Reptiles · Geckos
Crested Gecko
Correlophus ciliatus
Arboreal gecko with fringed eye crestsBeginner
- Lifespan
- 15-20 years
- Size
- 8-10 in20-25 cm (incl. tail)
- Social needs
- Solitary; house singly
- Time
- Low; evening feed, daily mist
- Cost
- Low-Medium
- Diet
- Omnivore (complete CGD + insects)
Overview
What is this animal?
- Native to New Caledonia, the crested gecko is an arboreal, nocturnal species named for the fringe of scales above its eyes.
- Long thought extinct, it is now a widely kept pet gecko thanks to its straightforward care, gentle nature and the availability of complete powdered diets.
- Crested geckos have adhesive toe pads and a prehensile tail, though adults frequently drop the tail and do not regrow it.
- They tolerate ordinary room temperatures better than most reptiles, which keeps running costs low, but they need height, humidity and climbing cover to feel secure.
Temperament
- Crested geckos are docile but can be skittish and are capable jumpers, so handle low over a soft surface until they settle.
- They are nocturnal and most active in the evening.
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- With gentle, regular handling many become calm and will hop onto a hand.
- They are best housed singly.
- Males are territorial and will fight, and females can also compete or show aggression over food and space.
- Solo housing removes the risk of stress and injury and is the responsible default for this species.
A good fit for
- Beginners wanting low running costs
- Keepers without space for heat lamps
- People wanting an easy complete diet
- Evening-active pet keepers
Common mistakes to avoid
- Overheating above 82-84°F28-29°C
- Cohabiting geckos, causing fights
- Humidity staying too high (mould)
- Feeding only fruit or baby food
Enclosure
Minimum 2.2 sq ft0.2 m² of floor · 18 x 18 x 35 in45 x 45 x 90 cm
Must be housed alone. Solitary; house singly
- Use a tall, well-ventilated vivarium of at least 18 x 18 x 36 in45 x 45 x 90 cm for one adult, densely furnished with branches, cork bark and foliage for climbing and hiding.
- As an arboreal species, vertical space matters more than floor area.
- A bioactive setup with live plants helps hold humidity.
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- Keep temperatures around 72-79°F22-26°C; sustained temperatures above 82-84°F28-29°C are stressful, so a strong basking lamp is usually unnecessary in a typical home.
- A low-output UVB tube is beneficial.
- Maintain humidity around 60-80% by misting once or twice daily, allowing the enclosure to dry between mistings to prevent mould and respiratory problems.
Supplies
Setup
- Enclosure, 18 x 18 x 36 in45 x 45 x 90 cm or larger
- Thermostat, and a low-wattage heat source only if the room falls below about 72°F22°C
- Low-output UVB fixture and bulb
- Thermometers and hygrometer
- Substrate, hides, plants and decor
Ongoing
- Complete powdered fruit-gecko or day-gecko nectar diet (for cresteds, gargoyles, chahouas, mourning and day geckos; not for leopard, fat-tailed or tokay geckos)
- Live crickets, dubia roaches or black soldier fly larvae
- Plain calcium powder without D3
- Calcium with D3 plus a reptile multivitamin
- Feeder gut-load and a ventilated feeder tub
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- Shallow ledge-mounted feeding cups (fruit-eating geckos)
- Blunt-tipped feeding tongs
- Shallow water dish
Safe substrate: Topsoil and play sand mix for arid geckos · Coco fibre and orchid bark for tropical geckos · Paper towel
Care routine
Daily
- Check temperatures and humidity
- Fresh water bowl
- Look the animal over
- Mist the enclosure
- Spot-clean waste and uneaten food
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Every few days
- Feed insects or prepared dietevery 2 days
- Check toes, tail tip and eyes after a shedevery 3 days
- Short handling session, species permittingevery 3 days
Every few weeks
- Weigh-inevery 2 weeks
Monthly
- Deep-clean decor, glass and bowls
- Test thermostats, lamps and guards
Less often
- Refresh the substrateevery 3 months
- Check the UVB lamp's age and replace it if due (if one is fitted)every 6 months
Vet: Annual exam and faecal check, every 12 months (every 6 months from 10 years old)
Tools
Care in depth
Diet
Omnivore (complete CGD + insects)
- Crested geckos do well on a commercial complete crested gecko diet (CGD), a powdered fruit-and-insect mix made up with water and offered in a shallow dish several times a week.
- This food can meet their full nutritional needs, which makes feeding simple.
- Supplement with gut-loaded, calcium-dusted live insects such as crickets or dubia roaches once or twice weekly for enrichment and protein.
- Avoid feeding only baby food or fruit, which is unbalanced and causes deficiencies.
- Provide fresh water daily, though they often drink droplets from misted surfaces.
Health
Signs of good health, and the common problems
- Look for clear eyes, intact toe pads, smooth shedding and steady weight.
- Common problems include metabolic bone disease linked to poor calcium or UVB, retained shed on the toes that can cut off circulation, and floppy tail syndrome.
- Overheating is a frequent and serious husbandry error that can be rapidly fatal.
- A dropped tail is normal for adults and not an emergency, but a sudden change in appetite, weight or activity warrants attention.
- As with all reptiles, seek a vet experienced with exotics.
- Good ventilation and correct humidity prevent most respiratory and skin issues.
Is this urgent?
4 warning signs and how fast to act, 1 of them right away
Small geckos dehydrate and lose condition quickly. Weight is the fuel gauge, and in leopard and African fat-tailed geckos so is the tail.
Go now
Tremors, weak grip, or a jaw that will not close properlyGo now. Calcium and D3 deficiency.
NowToday
Tail visibly thinning in a species that stores fat thereWeigh, then call with the trend. The fat store goes before the body condition does.
TodayStuck shed around the toes or over the eyesRaise humidity, offer a damp hide, and call if it is not clear within a day. Constricting shed rings cost toes. This is the most common avoidable injury in geckos.
TodayRefusing food with weight lossCheck the cool-end and warm-end temperatures, then call. A gecko that cannot reach its preferred temperature cannot digest.
TodayThis is general guidance for a healthy adult, not a diagnosis. An exotics vet who knows your animal always overrides it, and the time to find one is before you need one.
Bedding and substrate
3 safe, 1 with a caveat, 3 to avoid
Match the substrate to the species' humidity, and never let a small gecko stand on anything it can swallow whole.
Safe
Topsoil and play sand mix for arid geckosPacks firm, holds a burrow, and is what a leopard gecko would actually stand on.
safeCoco fibre and orchid bark for tropical geckosHolds the humidity a crested or day gecko needs.
safePaper towelCorrect for quarantine, for hatchlings, and for any animal whose output you are watching.
safeWith a caveat
Sphagnum mossExcellent in a humid hide, poor as a whole-floor substrate: it stays wet.
with a caveatNever
Calcium sandSold as digestible, which is exactly why it gets eaten. Implicated in impaction.
neverCrushed walnut shellSharp and indigestible.
neverLoose play sand alone for hatchlingsToo easy to swallow at that size.
neverGround-dwelling geckos such as leopard and fat-tailed geckos need a humid hide whatever the main substrate is, and most of their stuck sheds trace back to its absence. Arboreal geckos get their shedding humidity from misting the whole enclosure, so stuck shed in them usually means the enclosure is too dry.
Top resources for more info
Independent creators and organisations we would send a friend to. We have no affiliation with any of them, and nothing here is sponsored. Links checked 2026-10-22.
YouTubers
Leopard GeckoLeopard and crested gecko care, setups and healthReptiles and ResearchEvidence-led husbandry: enclosure size, UVB, thermal gradients, enrichmentClint's ReptilesWhich reptile suits you, with honest care and handling verdicts
Sites
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Geckos, side by side
Same axes, same care guides: the honest way to choose between types.
