RecoveryGeckos
Crested gecko care guide
Correlophus ciliatus
A nocturnal, fully arboreal gecko. Height and dense planting matter more than floor area, and they need a cool room — heat above 82°F is dangerous.
Arboreal — vertical height first
Crested gecko enclosure size
Arboreal — vertical height first. An adult crested gecko should live in at least 18" L × 18" W × 24" H; we build toward 24" L × 18" W × 36" H (2 × 1.5 × 3 ft, roughly 3 sq ft of floor and about a 67-gallon glass equivalent).
- Hatchling / baby
- 12" L × 12" W × 18" H recommended · min 8" L × 8" W × 12" H
- Juvenile
- 18" L × 18" W × 24" H recommended · min 12" L × 12" W × 18" H
- Adult
- 24" L × 18" W × 36" H recommended · min 18" L × 18" W × 24" H
Temperature and heating
No heat lamp needed — room temperature (68–78°F) is ideal. Temperatures above 80–82°F cause heat stress and can be fatal; never add a basking light or heat pad.
- Basking / warm surface
- None — crested geckos do not use a basking lamp
- Warm side (ambient)
- 72–78°F ambient (normal room temperature)
- Cool side (ambient)
- 70–75°F ambient
- Night
- 65–72°F night drop is beneficial
Lighting and UVB
UVB: T5 UVB 5–6% at a distance (UVI 1–2 in the upper branches). Run lights on a 12 hours photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 60–80% at night, drying to ~50% by day. Heavy evening misting or a misting system; the enclosure must dry out between cycles.
Substrate and depth
Bioactive soil / coco fibre with leaf litter. Depth: 2–3 in.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Dense cork, vines and broad-leaved plants
- Ledges at multiple heights
- Shallow water dish
- Feeding ledge for CGD
Build list
- Vertical 18x18x24 (or taller) front-opening terrarium — Height is the usable space for an arboreal gecko.
- Low-output T5 UVB — Improves calcium metabolism even in a nocturnal species.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly — stick-on dials are inaccurate.
- Coco fibre / bioactive soil — Holds the night humidity spike.
- Cork tubes, vines and foliage — Cover from top to bottom is what they climb on.
Crested gecko FAQ
How big should an adult Crested gecko enclosure be?
At least 18" L × 18" W × 24" H, and we recommend building to 24" L × 18" W × 36" H — about 2 × 1.5 × 3 ft, or a 67-gallon glass equivalent. Arboreal — vertical height first.
What temperatures does a Crested gecko need?
Basking or warm surface None — crested geckos do not use a basking lamp, warm side 72–78°F ambient (normal room temperature), cool side 70–75°F ambient, night 65–72°F night drop is beneficial. No heat lamp needed — room temperature (68–78°F) is ideal. Temperatures above 80–82°F cause heat stress and can be fatal; never add a basking light or heat pad.
Does a Crested gecko need UVB?
T5 UVB 5–6% at a distance (UVI 1–2 in the upper branches). Photoperiod: 12 hours.
What humidity does a Crested gecko need?
60–80% at night, drying to ~50% by day. Heavy evening misting or a misting system; the enclosure must dry out between cycles.
What substrate is best for a Crested gecko?
Bioactive soil / coco fibre with leaf litter, at a depth of 2–3 in.
How big does a Crested gecko enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 12" L × 12" W × 18" H recommended, minimum 8" L × 8" W × 12" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own crested gecko record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.