Crested Gecko Species: Correlophus ciliatus Explained
| Scientific name | Correlophus ciliatus |
| Family | Diplodactylidae |
| Native range | Southern New Caledonia |
Correlophus ciliatus — the pet trade standard
Native to the forests of southern New Caledonia, this species was formally described in the 1860s, then went unrecorded for over a century and was believed extinct until a 1994 rediscovery. Virtually all crested geckos in the pet trade today descend from that rediscovery and the limited number of founding animals exported before collection restrictions took effect.
Family and relatives
Correlophus ciliatus belongs to the family Diplodactylidae, a group of geckos found across Australia, New Caledonia, and New Zealand, distinct from the Eublepharidae family that includes leopard geckos. Close relatives in the pet trade include the gargoyle gecko (Rhacodactylus auriculatus) and the New Caledonian giant gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus).
Conservation status
Because of its rediscovery history and restricted native range, wild collection and export from New Caledonia is now tightly restricted — virtually every pet-trade crested gecko today is captive-bred, several generations removed from the original wild founders.
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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.