The lizard for people who don't want to deal with crickets. Crested geckos eat a powdered diet mixed with water, live happily at room temperature, and never need a basking lamp in most homes. Combine that with their long lifespan and they're possibly the most low-maintenance reptile in the hobby.
Enclosure & Setup
Arboreal, they climb. An 18×18×24″ vertical terrarium for an adult, with plenty of branches, vines, and fake or live plants. Bioactive setups thrive here.
Heat, Lighting & Humidity
Room temp (72–78°F) is perfect. They overheat above 82°F. No basking light needed in most homes. Low-output UVB is beneficial but optional. Humidity 60–80%, achieved with daily misting.
Diet & Feeding
Pangea or Repashy crested gecko diet (CGD), a complete powdered food mixed with water and offered in a small dish every 2–3 days. That's it. Optional: occasional insects for enrichment.
Handling & Temperament
Tolerant of handling but not as docile as leopard geckos. They will jump. Handle low to the ground, over a soft surface. Their tails drop and do NOT grow back.
A crested gecko with a dropped tail is not in trouble. A crested gecko jumping off a couch onto a hardwood floor is.
Common Issues To Watch For
Floppy tail syndrome from inadequate vertical climbing surfaces. MBD from chronic CGD-only diet without calcium, modern diets handle this but supplementing occasionally is wise.
