Crested Gecko
Correlophus ciliatus
1. Tall Jungle Setup & The Mist-and-Dry Cycle
2. Two Great Ways to Set Up Your Habitat
Bioactive Jungle vs. Simple Setup
Crested Geckos spend 90% of their life up off the floor in branches and leaves:
Option A: Live-Planted Bioactive Tank
Drainage balls, tropical soil, leaf litter, sturdy live Pothos/Schefflera plants, and our Dwarf White Isopods, Powder Orange/Blue, or Zebra / Cubaris Isopods + Tropical Springtails that eat poop and mold for you!
Option B: Simple Cork & Silk Vine Setup (Great for Babies)
Damp paper towels for tiny babies (so you can make sure they're pooping!) or coco/soil bedding, packed top-to-bottom with cork tubes and fake vines.
Low-Level UVB vs. Standard LED
Because powdered Complete Gecko Diet already has Vitamin D3 mixed right in, you can go either route:
Option A: 5%–7% Shade UVB + Plant LED
Gives a gentle natural UV boost for strong bones and makes live plants grow like crazy.
Option B: Simple Day/Night LED Light
As long as they're eating quality Complete Gecko Diet (CGD) and calcium-dusted bugs, a regular low-heat LED light works great.
Do You Need a Heat Bulb?
Big No-No: overheating above 83–84°F is way more dangerous to Crested Geckos than being a little cool!
Option A: Normal Heated House (72–78°F)
Skip heat lamps completely! Normal indoor room temperatures are right in their sweet spot.
Option B: Chilly Winter Room (Under 68–70°F)
Use a tiny 25W–40W nano ceramic heat emitter or low-watt bulb on a thermostat set to 78°F at the very top screen.
3. Feeding Guide: Fruit Smoothie Cups + Weekly Bugs
Favorite Flavors & Bugs on Our Shelves:
Fig & Insect, Growth/Breeding, Fruit w/ Bugs
Watermelon, Apricot, Papaya, Banana
Triggers their hilarious nocturnal pounce
Keep food up high where they actually hang out!
4. Four Keys to a Happy, Thriving Crested Gecko
Let It Dry Between Mists
Keeping the tank sopping wet 24/7 grows mold and causes skin/breathing issues. Mist well at night (80–90%), then let it air out to 50–60% during the afternoon!
Pack the Top 70% Full
Give them plenty of horizontal branches and vines across the top half of the tank. If they sleep hanging upside-down on bare glass every day, their tail weight can bend their hips ('Floppy Tail').
'Frog-Butt' Tail Fact
Unlike Leopard Geckos, if a Crested Gecko drops its tail when spooked, it never grows back! Almost all wild adults are cute 'frog-butts' and live totally normal, happy lives.
Treadmill Hand-Walking
Crested Geckos are jumpers! Sit over a bed or couch and let them hop from one flat hand to the other like a little treadmill—never squeeze them.
Bring-Home Shopping Checklist
Tap items to check them off on your phone while you shop at Critter Cabana.
Tall Terrarium & Canopy Clutter
Misting, Soil & Lighting
Smoothie Diet & Live Bugs
Complete Reference Notes & Oregon Keeping Guide
Species: Correlophus ciliatus | Difficulty: 1/5 — Beginner | Hardiness: 4/5 — Hardy
Critter Cabana & Gresham Pet Supply — Keeping Your Pet Healthy & Thriving
At a Glance
| Common Name | Crested Gecko, "Eyelash Gecko" |
| Species | Correlophus ciliatus |
| Origin | New Caledonia (island rainforests near Australia) |
| Adult Size | 8–10 inches (including tail) / 35-50+ grams |
| Lifespan | 15–20+ years |
| Diet Type | Frugivore / Insectivore (Eats powdered fruit diets and bugs) |
| Activity | Crepuscular & Nocturnal (active at dusk/night) |
| Temperament | Very docile, but babies can be jumpy and fast |
| Handleability | Great observation pet; handles well once adult |
| Habitat Type | Arboreal (Tree-dwelling) |
| Difficulty | 1/5 — Beginner |
| Hardiness | 4/5 — Hardy |
Why We Love Them: Crested geckos are perhaps the lowest-maintenance reptile pet available. They do not require extreme heat lamps, they eat a powdered "smoothie" diet (meaning you don't have to keep live bugs in the house), and their soft, velvety skin and "eyelashes" make them incredibly endearing.
Housing & Enclosure
Enclosure Type & Size
- Type: Glass front-opening terrarium with a screen top for ventilation.
- Orientation: Arboreal (vertical). Height is far more important than width.
- Minimum for Adults: 18" x 18" x 24" for a single adult over 20 grams.
- Recommended for Adults: 18" x 18" x 36" (taller is always better).
- Minimum for Babies: A small 12" x 12" x 18" enclosure or a ventilated plastic tub (like a Kritter Keeper). Babies put in massive tanks often fail to find their food and starve.
Substrate
- Hatchlings/Quarantine: Paper towels are highly recommended to easily monitor bowel movements and prevent impaction if they miss a bug.
- Adults: Coconut fiber (Zoo Med Eco Earth), orchid bark, or a bioactive soil mix.
- Bioactive Option: Excellent choice. A mix of ABG soil, leaf litter, isopods, and springtails works wonderfully in the humid crested gecko environment.
Décor & Enrichment
- Climbing: Fill the tank! Crested geckos need horizontal and diagonal branches, cork bark tubes, and vines to jump and rest on. A bare tank causes stress and physical deformities (like Floppy Tail Syndrome).
- Hides: Hanging coconut hides, magnetic ledges, and dense foliage (live or fake plants like Pothos or fake vines).
- Feeding Ledge: A magnetic or suction-cup feeding ledge placed high up in the tank is essential, as they prefer to eat off the ground.
Temperature
CRITICAL WARNING: Crested geckos cannot tolerate heat! Temperatures over 82°F (28°C) can cause rapid heat stroke and death.
| Zone | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Daytime Ambient | 72–78°F (22–25°C) |
| Maximum (CRITICAL) | 82°F (28°C) — Overheating is fatal |
| Nighttime Drop | 65–72°F (18–22°C) |
Heating
- Primary: Room temperature is usually perfect. If your house stays between 70-75°F, you do not need a heat lamp.
- Secondary: If your house drops below 65°F in winter, use a very low-wattage Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) or a small heat mat on the side of the glass, controlled by a thermostat set to 75°F.
- (cross-ref: Reptile/Amphibian Heating)
Humidity
- Target Range: 50–70% base, spiking to 80%+ when misted.
- How to Maintain: Mist the enclosure heavily every evening.
- The "Dry Out" Period: The enclosure MUST be allowed to dry out to around 50% during the day. If the tank is constantly soaking wet 24/7, the gecko will develop respiratory and bacterial skin infections.
Lighting
- Photoperiod: 12 hours on / 12 hours off (natural room light is often enough).
- UVB: Not strictly required, as their dietary needs are met via fortified powders. However, a low-level UVB (Ferguson Zone 1) like the Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO 5.0 is beneficial for immune health and preventing MBD. Make sure it doesn't overheat the tank.
Diet & Nutrition
Primary Diet: Crested Gecko Diet (CGD)
- The staple diet is a commercial powdered mix that you mix with water to the consistency of ketchup or a smoothie.
- Brands We Recommend: Pangea, Repashy, or Zoo Med Crested Gecko Diet.
- Frequency: Offer fresh CGD every other day. Remove uneaten food after 24 hours to prevent mold.
- Serving Size: Just enough to cover the bottom of a small feeding cup (about 1-2 teaspoons). They have tiny stomachs!
Live Insects (Optional but Recommended)
- Offering live insects 1-2 times a week stimulates natural hunting behavior and promotes faster growth.
- Prey: Crickets or small Dubia roaches. (No mealworms or superworms—their hard exoskeletons can cause impaction).
- Size Rule: Insects should be no wider than the space between the gecko's eyes.
- Dusting: Always dust insects with Zoo Med Repti Calcium (with D3) before feeding.
Water
- Geckos will mostly drink the water droplets off the glass and plant leaves after you mist the enclosure.
- Provide a small, shallow water dish on their feeding ledge, changed daily.
Health & Husbandry
Common Health Issues
- Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) — Symptoms: Soft jaw, kinked/wavy tail, tremors, unable to stick to glass. / Cause: Feeding only baby food or fruit instead of complete CGD, or lack of calcium. / Prevention: Only feed Repashy/Pangea/ZooMed CGD and dust insects with calcium.
- Stuck Shed — Symptoms: Retained skin on the toes (looks like little white socks) or tail tip. / Cause: Humidity too low. / Treatment: Do not pull dry skin. Place the gecko in a small plastic tub with warm, damp paper towels for 15 minutes (a "gecko sauna"), then gently roll the shed off with a damp Q-tip.
- Floppy Tail Syndrome (FTS) — Symptoms: The tail flops over at a 90-degree angle when the gecko is resting head-down on the glass. / Cause: Lack of horizontal resting branches, causing them to sleep vertically on the glass. / Prevention: Clutter the tank with lots of horizontal/diagonal branches and cork bark.
Tail Dropping (Autotomy)
- Crested geckos can drop their tails if they are terrified, grabbed by the tail, or highly stressed.
- Unlike leopard geckos, crested geckos DO NOT grow their tails back. They heal perfectly fine and live normal, happy lives as "frog butts." It is purely a cosmetic loss.
Veterinary Needs
- Crested geckos are incredibly hardy when fed properly. Seek an exotic vet if you notice severe weight loss, lethargy, or signs of MBD.
Morphs & Varieties
Crested geckos are highly variable. Most patterns are "polygenic," meaning they are selectively bred for a look rather than a single predictable gene.
Common Patterns / Traits
- Patternless: Solid color (red, olive, yellow, dark brown) with no patterning.
- Flame: A base color with a contrasting, brighter color running only down the back (the dorsal).
- Harlequin: Similar to a Flame, but the contrasting color heavily creeps up the sides and legs.
- Pinstripe: Cream-colored raised scales forming two distinct, solid lines down the edges of the back.
- Dalmatian: Black or red ink-like spots scattered across the body. Can occur on any base morph.
- Lilly White: A true genetic morph. Features striking, bright white sides, belly, and dorsal. (Incomplete dominant gene; breeding two Lilly Whites is fatal to offspring).
Handling Guidelines
- "The Hand Treadmill": Crested geckos move by walking and jumping. Hold one hand in front of the other and let them walk forward.
- Jumping: They are excellent jumpers. Keep them close to the floor, over a bed, or over a table when handling to prevent long falls.
- Flighty Babies: Hatchlings and juveniles are extremely fast and skittish. Limit handling to 5 minutes a few times a week until they reach about 15 grams and calm down.
- The Tail Rule: NEVER grab or pinch the tail.
Compatibility
- Cohabitation: Strictly solitary. Males will fight to the death. Females often bully each other for food and the best hiding spots. Keep them housed individually to ensure a stress-free life.
Oregon & Local Keeping Notes
- Oregon: Legal to own. No special permits required.
- General: Widely captive-bred and legal everywhere. Though they were once thought to be extinct in the wild (rediscovered in 1994), they are now one of the most heavily captive-bred reptiles in the world.
What We Stock & Use in Our Stores
These are products we carry and recommend for this species. Ask any associate for help finding them in-store.
| Category | Product | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure | Exo Terra Glass Terrarium 18x18x24 | Minimum for adults |
| Substrate | Zoo Med Eco Earth | Holds humidity perfectly |
| Diet | Repashy or Zoo Med Crested Gecko Diet | The staple food source |
| Feeding Station | Magnetic Feeding Ledge & Cups | Keeps food off the ground |
| Hydration | Exo Terra Mister | For daily evening misting |
| Temperature/Humidity | Exo Terra Digital Thermo-Hygrometer | Monitor humidity spikes and dry-outs |
| Hides | Zoo Med Cork Bark Tubes | Essential for hiding and climbing |
| Foliage | Exo Terra Hanging Silk Plants (Large) | Provides cover and drinking surfaces |
| Supplements | Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 | Dust on live insects only |
| Optional Heat | Zoo Med Ceramic Heat Emitter (25W-40W) | ONLY if room is below 65°F (use thermostat) |
Care sheet compiled by Critter Cabana & Gresham Pet Supply. For questions, ask any reptile specialist in-store.
Last updated: 2026-08-04
How We Keep Them at Critter Cabana & Gresham Pet Supply
- Beating Dry Oregon Furnace Air (and Summer Heat Spikes): Across the Willamette Valley and Portland Metro, running the house furnace all winter drops indoor humidity to 25–35%, which quickly causes stuck sheds and dehydration in screen-top tanks. To hold
50-80%reliably for Crested Gecko, our crew uses a deep 3–5" substrate bed (or our store-shelf 10-Part Bioactive Mix of ReptiSoil, Coco Fiber, Orchiata Bark, Sphagnum Moss, and Leaf Litter), a dedicated humid hide packed with damp sphagnum moss, and partial screen cover when needed. - Thermostat & Linear UVB Standard: Every heating element in our Newberg and Gresham reptile rooms runs on a thermostat probe set to
72-78°Fon the warm side with a70-75°Fcool retreat, paired withbeneficialon a 12-hour day/night timer. In summer, if an upstairs room climbs above 82°F, a dimming thermostat automatically backs down the basking lamp so the cool side never overheats. - Stocked at Newberg & Gresham: We stock reptile enclosures, thermostats, Arcadia & Zoo Med UVB lighting, bioactive substrate ingredients, live Springtails, Dwarf White, Powder Blue/Orange, Dairy Cow, and Giant Canyon isopods, and gut-loaded crickets, dubia roaches, hornworms, and frozen-thawed rodents at Critter Cabana (Newberg) and Gresham Pet Supply.
Common Questions (FAQ)
What size tank does an adult Crested Gecko actually need?
An adult Crested Gecko needs at least 18x18x24 inches (18x18x36 preferred) so you can maintain a true thermal gradient from 72-78°F on the warm/basking side down to 70-75°F on the cool side.
How do I keep Crested Gecko humidity at 50-80% during dry Oregon winters?
Oregon winter furnace heat dries out thin bedding fast. Use a 3–5 inch moisture-retaining substrate mix (such as Zoo Med ReptiSoil blended with coco fiber, Orchiata bark, and sphagnum moss), provide an enclosed humid hide, and cover 50–70% of an open screen top with HVAC foil tape or a PVC panel if ambient humidity drops too low.
What is the best bioactive clean-up crew for a Crested Gecko?
Pair Temperate White Springtails with a humidity-matched isopod species (such as Powder Blue/Orange for semi-arid setups or Dwarf White / Dairy Cow isopods for humid forest setups) in a 3–5 inch bioactive soil and leaf-litter bed. You can pick up our 1-Page or Tri-Fold Bioactive Substrate Recipe Guide and live cultures at Critter Cabana (Newberg) or Gresham Pet Supply.
Where can I get Crested Gecko setup supplies, live feeders, and thermostats in Oregon?
We stock our full reptile, amphibian, and bioactive setup supplies—including enclosures, thermostats, Arcadia and Zoo Med UVB lighting, bioactive substrates, live isopods/springtails, and live or frozen feeders—at Critter Cabana in Newberg (514 E First St, 503-537-2887) and Gresham Pet Supply (2185 NW Burnside Rd, 503-665-7606).
