure should be allowed to partially dry between misting cycles.

Constantly saturated conditions and stagnant air should be avoided because they can encourage mold and bacterial growth.

Misting frequency will vary depending on your enclosure, substrate, ventilation, plants, room humidity, and local climate. Some enclosures may require one substantial evening misting, while others may require additional light misting.

Use a reliable digital hygrometer to monitor conditions instead of relying solely on a fixed misting schedule.

Proper ventilation and fresh airflow are also important components of maintaining a healthy tropical environment.

FEEDING & WATER

Complete Crested Gecko Diet

A high-quality commercially prepared Complete Crested Gecko Diet (CGD) should make up the foundation of your gecko's diet.

Brands such as Pangea and Repashy formulate complete diets specifically for fruit-eating New Caledonian geckos.

Always prepare the diet according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Young, growing animals can generally be offered fresh CGD daily or very frequently.

Healthy adults can typically be offered CGD approximately every other day or several times per week depending on the individual animal's age, body condition, reproductive status, activity level, and appetite.

Remove uneaten prepared food before it spoils.

Fruit, baby food, honey, or homemade fruit mixtures should not be relied upon as a primary diet because they do not provide the carefully balanced nutrition of a properly formulated complete gecko diet.

Insects

Crested Geckos are omnivorous and consume animal prey as part of their natural diet.

Appropriately sized live insects can provide nutrition, variety, exercise, and valuable hunting enrichment.

Good options include:

• Crickets
• Dubia roaches
• Other appropriately sized and nutritionally suitable feeder insects

Feeder insects should be properly gut-loaded before feeding and appropriately supplemented with calcium.

As a general rule, feeder insects should be no larger than the space between the gecko's eyes.

For many Crested Geckos, insects can be offered approximately once or twice per week, although frequency may vary depending on age, growth, body condition, breeding status, and the complete diet being used.

High-fat feeders such as waxworms should be considered occasional treats rather than staple feeders.

Water

A small dish of clean, fresh water should always be available.

Crested Geckos will also frequently lick water droplets from leaves, branches, and enclosure surfaces following misting.

Clean the water dish and replace the water regularly.

HANDLING & INTERACTION

Crested Geckos are generally tolerant of careful handling, but every gecko has its own personality and comfort level.

Give New Geckos Time to Settle

After bringing a new Crested Gecko home, allow it time to acclimate to its new environment before beginning regular handling.

Moving can be stressful. Give your gecko an opportunity to establish normal feeding and behavior before introducing frequent interaction.

Approach Slowly

Use slow and deliberate movements when interacting with your gecko.

Whenever possible, allow the gecko to step onto your hand rather than grabbing it from above.

Support the Gecko

Allow the gecko to walk naturally from hand to hand and support its body as it moves.

Crested Geckos can jump unexpectedly, so handling should take place close to the ground or above a soft, secure surface.

The Hand Escalator Technique

Allow the gecko to walk on your hands, plams facing up and open, rotate one hand in front of the other as the gecko walks. Go only at the gecko's own pace. Try to avoid closing your hand over the gecko to prevent it from moving. This will only stress the gecko out more.

Never Grab the Tail

Never pick up or restrain a Crested Gecko by its tail.

Crested Geckos can voluntarily drop their tails as a defense mechanism. Unlike some other gecko species, their tails do not grow back.

Tail loss is not normally a medical emergency, and tailless Crested Geckos can live completely normal lives.

Keep Handling Sessions Short

Begin with short handling sessions and gradually increase interaction as your gecko becomes comfortable.

If your gecko repeatedly attempts to escape, vocalizes, bites, breathes heavily, or otherwise appears stressed, return it to its enclosure and try again another time.

Handling should be a positive and controlled experience rather than something the animal is forced to tolerate.

Keep Other Pets Away

Never allow your Crested Gecko to interact directly with cats, dogs, or other household pets.

Even seemingly calm interactions can result in serious injury.

ROUTINE HEALTH & MONITORING

Getting familiar with what is normal for your individual Crested Gecko makes it much easier to recognize when something changes.

Regularly monitor:

• Body weight and body condition
• Appetite
• Feces and urates
• Activity level
• Eyes and skin
• Toes and feet
• Jaw and bone structure
• Shedding
• Hydration
• Breathing
• Changes in behavior

A small digital gram scale makes tracking weight easy and can help identify changes before they become visually obvious.

Shedding

Healthy Crested Geckos periodically shed their skin and frequently consume the shed afterward.

Proper hydration, humidity cycles, and appropriate enclosure surfaces help support normal shedding.

Pay particular attention to the toes, feet, and tail area for retained shed.

When to Contact a Veterinarian

Contact a veterinarian experienced with reptiles if your gecko develops concerning symptoms such as:

• Significant or unexplained weight loss
• Persistent refusal to eat accompanied by other symptoms or weight loss
• Swelling
• Abnormal jaw or limb structure
• Persistent retained shed
• Difficulty breathing
• Discharge from the eyes, nose, or mouth
• Significant lethargy or weakness
• Persistent abnormal feces
• Injury
• Neurological symptoms
• Any sudden or significant change in normal behavior

Routine wellness examinations with a qualified reptile veterinarian can also be an important part of preventative care.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Crested Geckos are incredibly rewarding animals to keep, but responsible ownership begins with understanding and providing for their needs.

Adequate space, climbing opportunities, foliage, appropriate lighting, temperature and humidity cycles, balanced nutrition, fresh water, enrichment, and regular health monitoring all contribute to a healthy environment where your gecko can display more of its natural behaviors.

Reptile husbandry continues to evolve as we learn more about animal welfare, nutrition, lighting, and natural behavior. We encourage every keeper to continue learning and to adjust their husbandry as better information becomes available.

At Guardians of the Geckos, our goal isn't simply to produce incredible geckos. We want every animal we produce to go into a home prepared to provide excellent lifelong care.

Passion. Innovation. Genetics.

This care guide provides general husbandry information and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Individual animals and circumstances may require different care. If you have concerns about the health of your Crested Gecko, consult a qualified reptile veterinarian.