Crested Gecko Habitat: A Complete Guide
By: Jason
Last Updated: March 31, 2023
Crested geckos make great pets for many reasons. They are easy to care for and thrive in beautiful habitats. Compared to many other pet reptiles, the crested gecko’s living area is not complicated.
Setting up the enclosure is essential to a crested gecko’s health and well-being. A functional habitat has many different components, and it is necessary to understand how to get each aspect just right.
The article will cover everything you need to know to provide your pet lizard with an exceptional habitat.
Housing
The enclosure is the most fundamental element of a habitat for a pet crested gecko.
There are a variety of different types of enclosures. Each has advantages and disadvantages. It is up to you to decide which one is right for you.
Regardless of type, a lid or hood is needed. While some other pet lizards don’t need it, crested geckos can climb walls and ceilings and need a top to keep them in their tanks.
Enclosure Type
One of the most notable factors that separate types of enclosures is whether it is bioactive or not. A bioactive tank, or vivarium, uses live plants and animals to create a mini-ecosystem in the tank.
Why does this change things? First, the tiny bugs break down waste, changing how often you have to clean. Humidity stabilizes better with living things to hold the water. Finally, this habitat type resembles what they would experience in the wild, which is the ultimate goal for many pet owners.
Making a tank bioactive takes work initially, and there are right and wrong ways to set one up. But once it is operating, the bioactive approach is beautiful and rewarding.
Want More?>>>Bioactive Vivarium for Crested Geckos
Types of Tanks
One of the most common housing types for crested geckos is the glass tank or aquaria. These glass enclosures are easy to find, relatively cheap, and offer lots of visibility. However, they crack easily, aren’t exactly light, lose a lot of heat, and their top opening can be stressful for some pets.
Glass reptile enclosures differ from aquaria in a few key ways. First, these tanks are for tree-dwelling critters (like cresties) and open from the front. Many have a section that keeps the substrate from spilling out when opened. Since they are for crested geckos, the dimensions are often taller than long, which is better for climbing lizards. But, like a typical aquarium, they are heavy and fragile.
Plastic reptile enclosures are built similarly to glass ones but use heavy-duty PVC instead. Plastic offers several advantages over glass; it is much lighter, less likely to break, retains heat and water better, and dampens sound vibrations that can disturb a pet. They also cost more and don’t have the “classic” appearance that many new reptile owners want.
The final tank type is the plastic storage box or critter keeper. These are great for young crested geckos because they are cheap, lightweight, and easy to clean. However, given their style, it isn’t easy to see the cresties, and they need ventilation holes cut into them. They are great for a few months before needing to be upgraded.
Click here to learn more about Enclosures for Crested Geckos.
Enclosure Size
Crested geckos need different-sized tanks at different stages of their life. When an enclosure is too small, they don’t have enough room to climb and explore. Tanks that are too large can be difficult for them to find their food and feel safe.
Hatchlings and juveniles weighing up to 10 grams need a 1.5-5 gallon enclosure. The small plastic storage boxes or critter keepers are perfect.
Young adults weighing 10-25 grams need a 10-gallon or 12x12x18 tank. Taller is better than short and wide since these lizards want to explore high places and need a temperature gradient to self-regulate.
Adults weighing more than 25 grams need at least a 30-gallon or a 18x18x24 vivarium. Some adults prefer more room to explore, and some brands, like Zoo Med, make a 18x18x36 tall enclosure just for them.
Want More? >>> Crested Gecko Enclosure Sizes
Cleaning the Habitat
Crested geckos need a clean habitat to stay healthy.
First, place the crested gecko in a separate container. Then, remove any excess food and soiled bedding. Spot clean with a reptile-safe cleaner as needed. Be sure everything is rinsed and dry before returning your pet lizard to its enclosure.
In a bioactive tank, tiny insects (isopods and springtails) do much of the cleaning. Even in these cases, though, the sides of the tank (glass or plastic) will need to be wiped down periodically. Spilled food needs to get cleaned up right away. Some cresties are very messy, but it is a great way to know they are eating!
Click here to learn more about Cleaning a Crested Gecko Tank.
Substrate
The surface layer that an organism lives on is called the substrate. When selecting a substrate, consider the pet’s safety, the difficulty of cleaning, and how the flooring impacts humidity levels.
There are many options for what lines the bottom of a crested gecko enclosure. Crested geckos spend less time on the substrate than many other species as they climb about the tank. The two most popular options are soil and paper towels.
Soil is preferred because it mimics their natural habitat and supports live plants. Some crested geckos tend to ingest substrate while hunting live insects, which can cause digestive issues.
Coconut fiber bedding, Cyprus mulch, and sphagnum moss are other healthy, natural substrate options, too.
Some keepers opt to use paper towels or newspapers. While they are not as attractive, they are inexpensive and easy to change out daily. Paper towels are the ‘go-to’ substrate for hatchlings and juveniles living in critter keepers.
Gravel or pebbles may look good visually, but they are not suitable as a substrate. Avoid sand and non-organic soil substrates as well, as they may present a choking hazard.
Want More? >>> Choosing A Substrate For Your Crested Gecko.
What Goes In The Tank
There are lots of options on how you fill the tank. The most important thing is to have many places that give your crested gecko cover and things to crawl up.
Plants
Since crested geckos dwell in the trees in the wild, it makes sense to include plants in the tank.
Some keepers prefer to use artificial plants. They are less expensive, require no work, and won’t die. Fake plants clean easily and are easy to find. Draped plastic vines are great, too.
Others prefer live plants, but not all live plants work equally well. Crested geckos lay on large, flat leaves and hide inside plants. Some species are too fragile and can’t support the weight of even little cresties. Plants that require lots of direct sunlight won’t get what they need with the lighting and temperature requirements for your pet lizard.
Some good plants are Elephant Ears, Jade Jewels, and Bromeliads.
Click here to read more about Great Vivarium Plants for Crested Geckos.
Hides
A ‘hide’ is anything your pet can use to feel safe by crawling inside or under. Some hides are natural- coconuts, cork logs, driftwood, and even large leaves work. Some are not natural; ceramic houses, boxes, and plastic cylinders. Even paper towel tubes and cardboard egg crates can work.
Select the hides that work for you and your pet crestie. You can never have too many places to hide in the tank!
Click here to read more about Creative Crested Gecko Hides.
Sticks, Branches, and Bark
There is some overlap between these items and the plants and hides mentioned above, but extra things to climb, hide behind, and explore are always welcome.
Feeding Ledge
Most pet crested gecko’s primary food is a complete gecko diet (CGD) served in a small bowl. Cresties prefer to eat high off the ground and with some cover. A feeding ledge is a shelf where you leave dinner.
Water Bowl
While most crested geckos get their water by licking droplets off plants and the walls of the enclosure when sprayed, some drink from a water bowl. A shallow basin of fresh water serves another function; it can evaporate and keep the humidity levels up.
Click here to read more about Crested Geckos & Water.
How Do You Setup The Enclosure?
A pet crested gecko’s enclosure should have plenty of places to climb and hide.
Fill the space with sturdy objects that extend vertically and connect the tank from side to side.
Crested geckos prefer to eat on a feeding ledge mounted on a wall towards the top of the tank but with some foliage cover. Using a landing spot at the top of the tank doesn’t require reaching into a densely filled tank and disturbing everything.
Click here to learn more about Setting Up a Crested Gecko Tank.
Temperature
The heating requirements for crested geckos are simple, and they do well at room temperature under most circumstances.
Crested geckos are sensitive to heat and cold and use a temperature gradient to self-regulate. By having the top of the tank warmer and the bottom cooler, your pet can move about to warm up or cool down as needed.
During the day, the top of the tank should be 80°F-82°F (26-28°C), with the bottom at 72°F-75°F (22-24°C). At night, crested geckos prefer a range of 68°F-70°F (20-21°C). Exposure to temperatures outside this range can compromise their health, which is primarily a concern in the cold winter.
Heat lamps are the preferred tool for warming up these tanks.
Want More>>> Temperature for a Crested Gecko
Humidity
In a crested gecko tank, the moisture quantity in the air is just as vital to track as the temperature. The humidity levels need to go up and down but should remain between 50-80% most of the time.
The best way to keep the tank that humid is to mist the tank daily, sometimes more than once. Moisture-retaining tank contents, like cypress mulch substrate and sphagnum moss, help keep the water from evaporating as quickly. Adding a water dish also helps keep the humidity levels up.
To measure this, look for a digital hygrometer. These tools are invaluable in keeping the moisture at a healthy level for your crested gecko.
Want More?>>> Crested Gecko Tank Humidity
UVB Lighting
UVB, or ultraviolet B light, is part of the natural light spectrum from the sun. Even living under the canopy cover in the forest, crested geckos are exposed to UVB rays naturally.
For a long time, pet owners did not always use UVB lights for their crested geckos. More and more evidence shows that providing UVB light makes a difference in the quality of life for pet reptiles.
A specially-designed lamp and fixture get mounted outside the enclosure (above the mesh top) and shine down during the day. Crested geckos don’t need powerful UVB bulbs.
Want More?>>>UVB Lights for Crested Geckos
Conclusion
When creating a habitat for your pet crested gecko, it is critical to meet all their housing needs. It is not difficult to reach this level, which is part of what makes these animals popular pets.
Whether you opt for a vivarium or a non-bioactive enclosure, you want to create a comfortable home for your pet lizard. Use a smaller tank when they are younger and fill it with things to hide under and climb on. As they grow up, move them to enclosures with more vertical space so they can explore. Line the bottom of the cage with a substrate that is safe.
Keep the temperature and humidity in the same range as the natural habitat, and add UVB lights for the healthiest experience.
With time, your crested gecko’s habitat will feel like home to them!
