Crested Gecko UVB: Is It Actually Necessary?
| UVB status | Not mandatory, increasingly recommended |
| Recommended strength if used | 5–6% output |
Why this species is different from a basking lizard
Crested geckos are nocturnal-leaning and live in shaded forest canopy, so they haven't evolved the same intense UV dependency as a species that basks in direct sun for hours daily. A complete CGD diet also already supplies dietary D3, further reducing reliance on UV synthesis.
Current best practice
Many experienced keepers and reptile vets now recommend adding a low-level (5–6%) UVB tube as supportive good practice rather than treating it as optional in a dismissive sense — it's a 'increasingly recommended' rather than 'strictly required' situation, which is a genuinely different category from a basking desert species' mandatory UVB.
If adding UVB
Position it to avoid concentrated high-intensity exposure given this species' shaded natural habitat — some cover and shaded retreat spots should remain available even with UVB running.
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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.
Crested geckos need roughly 50–80% humidity, achieved through misting once or twice daily, with good ventilation to prevent the dampness from turning stagnant.
Crested geckos commonly live 15–20 years in captivity with correct husbandry, occasionally more — a notably long lifespan for a small gecko and a genuine long-term commitment.