Crested Gecko Care Sheet: The Full Reference
| Enclosure minimum | 18"x18"x24" |
| Humidity | 50–80% |
| Heat source | Usually not needed |
| Lifespan | 15–20 years |
Housing
18"x18"x24" minimum, taller and more vertical space favoured over floor space, well ventilated, packed with cork bark and climbing branches.
Temperature
Normal room temperature (72–78°F) works for most homes — no basking bulb or heat mat usually needed. Watch for heat stress above ~82°F.
Humidity
50–80%, maintained through misting once or twice daily, with good ventilation to prevent stagnant dampness.
Diet
A complete CGD powder mixed with water, offered 3–4 nights a week, is nutritionally sufficient alone. Insects are optional enrichment.
UVB
Not strictly mandatory, but low-level (5–6%) increasingly recommended as good practice.
Common beginner mistakes
Undersized or too-wide enclosures, unnecessary heat lamps causing heat stress, running too dry, and buying a Lilly White morph without understanding its welfare considerations.
See the full care guides guide, or browse all 440 info pages.
A single adult crested gecko needs a minimum 18"x18"x24" front-opening, well-ventilated enclosure — taller matters more than wider since this species is highly arboreal — furnished with cork bark, branches, and dense foliage for climbing.
A complete crested gecko setup needs a tall 18"+ front-opening enclosure, cork bark and branches for climbing, coco fibre/moss substrate, a misting routine to hold 50–80% humidity, and complete CGD powder — no heat lamp is required in most homes.
Hatchlings can start in a small (roughly 8"x8"x12") enclosure to make food easier to find, juveniles move up around a few months old, and adults need a minimum 18"x18"x24" vertical enclosure.
Crested geckos generally do best at normal room temperature, roughly 72–78°F, and can suffer heat stress above about 82°F. Most homes need no basking bulb or heat mat at all — just monitoring during hot weather.
Low-level UVB (roughly 5–6% output) is increasingly recommended as good practice, though it isn't strictly mandatory for crested geckos the way it is for a strongly basking desert species — their diet's built-in D3 from CGD covers much of the gap.
Crested geckos need roughly 50–80% humidity, achieved through misting once or twice daily, with good ventilation to prevent the dampness from turning stagnant.