🦎 Crested Gecko Care Guide

🌿 Substrate

• Coconut fiber, and/or Bioactive soil mix

• For hatchlings: Paper towels

Avoid: Sand, wood chips, or any loose, sharp material

🌡️ Temperature, Humidity, Lighting

• Daytime Temp: 72–78°F (22–26°C) / Nighttime Temp: 65–72°F (18–22°C)

Place a hygrometer thermometer in the enclosure. Depending on home temp, it may be necessary to set an A/C or heater. Generally, the same temp that humans prefer is fine. 😊 

• Humidity: 60–80%

Mist: 1–2 times daily (1–2 days intervals probably okay with water dish)

Ventilation: Required to prevent mold (Bad: keeping the enclosure wet all day)

• Lighting: Low-level UVB is beneficial, but not required

Maintain a day/night cycle to resemble nature.

🥬 Diet

• Main: Superfood (e.g., Pangea, Repashy, Vital meal)

• Supplements:

  • Gut-loaded insects 1–2x/week (crickets, dubia roaches, black soldier fly larvae) dusted with calcium powder (with vitamin D3 if not using UVB lamp)

  • Occasional pureed fruits (mango, banana)

  • Calcium powder (with D3 1x/week) for pregnant females (for healthy eggs)

🧹 Cleaning

• Spot clean daily (remove feces & uneaten food)

• Deep clean enclosure every 2–4 weeks

• Use water or reptile-safe disinfectants

🧠 Handling & Temperament

• Generally docile and easy to handle

• Handle gently. Since geckos are wild animals, they are infrequently tamed (especially young geckos).

• Can drop tail (does not regrow)

⚠️ Health & Signs of Illness

Watch for:

• Lethargy, weight loss, stuck shed (skin remaining attached to the body after a shedding cycle), swelling, or abnormal droppings

Common Issues:

• MBD (Metabolic bone disease) from calcium deficiency

• Respiratory infections (from poor humidity/ventilation) 

✅ Checklist

⬜ Proper-sized enclosure

⬜ Digital hygrometer thermometer

⬜ High-quality CGD (Crested Gecko Diet)

⬜ Mist bottle or automatic mister

⬜ Appropriate substrate

⬜ Humid hide (safe space) for stress relief and shedding

⬜ Climbing decor (artificial vines/plants)