A Complete Guide to Crested Gecko Temperature
By: Jason
Last Updated: March 12, 2023
There are many aspects to consider when creating a healthy habitat for your crested gecko. Temperature is easy to manage but does require some attention. So, what is the ideal crested gecko temperature design, and how do you meet the needs?
Crested geckos need a temperature gradient in their enclosure. During the day, the top of the tank should be 80°F-82°F (26-28°C), and the bottom should be 72°F-75°F (22-24°C). At night, they do best between 68°F-70°F (20-21°C). Crested geckos exposed to low or high temperatures can experience health issues.
Many crested geckos live in enclosures without any heating equipment. While this is usually fine, there are a few times when it can be dangerous. When should you worry, and what do you need to do? Keep reading to learn more about the heating requirements for crested gecko care!
Caring for Ectotherms
Reptiles rely on external sources to regulate their body temperature, drive their metabolism, and aid them in digesting their food. The sun, warm air, or even a heated rock can warm them up when needed.
Some ectotherms live where it gets hot, often well over 100°F (38°C)! How? They survive the high heat by moving back and forth to warm up and cool down, from the direct sun to the shade of a rock. In doing so, they use a temperature gradient to keep the proper body temp.
Crested geckos are from the humid rainforests with less extreme temps but still need a range to stay healthy. They can’t produce their body heat or cool off by sweating, so they need warmer and cooler temperatures just as much as other reptile species.
Ideal Temperature Ranges
There is more than one ‘optimal temperature’ for excellent crested gecko care.
Instead of just one perfect number, it is more helpful to consider three distinct situations; two for daytime – a basking zone and a cool zone – and one at night. Creating a consistent temperature for crested geckos in each case is a more reasonable goal. Having a larger tank makes this easier.
Basking Area
While cresties don’t need a basking spot in the same way as most other reptiles, having a “hot spot” in the tank is valuable. Most importantly, it creates a gradient.
The basking zone will be the area closest to a heat source. Since crested geckos are an arboreal species, this area is usually at the top of a tall tank. Mounting a basking light above the tank is ideal.
The ideal temperature range for their basking area should be between 80°F-82°F (26-28°C) and never higher than 85°F (30°C).
It’s critical to keep the temperature from getting too high. Extreme heat can lead to burning or heat stroke, which can be fatal in a short amount of time.
Cooling Area
The cool zone is at the bottom, the furthest away from the basking spot, and hidden by vegetation and places to hide. It should stay between 72°F-75°F (22-24°C).
If the low-temperature spot isn’t cool enough, add more plants, sticks, and cork hides. Anything that gets in the way will help bring down the temp.
Night Hours
Crested geckos can handle it chillier at night. After dusk, crested geckos prefer 68°F-70°F (20-21°C). You don’t need a heat source at night as long as the temp doesn’t drop under 65°F (18°C).
While crested geckos can survive much lower temperatures, extremes and fluctuating changes are very stressful. Therefore, it is best to maintain a cooler nighttime temperature to keep your crested gecko feeling comfortable and safe.
How hot is too hot?
Crested geckos are very sensitive to heat. Anything above a maximum temperature of 85°F (30°C) can hurt them.
A properly set-up tank will have an area where they can retreat to cool off, but prolonged exposure to high heat is very unhealthy.
What temperature is too cold for a crested gecko?
Crested geckos can survive cold temperatures below 68°F, but it is stressful and can cause health problems.
In his 2005 Crested Gecko Handbook, expert Philippe de Vosjoli notes that low-60s are safe at night, and he would provide heat when it drops below 55°F. De Vosjoli was one of the scientists who brought the gecko species back from New Caledonia and probably based this on the home habitat.
Today, most experts keep their enclosures from dropping below the mid-60s.
Heating Equipment
There are plenty of heating devices for reptile enclosures, but they are not all healthy for crested geckos.
Heat Lamps
A heat lamp is the preferred warming tool for a crested gecko tank. Heat lamps are simple devices with low-wattage incandescent bulbs and a reflective dome. The bulbs produce heat while the crown amplifies the temperature. We call them ceramic heat emitters when they only generate warmth, not light.
Some fluorescent bulbs also shed light, and the casing focuses the illumination on one area of the terrarium. The light is not a problem during the day but could be better for keeping them warm at night. Crested geckos are nocturnal and need darkness while they move about at night, so ceramic heat emitters are generally better.
Some terrariums have hoods to house the low-wattage incandescent bulb. In other tanks, a small lamp holds the light bulb and attaches to the outside of the tank. Dimmer switches help control the basking temperature.
Different wattages can be selected depending on the distance between the heating element and the desired temperature. Start with a 25-watt bulb, measure the temp, and adjust up and down as needed.
Other Heating Tools
Heat lamps are just one device available at pet stores for additional heating.
Many reptile enclosures use heat mats or heat tape, but that is the wrong place for heat for crested geckos. Heat pads sit under the substrate and radiate heat upwards. Cresties want to bask up high and cool down low.
Heat rocks share the same location problem as a heating pad (i.e., the bottom of the tank) but create more intense heat. Please don’t place them in crested gecko tanks.
Creating the Perfect Thermal Environment
Creating the ideal thermal environment starts with understanding a crested gecko’s natural habitat. In the wild, they can move around to warm up and cool off as needed. Sadly, they don’t have this same mobility in captivity.
Here is where the thermal gradient matters. In setting up distinct zones, you can create a microhabitat that mimics their natural environment.
Thermal Gradient
How do you set up a thermal gradient? First, place the heat source at the top of the tank. This area will be the warmest spot. If your crestie wants to warm up, this is where they will go.
Different brands of lamps mount differently and have specifications for how close they can be to the tank. Follow the instructions that come with the product you are using.
Another helpful tool is a timer. Having the heat bulb turn on and off at a scheduled time makes it less likely that the lamp will stay on too long.
Enclosure Location
The average temperature in many homes is within the ideal temperature range for crested geckos.
When choosing where to place the tank, it is vital to consider what will change the temperature.
Some parts of a home are warmer than others. For example, a window with lots of sun exposure might warm up considerably more than the dark corner of a basement. Sitting under a vent that blows warm air might also cause the tank temp to be higher than the air in the rest of the room.
The best spots for an enclosure are where you have complete control over the temperature. Direct natural light can quickly raise the temperature to unsafe levels. Tanks near a window or an air conditioner can experience dangerous ups and downs.
Crested Gecko Terrarium Set-Up
Place some plants with broad leaves or flat, wide pieces of bark under the lamp. These form a basking area where your crested gecko can lie to absorb warmth when feeling cold.
Dense foliage, branches, vegetation, and hides will impact the temperature further from the heat source.
More “stuff” in the tank will block the heat and create lower temperatures further away.
The other strategy is with water bowls. Including water dishes in the enclosure gives the crestie a source to drink from if the water droplets evaporate too fast.
If, after measuring the temperature, there isn’t much of a gradient, but the basking temperature is correct, adding more things will create cooler temperatures down low.
How To Monitor Tank Temperatures
Monitoring tank temperatures is essential. A shift in the set-up or a broken piece of equipment can change how hot the tank is getting, risking the health of your pet crestie. The enclosure walls of a glass terrarium don’t hold heat as well as PVC walls, so you might have more significant fluctuations.
There are several different tools to measure temperatures in the tank. Some work better on the ambient temperatures, while others are great for measuring different surface temperatures.
Digital Thermometer Gun
A digital thermometer gun is one of the better tools for gauging different zones in a densely packed tank. It doesn’t require you to reach inside and possibly disturb the environment or have multiple probes placed around the tank. A temperature gun also provides instant results.
Digital Probe Thermometer
The second tool is a digital probe thermometer. Purchase one with a remote sensor probe for the most accurate readings. Mount the display unit in a dry location outside the tank and place the sensor inside the tank. Be sure to put it where the crested gecko can’t chew on it or get tangled in it.
Use the probe to measure the ambient air temperature (like the basking spot) and use a temperature gun for measuring surface temperatures.
To keep your pet safe, check the temperatures in a crested gecko tank at least twice daily and adjust as needed. With these tools, you can keep your pet happy and healthy!
Conclusion
It is easy to provide the necessary temperature condition for crested geckos.
To stay healthy, crested geckos need a temperature gradient during the day. During night hours, the ambient temperatures can drop down to 68°F-70°F. The warmer section (80°F-82°F) should be at the top of the enclosure, with the shaded area at the bottom (72°F-75°F).
Avoid heat pads and heat mats.
Crested geckos can have health issues with exposure to high or low temperatures. Proper care and accurate temperature control will help a crested gecko live a long, healthy life.
References
Aparicio Ramirez, A., Perez, K., Telemeco, R. (2021, January) Thermoregulation and thermal performance of crested geckos (Correlophus ciliatus) suggest an extended optimality hypothesis for the evolution of thermoregulatory set-points. Journal of Experimental Zoology. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32483940/
de Vosjoli, P. (2005) Crested Geckos. Advanced Vivarium Systems.