Although not quite as popular as its more frequent relative, the leopard gecko and crested geckos are steadily becoming in demand among herpetologists. Although we think crested geckos make great pets, we’ll cover some of the more nuanced aspects of crested gecko care in this blog.
RAISING LARGE VS SMALL DOG BREEDS
What Exactly Is A Crested Gecko?
Southern Grand Terre, New Caledonia, and at least one little island nearby is home to Crested Geckos, originally identified as Rhacodactylus ciliatus and now categorized as Correlophus ciliatus (Isle of Pines). The majority of a Crested Gecko’s time is spent in low bushes and tiny trees. They will, however, look for areas to hide close to the ground so that they may nap throughout the day. Crested geckos are easy to care for, eat both insects and fruit, and may be housed in a room-temperature environment. The rapid rise in popularity of crested geckos may be attributed, in part, to their low maintenance requirements, distinct physical traits, and almost limitless reproductive capacity. Crested geckos are, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most desirable lizards to have as pets.
What Kind of Lighting Is Involved In Crested Gecko Care?
The gecko will be able to obtain the UVB light it requires for proper growth in locations with a UV Index of roughly 1-2, as well as in completely shaded areas. When placed on top of the mesh in a standard reptile terrarium, an Arcadia Shade Dweller ProT5 lamp may produce this UVI. Your gecko will be able to bask in the UV rays when necessary and hide when it’s not by providing a wide variety of branches and leaves at varying heights.
A 6% arcadia reflector T8 tube may generate the same amount of light in a bigger enclosure as a 6% T12 tube. Otherwise, a 6% T5 or ProT5 kit will provide even higher-quality illumination; if possible, consider increasing the distance from the ceiling and the amount of shade available. Turn off the light after being on for 12 or 14 hours a day.
What Is The Best Humidity Level For Crested Gecko Care?
In crested gecko care, we must take care that they need somewhat greater relative humidity than other reptiles, ideally between 40 and 50 percent, with occasional increases to around 70 percent once or twice a day. Making the switch to bioactive is a great approach to maintaining the ideal humidity levels in your vivarium, and regular spraying will offer extra boosts as required.
Most homes should be able to offer the humidity levels required for crested gecko care as long as the temperatures are suitable, the cage is kept clear of draughts, and the spray is used as directed.
Geckos also need access to a humid hide (wet box), where the air is kept moist with damp sphagnum moss. This will aid the gecko in a complete molt and avoid the loss of toes or the tip of the tail due to dry shed.
What About Decoration?
While there is no shortage of things that will make your vivarium seem nice, and doing so can be quite satisfying, décor is also extremely utilitarian and can help you offer an atmosphere that makes your crested gecko feel comfortable and secure.
In addition to a wide variety of plants and branches, a vivarium benefits from a number of hiding spots spread out around the space. For the sake of your gecko’s safety and to avoid the ‘floppy tail syndrome’ that may occur when geckos perch on exposed flat glass panels, you should always strive to offer full coverage of the sides of the vivarium using cork, leaves, or any other climbing place.
Wherever it is practical, we suggest using a “bio-active” approach. Including actual plants in the terrarium will make your gecko more at ease and contribute to the aesthetic appeal of the space.
AT WHAT AGE DO DOGS STOP GROWING?
Where Does A Crested Gecko Live?
Because of their insatiable need to climb, crested geckos should be housed in a terrarium that is higher than it is broad. The most common size of terrarium for this species is a 45x45x60cm glass enclosure since this meets the minimum size recommendation and can support the higher humidity levels this species requires.
Glass terrariums, unlike wooden vivariums, cannot provide the same level of insulation; thus, care must be taken to avoid placing them in regions that are constantly heated or cooled by the sun or draughts.
To get the most out of a decent thermogradient and the right amount of UV light, a crested gecko should be sold at Internet Reptile when it weighs approximately 8g. At this size, the gecko will be well-established and robust enough to transition into its adult-sized habitat.
Smaller geckos are frequently recommended for novices since they can be housed in less space. Nothing about a smaller setting is inherently beneficial to a gecko; in the natural, geckos have infinite areas, and the advantages of bigger enclosures apply to all geckos regardless of age. However, it may be more challenging to keep an eye on eating and development in a smaller environment. If this is a worry of yours, we suggest saving yourself the trouble and money by opting instead to buy an animal that is already somewhat settled in its new environment.
Do They Prefer Company?
Crested geckos are solitary creatures that only interact with one another briefly during mating season. Maintaining them in close quarters may be stressful, and even with geckos that seem to have accepted one another in the past, fighting can break out at any moment and inflict catastrophic harm or death.
You shouldn’t ever house two or more male geckos together, and if you do, make sure they have lots of places to hide. A backup cage large enough to keep them apart should always be ready in case of aggressiveness or dominance issues.
What Temperature Do They Prefer?
The ideal temperature range for a crowned gecko’s enclosure is 26°C to 28°C. The best thermogradient may be achieved with an ambient temperature range of 20-24 degrees Celsius across the remainder of the enclosure. Even at night, the temperature shouldn’t go below 18 degrees Celsius.
The most popular method of creating this temperature range involves sticking a powerful heat mat to the exterior of the glass enclosure, controlling the heat mat’s temperature with a thermostat, and then monitoring it with a digital thermometer. It’s easy and practical, but you have to watch out for the air temperature since heat mats don’t do much to raise the temperature of the air.
A thermostat-controlled Arcadia Deep Heat Projector has gained favor in recent years. This sort of heater is preferable since it warms the ornamentation underneath and emits more heat into the enclosure through deep, tissue-penetrating heat (Infra-Red B). Accidental burns or overheating are concerns when utilizing a heat mat, which will increase the temperature of the glass’s surface.
DOG MEDICAL EMERGENCY GUIDE: ARE YOU PREPARED?
What Should The Pet Crested Gecko Be Fed?
Fruit and insects make up equal portions of the crested gecko’s diet. A bowl of one of many highly recommended professionally formulated meals for crested geckos may be left out on a ledge near the area where the geckos are most active at night.
Although these foods are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, it is not recommended that they be fed exclusively to geckos. Instead, geckos should be provided with a variety of gut-loaded live food insects so that they can exercise their natural hunting instincts and grow and develop more quickly.
Conclusion
Crested geckos are one-of-a-kind little lizards that have a lot to offer their new human companions, hence crested gecko care comes to be a lot critical. When you get to know them, you’ll find that they’re quite cute and full of interesting quirks. We also find them appealing since they come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns. Crested geckos may be purchased at Backwater Reptiles if you’re interested in getting one as a pet. We think you should have a kid since it’s a lot of pleasure to see them develop.
