How to Set Up a Habitat for a Crested Gecko

Crested geckos, or Rhacodactylus ciliatus, are a great choice for a first reptile due to their low maintenance requirements and simple habitat needs. They thrive at room temperature, and rarely require an additional heat source in their enclosure. Cresties are nocturnal, and have no need for specialized ultraviolet reptile lamps because they are only active at night. Create a well-maintained, natural environment for your crested gecko, and you should have a healthy, happy pet.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass vivarium
  • Thermometer
  • Heat mat (optional)
  • Substrate
  • Artificial plants
  • Branches
  • Rocks
  • Cave or hide
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buy a glass vivarium with a screen top, at least 12-by-12-by-24 inches tall. Crested geckos are arboreal and love to climb, so height is more important than the base area. Cresties venture into the bottom of a vivarium only to eat, and spend much of the day sleeping in branches, hidden under leaves.

    • 2

      Attach a thermometer and hygrometer to the back wall of your vivarium. An ambient temperature of around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit with a nighttime drop to 65 degrees is ideal, but daytime temperatures in the mid to low 70s are also acceptable. Crested geckos do not like excessive heat, and most modern, centrally-heated homes are sufficiently warm for them. Exposure to temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit can prove fatal.

    • 3

      Cover the bottom of the vivarium with a moisture-retaining substrate such as sphagnum moss or reptile carpet, and create a dense, jungle environment with branches, rocks and artificial plants. Crested geckos like to hide, so provide a cave and plenty of dark, covered areas where they can feel safe during the day.

    • 4

      Mist the vivarium twice a day with a water spray bottle to keep moisture levels high. Crested geckos require a humid habitat to stay in good general health and maintain the stickiness on their feet. Thousands of tiny hairs, called setae, on each footpad enable them to climb glass walls and adhere to smooth surfaces. If a gecko becomes dehydrated or sick, it loses the ability to climb.

    • 5

      Monitor habitat humidity using a hygrometer, and aim for a reading between 60 and 70 percent. Increase or decrease the number of daily misting sessions to keep humidity within the acceptable range.

    • 6

      Strip down the whole vivarium once a month and deep-clean the enclosure and contents with a reptile disinfectant. Crested geckos eat fruit and baby food, which results in significantly more mess than you would have with other species of gecko, so it is also important to spot-clean their habitat daily.