There is a reason why crested geckos have made a household name for themselves. From a species that was once on the verge of extinction, they have exploded into arguably the most common lizard kept in the reptile hobby. Some even might call it the greatest comeback in reptile history. But, where has to be a reason for this right, why has the crested gecko become so insanely popular?
Color Morphs
Reptiles that can be bred to have various color morphs always seem to be popular in the reptile trade, much like the ball python. Crested geckos can be bred to have dozens and dozens of different morphs, some much rarer than others. This makes certain crested geckos(like a super-dalmatian crested gecko) very sought after by collectors. Because there is a high demand for color morphs, breeders will keep breeding crested geckos in captivity. This means crested geckos can be found at pretty much any pet shop or reptile trader around. The availability of the crested gecko is one of the reasons why the gecko has become so popular.
Moderate Enclosures
One of the nice elements of keeping crested geckos are the moderate tank size. You don't need any kind of massive terrarium set up to keep these little guys happy. Crested geckos typically grow to to about 4.5" from snout to vent, and about 8" total including the tail. A 20 gallon terrarium can keep a single crested gecko happy through adulthood. For 2-3 geckos, consider a 40 gallon enclosure or more. Basically if you can find 18 square inches of floor space, congratulations you have room for a crested gecko! To keep your tank clean, JurrasiPET Clean Wipes are a fast and easy way to disinfect your tank and clean any poop off the walls and decor.
Easy Care
You don't have to be a pro, or even an experienced reptile hobbyist to keep a crested gecko happy and healthy. Crested geckos come from the Island of New Caledonia, and their environment should be trying to mimic that. They like a high humidity (between 60%-80%), this can be achieved by daily spray bottle misting, or the use of a fogger or mist king. Keep your crested gecko anywhere between the 76 - 80 degrees F range during the day. If you are in a basement or a cold/fluctuating environment, we would recommend hooking up a small ceramic heater to a thermostat, to keep the temperatures level. At night, the temperature can drop down to the 65 - 0 degrees F range. Crested geckos do not need any kind of moving water features, or basking spots! Being a nocturnal species, they also do not require any UVB, although we recommend a compact 2.0 (Exo Terra Natural Light) if you plan on growing live plants in your terrarium.
The Crested Gecko Diet
This is probably the best part about crested geckos. Unlike other common geckos (like leopard geckos), this species does not require live food to thrive!! That's right, if your squeamish around live crickets and worms, this is definitely the gecko for you. While you can offer insects as an occasional treat, the crested gecko can thrive off Repashy brand meal replacement fruit powder! Just mix in a shallow dish with some water (Pisces recommends: Repashy Mulberry Madness).
Temperament
Crested geckos are a very friendly lizard. Though they are flighty by nature, as in they will always be looking for the next object to jump on to, they can put up with an adequate amount of handling. Crested geckos have a very soft, almost velvet feel and are quite pleasing to the touch. It is important to never grab a crested gecko by the tail, even if he starting to climb up behind you or is in a blind spot. Crested geckos will drop their tail when they feel threatened or grabbed by the tail. Unlike other closely related geckos like the gargoyle gecko, the crested gecko will NOT grow back its tail.
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