Crested Gecko Morph Guide: Colours, Patterns & Welfare
| Welfare concern morph | Lilly White (jaw/feeding issues in some lines) |
| Most common pattern | Pinstripe |
Mostly pattern, not colour genetics
Unlike species with well-documented single-gene morphs, most crested gecko "morphs" are polygenic, selectively bred pattern traits — Pinstripe (crisp side stripes), Harlequin (bold high-contrast patches), Dalmatian (dark speckling), Flame (streaking), and Tiger (fine narrow striping) are among the most established and widely bred.
Combination lines
Many geckos combine multiple traits — a Tricolor Extreme Harlequin Pinstripe, for example — and pricing generally scales with how distinct and well-expressed the combination is.
The one welfare flag to know
Lilly White is bred for an almost entirely white, low-pattern appearance but has been associated with weaker jaw structure, feeding difficulties, and higher juvenile mortality in some lines. Research the specific breeder carefully before buying, rather than choosing on looks alone.
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.