Crested Gecko (Correlophus ciliatus)  

Difficulty: Easy

Crested geckos are medium-sized 6-8” long lizards that range from cream to dark brown in color with a
variety of patterns depending on morph (a reptile that has been bred for a specific color and/or
pattern). They have wide toes that give them the ability to climb up smooth surfaces, and a fringe that
runs from above their eyes down their back.
Crested geckos are native to New Caledonia, a group of islands between Fiji and Australia. They are most
commonly found on the islands of Grande Terre and the Isle of Pines. These islands feature a tropical
rainforest habitat, where crested geckos can be found among the trees and vines.
Crested geckos have a 15-20 year lifespan when cared for properly, and may live longer in some cases.
Due to their manageable size, relatively simple care requirements, and tolerance toward humans,
crested geckos are popular first-time reptiles.

Housing
Although crested geckos are small, they still need an enclosure that is large enough to give them
adequate opportunity to explore, hunt, and generally exercise natural behaviors. They are also arboreal,
which means that they are a tree-dwelling species, and generally prefer terrariums that are taller than

they are wide. This is why the minimum recommended enclosure size for a single crested gecko is 18”L x
18”W x 24”H. If possible, larger is always better.
Particularly young crested geckos (less than 12g) benefit from being kept in a smaller, temporary “grow
out” enclosure (around 5 gallons, or roughly 12” x 12” x 12”) until they are large enough to safely
navigate a full-sized adult enclosure.
Can multiple crested geckos be housed in the same enclosure?
Although there are instances of multiple females or even one male and several females being
successfully kept together, this requires a larger enclosure and particularly careful husbandry. If the
geckos don’t get along, they can fight and severely injure one another. This is why cohabitation is not
recommended for novice keepers.
Males should never be housed together until you know their signs!

Lighting & UVB
Crested geckos are crepuscular, which means that they are active at night, but mostly around sunset.
This means that they are likely to prefer cooler temperatures, are exposed to low levels of indirect UVB
during the day, and have exceptional night vision.
UVB Lighting
Due to the nature of crested geckos’ captive diet, they can survive without UVB lighting, but they do
best when it is provided. UVB lighting can be tricky, because in order to get the right strength of UVB
(measured by UV Index, or UVI), distance must be considered.
As a rough estimate, to provide appropriate UVB to a crested gecko in an 18” x 18” x 24” enclosure that
maximizes vertical space utilization with vines and branches, you will need one 12” Arcadia T8 6% or Zoo
Med T8 ReptiSun 5.0 in a reflective T8 fixture. Place the basking area no closer than 6” below the lamp.
(These recommendations are approximations. It is strongly recommended to use a Solarmeter 6.5 to
determine the best placement to achieve a UVI of 1.0-2.0 in the basking area at the top of the enclosure.)

Heating
Humans are warm-blooded, which means that our body temperature is automatically regulated. Crested
geckos, however, are cold-blooded, which means that they have to move between areas of different
temperatures in order to regulate their body temperature. In the wild, crested geckos warm up during
the day by sleeping in a warm patch of sunlight. In captivity, sunlight can be replicated with a heat lamp.
Basking area temperature: 82-85°F (28-29°C)
Cool zone temperature: 70-75°F (21-24°C)
Nighttime temperature: 65-72°F (18-22°C)
Generally speaking, it doesn’t take much to achieve such a low basking temperature. A 40w white
incandescent bulb should be plenty. However, if you notice that the basking area is too warm, dial down

the heat down with a plug-in lamp dimmer or switch to a lower wattage bulb. If your basking area is too
cool, you will need a higher wattage bulb.
The basking area should be a vine, branch, or cluster of foliage directly under the heat lamp. Because
your crested gecko is arboreal and will be living in a tall enclosure, the warmest temperatures will be at
the top (near the heat lamp), and the coolest temperatures will be toward the bottom. You will need
vines, branches, and foliage at all levels to allow for proper thermoregulation.
To measure the general temperature of different areas of your terrarium, use an infrared thermometer
(a.k.a. temperature gun). To passively track basking temperature, use a digital probe thermometer, with
the probe placed on the basking surface under the heat source. The Etekcity 774 is a good infrared
thermometer, and most reptile-brand digital probe thermometers function well.

Humidity
Crested geckos do best in a high-humidity environment, with an average humidity of 60-80% as
measured by a digital probe hygrometer with the probe placed in the middle of the enclosure. Humidity
levels that are consistently too high or low can cause health problems for your gecko. However, it is
natural for humidity to be lower in the warm area and higher in the cool area. It is also normal and
healthy for humidity levels to rise at night and fall during the day.
To raise the humidity in your crested gecko’s enclosure (and provide an extra source of drinking water),
use a pump-style pressure sprayer to wet down the enclosure every morning and evening.
It’s best to use tap water for misting, rather than distilled or reverse-osmosis water. Tap water contains
essential minerals that are important to your gecko’s health, and distilled water may actually suck those
minerals out of your gecko.

Substrate
Because crested geckos are arboreal (tree-dwelling), they don’t spend much time on the ground.
Although it’s not necessary as a bedding for them, it’s very useful for helping to stabilize humidity. It also
acts as a cushion if they fall from their perch, which does happen occasionally.
It’s best to use a moisture-retentive substrate that is similar to the soil in a crested gecko’s natural
habitat. Here are a few options:
DIY tropical mix: 60% organic topsoil, 40% coconut fiber
Lugarti Natural Reptile Bedding
Zoo Med Reptisoil
The Bio Dude Terra Fauna
For best results, add a generous layer of leaf litter on top.
Feces and urates should be removed daily, and contaminated substrate should be scooped out and
replaced. Substrate should be completely replaced once every 1-3 months, depending on your needs. Décor
Decorations play a vital role in your crested gecko’s enclosure as environmental enrichment. Enrichment
items encourage exercise, stimulate your pet’s natural instincts, and help promote overall wellbeing.
And, of course, they make the enclosure look nicer! Without décor, your crested gecko’s terrarium is
just a glass box with dirt and a feeding ledge.
Branches, vines, and live or artificial foliage work well as décor in a crested gecko terrarium. You can also
use spanish moss, natural bamboo, and arboreal hideouts. Arrange these items in a way that
encourages your crested gecko to climb and explore, and provides a variety of options for places to
sleep during the day.

Food
Crested geckos are omnivores, which means that they need a balanced diet of both plant- and animal

based foods to get the nutrition that they need. In the wild, they eat mostly fruit and insects. As pets, it’s
best to feed them specially-formulated, high-quality crested gecko diet plus live insects. Crested gecko
diet (CGD) is a nutritionally-complete powder that becomes a meal replacement smoothie when water
is added.

How often crested geckos need to eat depends on age:
Hatchlings and Juveniles (0-12 months) — CGD daily, insects 1-2x/week
Adults (>12 months) — CGD every 2-3 days, insects 1x/week
Best crested gecko diet powders: Pangea, Repashy, Black Panther Zoological, Gecko Pro, Leapin’ Leachie,
Zoo Med
Best insects: crickets, dubia roaches, red runner roaches, darkling beetles, snails, grasshoppers
The key to providing a healthy, balanced diet for your pet is VARIETY. Provide as varied of a diet as you
possibly can, and you will be rewarded with a healthier pet that always looks forward to mealtime.

Supplements
Crested gecko diet is already fortified and balanced with a variety of vitamins and minerals. However,
feeder insects need to be “dusted” with a light coating of calcium powder to balance the calciumphosphorus ratio.
There are many options, but Arcadia CalciumPro Mg or MinerAll Outdoor are both solid calcium
supplements. For best results, use as directed by the label.