Crested Gecko
Other name: New Caledonian Crested Gecko;
New Caledonian Eyelash Gecko; Eyelash Gecko; Cresteds; Cresties
Scientific name: Rhacodactylus ciliatus
Range/Habitat:
The Crested Gecko is native to the New Caledonian Islands, which are 1,500 kilometers east of Australia. A nocturnal lizard, they live in the isand's rainforests and hide during the day under fallen leaves and trees. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the Crested Gecko is "Threatened" because of habitat loss from wildfires and clearing for agriculture. Interestingly, the Crested Gecko was believed to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994 after a tropical storm hit New Caledonia.Crested Geckos available in the pet trade are captive bred, and a number of different color morphs have been created.
Size and Coloration: Crested Geckos are relatively large and stocky, and grow to an average length of 8 inches. True to the name, these lizards are distinguished by two rows of soft spiny scales (called crests) that begin over the eye (like eyelashes) and run down the whole body to the base of the tail. They have flat triangular heads and their eyes are large with vertical pupils and no eyelids. When asleep, the eyes of this nocturnal species retract into the head and the “eyelash” crest droops over them. They also have sticky toes for climbing smooth surfaces. Plus a sticky tail tip for added traction, especially when leaping among foliage.
Known to have the ability to morph into different colors and patterns, the Crested Gecko can be just one base color or a combination of different colors resulting in a variety of body patterns. They can change color to a dull brown while asleep during the day and into a bright and colorful animal at night.
Caging: Hatchlings to juvenile Crested Geckos should be held in no larger then a 10 gallon tank. Though you should take special care to if the crested gecko can find its food and eats regularly. If it doesn’t seem to be doing so a smaller tank may be in order. Adults do best in 20-30 gallon aquariums, with a trio happy in a 29/30 gallon aquarium. Males should never be housed together. Female involved or not, they will fight. Crested geckos prefer height to length in a cage as they like to climb. Lots of cover is preferred as far as cage décor goes.
Cresteds are very sensitive to the heat, they do not require heating devices unless your home gets very cold during the winter. They need to be kept at degrees of 72-80 degrees. High temps can cause stress and death. These need to be watched closely in power outages where temps might go out of range.
Humidity is very important for crested geckos. 60-80% is ideal, it is a good idea to invest in a digital hydrometer to make sure you keep levels in check. Different kinds of cages will hold in humidity differently. A full screen cage wont hold humidity as well a exo-terra tank that is screen only on the top. A good bedding can help aid in keeping in moisture. In terms of substrates, there are a lot of different beddings which can be used. The key is to maintain the habitat at a proper humidity, so the cresteds do not eat it. As long as you are not feeding insects, loose bedding like eco earth is great for holding in moisture. However, Crested geckos may ingest bedding which can cause impaction if they are fed on loose bedding.
Captive Care: Crested Geckos are territorial and aggressive to other males. They are best kept singly, in pairs, or in groups of the same size with only one male. They allow being handled but scare easily and jump away. Stressed with too much handling, they can drop their tails (which do not re-grow) as a defense. Under optimum conditions, they can live for 10-15 years.
Breeding: Crested Geckos usually reach sexual maturity in 9-12 months. Females will lay pairs of eggs every 3-6 weeks, or up to 9 pairs of eggs per season. Eggs incubate for 6-12 weeks at about 75-80F.
Diet: There are a few dietary options when it comes to crested geckos, some better then others, and some that can lead to trouble. Insect only diet- Insect only diet, depending on whether they’re dusted or not can lead to problems like MBD. Crickets and meal worms are not appropriate to be fed solely with nothing else for these guys. Crested gecko diet - Crested gecko diet is a 100% completely balanced diet, and does not need anything added, including calcium. There are a few companies that offer it, one of the largest offering a complete diet and a 2 part diet where you can use different flavors. This is the ideal diet to feed geckos Crested gecko diet(CGD) and crickets- Feeding CGD as a staple and a few dusted crickets here and there shouldn’t cause a problem, they make good treats to keep them active. If feeding live food, make sure that you don’t have loose bedding that can be ingested. Baby food- Baby food should NOT be given to crested geckos. Its full of sugars and other ingredients that are not good for cresties.
Temperament: Crested Geckos are hardy, active, and energetic and can leap into the air, making a bad fall fatal. Under stress, they drop their tails that never grow back, which is why tail-less ones more common in the wild.
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