Geckos
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
New to reptiles? Check your keeper level 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 on, 12 hours off 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.
Get a cleaning schedule for this substrate →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 on, 12 hours off.
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.
How often should I clean crested gecko enclosures?
Spot-clean daily and deep clean on a schedule that depends on your substrate. Get a cleaning schedule.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own crested gecko record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.