Crested Gecko Care

Your gecko should be housed in a front-opening glass terrarium — minimum size 12×12×18 (18x18x24 preferred). Zen Habitats, Zoo Med, and Exo Terra make excellent crested gecko tanks with screen tops for proper air circulation.

Crested geckos need to be kept between 72–80°F. This can be achieved with a low-wattage heat lamp over the top of the tank. If you use a 12x12x18 you may want to hang the heat lamp from hooks in the ceiling an inch or two above the screen top, otherwise the plastic divider could melt if set on it directly. Most larger tanks don't have an issue with directly putting the lamp on the screen.  Plug the heat lamp into a thermostat and hang the sensor about 4 to 6 inches from the screen near the heat lamp. During winter they can dip into the high 60s without any issues. Use a temperature gauge near the heat source to monitor temps.

Crested geckos need a moderate to high humidity environment. Mist them daily or every other day with DISTILLED water only — any other water could form hard spots on your glass terrarium.

Crested geckos spend most of their time up off the ground. You can use coconut fiber pulp, Eco Earth (a peat moss-based soil mix without perlite), wet sphagnum moss, and leaf litter to maintain humidity.

Your gecko will prefer to rest in foliage and climb on wood. Cork bark, grapevine, and spiderwood are beautiful choices. ALWAYS FREEZE WOOD 24 HOURS before placing it in your enclosure — even items bought from a pet store or show.

Live plants are welcome — just give them two weeks of quarantine time and a small plant light to promote growth. Do NOT place a gecko terrarium near a window; the heat could kill them.

Your gecko is one of the easiest lizards to feed. They require a balanced fruit mix made by either Pangea or Repashy — both are excellent foods. We recommend mixing with non-chlorinated water (leave tap water out overnight to dechlorinate). Never make more than 7 days' worth and keep it in the fridge.

Feed your gecko every 2–3 days with fresh food. Keep a shallow water dish in the bottom of the tank for drinking and soaking during shedding.

Occasional treats include Dubia roaches (easy to keep, low care, no smell), a piece of fruit, or Pangea gecko treats — once or twice a month at most. Personally, we do not recommend crickets: they smell, they're noisy, and larger ones can harm your reptile if they're hungry.

Give your gecko the first night or two to get used to their new home. Then take them out daily for exercise and bonding. They are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk), so handling at those times helps them adjust.

Do NOT cup your gecko in hot hands — humans run at 98°F, which makes them uncomfortable. They are happy to perch on fingers or arms. NEVER leave a gecko unattended outside of its tank; they move very fast and can hide in small dark corners.