Crested geckos climb, so their vivarium is measured by its height: at least 60 cm tall on a 45 x 45 cm floor. They eat fruit, insects and ready-made crested gecko diet, and like regular misting.
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Crested gecko
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Your tank against each minimum
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Enclosure size
RSPCA and RVC agree on the minimum for an adult: 45 cm wide, 45 cm deep and 60 cm tall, about 17.7 x 17.7 x 23.6 in.
Glass aquariums sold by gallons are mostly long and low. Aqueon’s 20 High is 24¼ x 12½ x 16¾ in, too shallow from front to back and too low. Its 15 Column is 25 in tall, but its floor, 13¾ x 13⅝ in, is about 35 cm each way. Exo Terra’s Natural Small Tall is exactly 45 x 45 x 60 cm, and Zoo Med’s NT-4 and REPTI ZOO’s 30 gallon are both 18 x 18 x 24 in, which is 45.7 x 45.7 x 61 cm. More on why gallons don’t tell you the floor size.
Keep crested geckos singly, and never keep males with others permanently.
Heat and light
- Basking spot: 26–28 °C (RSPCA) or about 28 °C (RVC).
- Cool end: 20–24 °C (RSPCA) or about 25 °C (RVC).
- Night: 18–20 °C (RSPCA), not below about 20 °C (RVC).
- UVB: a medium output 5–7% lamp, UVI 0.7 in the basking zone (RSPCA), or a low output lamp such as 6% (RVC).
Put every heat source on a thermostat and check the basking zone with a digital thermometer. A ceramic heater needs a dimming or pulse proportional thermostat; a heat mat needs an on/off one, with the probe on the mat. See heat lamp vs heat mat.
RSPCA asks for a medium output 5–7% UVB lamp and RVC for a low output one, such as 6%. RSPCA aims for a gradient from UVI 0.7 in the basking zone to zero in the shade. See UVB strength explained.
Substrate, humidity and water
RSPCA keeps the humidity at 40–50% and sprays the vivarium with clean water for boosts up to 80%. RVC gives 50–70%. A substrate that holds humidity suits them: coconut fiber (coir) or a soil mix, covered with moss or leaves.
Everyday diet
RSPCA’s safe fruits are blueberries, pears, papaya, strawberries and mango. Never feed citrus or banana, which stop calcium being taken up.
The sources weigh crested gecko diet (CGD) differently. RVC says crested geckos are typically fed a complete formulated diet, or else fruit and dark leafy salad daily with insects once or twice a week. RSPCA uses CGD as a supplementary food that shouldn’t be fed on its own, rotating a week of fruit with supplement mixed in, a week of live food, then a week of CGD.
Reptiles can carry salmonella, so wash your hands after cleaning or handling.
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