Crested Gecko Humidity & Creating a Humid Environment
By: Jason
Last Updated: March 12, 2023
Humidity is critical in properly caring for crested geckos in their habitat. Unfortunately, most crested gecko owners don’t know how to manage it correctly when they first become pet lizard parents and are intimidated by it. What do you need to know about crested gecko humidity?
With the right tools, monitoring and maintaining the proper humidity for crested geckos is easy. These arboreal geckos need tank humidity between 60-80% and daily periods to dry out. The easiest way to keep the tank damp is to mist regularly and use plants and suitable substrates that hold the water to provide constant moisture.
In this article, we will explain humidity and dive into how to get a crested gecko tank to the ideal humidity level and why it is so important to get it right.
Recommended Humidity for Crested Geckos
Crested geckos need an average of 60-80% humidity but with periods when it drops as low as 50% each day. Too much moisture can result in fungal growth, leading to health issues.
Mist once in the evening and, if necessary, once in the morning if additional humidity is needed. This 10-12 hours cycle lets the tank dry out between spraying.
Why night? Because that is when your pet gecko is most active and likely to want to drink. This is one of the best ways to care for your gecko at night.
Providing higher than 60-80 percent relative humidity can be helpful, particularly when a crested gecko is shedding. You can do this by increasing the levels in the cage or creating a humid hide.
Take a small plastic container and soak a paper towel in lukewarm tap water. Place your crestie in the box with the lid closed but not sealed for 5-10 minutes. This steam bath will soak their skin and make it easier for the dry layer to peel off.
Background
Humidity refers to the amount of moisture or water vapor in the air, which can affect how comfortable it feels and impact various aspects of health.
In the wild, crested geckos live in a naturally humid environment. The average humidity varies by season and location but ranges from 70% to 85%. New Caledonia, their home, is a tropical island located in the South Pacific Ocean, and its climate is characterized as humid subtropical or tropical monsoon.
While these tropical lizards can live comfortably within most peoples’ standard temperature settings most of the time, these needs are different.
Why is Humidity Important to Cresties?
Humidity is vital for crested geckos because it helps them maintain their health and well-being. Proper moisture levels help prevent dehydration and keep their skin healthy and supple.
Like all reptiles, crested geckos shed their skin as they grow. When water vapor levels are too low, shed skin can get stuck, which leads to health problems.
Most importantly, though, is that crested geckos drink water by licking it off surfaces in their environment. If the air is too dry, water droplets may evaporate too quickly, making it difficult for them to stay hydrated.
Measuring & Adjusting Humidity
Humidity is measured using a hygrometer, or humidity gauge, which calculates the amount of moisture in the air.
There are two main types of hygrometers: mechanical, which expands and contracts, and digital, which uses electronic sensors. Hygrometers track relative humidity, which tells us how much moisture is in the air relative to the maximum amount the air can hold.
Keeping an eye on the humidity settings is easy with the proper tools.
The easiest way to raise the level is to keep spraying mist. If you need to dampen the tank more than twice a day, consider changing the tank’s contents instead.
To lower the humidity, increase the airflow. Small fans can circulate the air in and around the habitat, moving the moisture to the surrounding room (provided it is less humid than the tank).
Creating a Humid Environment
Larger tanks are more difficult to keep at the proper levels.
Note that using heat lamps will increase evaporation as it increases the temperature. This is a good thing since we want water vapor in the air, but you need to pay attention to the placement of the ceramic heat emitter and where water is added relative to the temperature gradient.
Utilizing water that has been softened, filtered, or otherwise processed for spraying is not recommended. Tap water is the preferred water source. The minerals it contains are essential.
Daily Misting
The most basic method of keeping a crested gecko terrarium at the right level is spraying it with water periodically. Many keepers use a simple hand-held spray bottle, but a pressure sprayer also works.
Regular misting is best in the evening. Crested geckos are nocturnal, so they are awake and active and will take advantage of water availability. The nighttime temperature is lower, allowing the water to stay liquid longer.
When using a hygrometer, do not spray water directly onto it. This can cause an inaccurate reading.
Water Bowls
A bowl with water in the enclosure will help raise the air’s moisture. As the temperature increases, the liquid will change to a gas, adding more water vapor to the atmosphere.
While crested geckos prefer to get fresh water from licking droplets off plants and the enclosure walls, they drink from a water bowl when sufficiently thirsty.
Plants and Substrates
The tank’s contents can go a long way to helping maintain the ideal humidity level.
A moisture-retentive substrate helps a lot. Some bedding materials, like Eco-Earth, sphagnum moss, and orchid bark, are naturally good at this. Others, like paper towels and reptile carpets, do not hold damp air and require more frequent misting than ideal substrates.
Some terrarium plants make a difference, too. These artificial plants don’t hold or release water and don’t contribute to ambient moisture levels. Fake plants are generally coated to make them waterproof, so droplets slide off them.
Live plants, however, do help. The specific plant type matters less, but there are differences based on their natural environment. Anything flora from a humid rainforest environment will naturally be attuned to the exact needs of a subtropical lizard.
Reptile Foggers and Misters
Sometimes it is helpful to have a device that automatically adds water vapor to the air of an enclosure. An automatic system removes the responsibility of manually optimizing the air quality so it is noticed and remembered at critical moments. Reptile misters and foggers play this role.
Foggers and humidifiers both release water particles into the air but work differently. These devices do not soak decorations or create condensation on surfaces but raise humidity levels while running.
However, these tools are most often not needed for crested gecko enclosures. Some other pet reptile species, like emerald tree boas and some chameleons, and many amphibians need a more consistently humid terrarium.
What happens when humidity is not maintained?
While there is a wet and dry season in their home environment, there is such thing as too much or too little of a good thing when caring for our pets.
A crested gecko will likely become dehydrated if the air gets too dry. They will hide and stop eating, ignoring feeder insects and their favorite crested gecko diet (CGD).
Keeping the average humidity level too high is a problem, too. Bacterial infections from mold and fungus, especially on the walls of a glass terrarium, are common.
Conclusion
Humidity is one of many aspects needed for crested gecko care. You need to learn about it and get the tools to make your gecko sick by depriving them of the necessary moisture.
Luckily, with preparation, this is pretty easy. Fill the enclosure with a substrate, plants, and other decorations that hold water, and spray the tank once or twice a day. Monitor the levels with a gauge designed for this purpose and adjust as needed.