My daughter has been showing an interest in reptiles and I have to say that makes me one happy dad. It started a few years ago when she asked for a tortoise for Christmas. Now she is asking for a crested gecko.
I’ve kept geckos in the past but I’ve never owned a crested gecko so I decided to do some research. If you are also considering a crested gecko as a new pet, I invite you to come on this journey with me. Here’s what I found.
Crested geckos make excellent pet lizards. They are easy to care for, have lots of personality, fun to handle, and very interesting to look at.
Before we jump into all the reasons crested geckos make great pets, let’s learn a little more about them. Crested geckos are native to Southern New Caledonia an island in the South Pacific. They inhabit forested areas with relatively high humidity.
Adults generally reach 6 to 8 inches. They are a nocturnal species (active at night) and are incredible climbers. Like many other geckos they have sticky toe pads that enable them to scale just about anything including glass.
They have quickly become quite a popular choice for a pet lizard. Below is a list of a few of those reasons as well as some considerations when thinking about adding a crested gecko to your family. We will take a closer look at each.
Crested Geckos Are:
- Easy to handle
- Easy to care for
- Easy to find a breeder
- Have lots of personality
- Their bites don’t hurt
- Lots of morphs and colors available
- Not overly expensive
Considerations:
- When handling they can be jumpy
- Require daily care
- Require humidity
- They can lose their tails
- Not the best for small children
Easy to Handle
Crested geckos are considered hardy, tame lizards that are easy to handle. They usually don’t stress out with handling or continuously try to escape. Which can be disheartening with other lizards.
Crested geckos are usually alert, curious and active but aren’t incredibly fast and therefore easy to keep close and under some relative control.
They do like to jump however, so it’s best to handle them over soft furniture at least until you learn your gecko’s personality really well and know what to expect from their behavior.
Easy to Care For
Crested geckos are considered easy to care for. They don’t require a large enclosure. Don’t require special lighting and the temperature requirements are moderate. They can actually be kept at room temperature. They do require humidity which we will talk about more below.
Perhaps one of the best things about taking care of crested geckos is how easy it is to feed them. Almost like feeding a cat or dog. There are various inexpensive preformulated “crested gecko foods” available. All you need to do is mix a little with some water and set it in their cage in a small food dish.
Wow! Compared to raising your own crickets, waxworms, other feeder type insects or stopping off regularly at your pet shop to buy them, that’s a pretty good deal.
Easy to Find a Breeder
Crested geckos are easy to breed and widely available. Because of this it is not very difficult to find a good crested gecko breeder.
We always recommend buying your reptiles from a breeder. I’ve captured lizards and snakes in the wild to keep as pets and purchased both from pet shops, as well as breeders. Without exception the only time I’ve actually had issues with any of them were the ones purchased from a pet shop.
I’m not against pet stores at all. There are some really good ones but unless they really know they’re stuff it’s best to avoid buying your snake or lizard from a pet store and find someone who specializes in the very reptile you are interested in keeping.
They will more often than not be far more knowledgeable than the person working at the pet shop. They usually care much more about how the animal is raised and a good reputable breeder will never sell you a sick snake or lizard. I mean they might be really “sick” as in “cool” but they won’t have health issues.
Have Lots of Personality
It’s strange to think of a reptile having a personality but they really do. Sometimes it’s much harder to tell but in the crested gecko’s case it’s obvious and that makes them really interesting to many people.
Some are more energetic and active. Some are calm. Some are very curious and others are shy. Usually the personality they have as babies is the same way they are as adults. So, pick the one who’s personality you like best.
This is undoubtedly one of the biggest reasons they are so popular as pets.
Their Bites Don’t Hurt
I’ve not been bitten buy a crested gecko (yet) but those that have say it really doesn’t hurt at all. This is a good thing. So many people worry about getting bit by a lizard or snake they end up avoiding them all together.
And they end up missing out on how rewarding it can be to have one as a pet. So, put those fears behind you when considering a crested gecko as your next new pet.
Lots of Morphs and Colors Available
As mentioned above crested geckos are considered very easy to breed. What has come along with this are many different color morphs.
Prices range accordingly. You can find them for about $40 US dollars, and depending on the color and morph, as much as $5,000 dollars.
There are so many different colors and interesting variations to choose from and every one is different. You won’t have trouble finding one that is very unique.
Not Overly Expensive
Assuming you are not purchasing a rare morph for top dollar crested geckos are very affordable. As mentioned, you can find babies for around $40 dollars.
In addition, they don’t require a large enclosure or special lighting so the upfront costs can be relatively minimal. Later you may decide to set up a “bioactive naturalistic” enclosure with live plants and soil. This can certainly cost more but it’s not required for a healthy animal.
Some Things to Consider
As with any pet there are pros and cons. We’ve listed a few of the pros above. Let’s look at some of the things you need to consider.
When Handling They can be Jumpy
Some consider this much more of a pro than a con as this can make interacting with your crested gecko fun and exciting but it’s at least worth mentioning as a consideration.
If the gecko is really jumpy, he can jump right out of your hand and onto the hard tile floor. This doesn’t mean they will get hurt but they could. If you are overly nervous about them being jumpy you may be tempted to grasp them too tightly which could injure them.
Being “jumpy” is not a huge concern but it’s worth pointing out and being aware of so you can take steps to prevent injury.
Require Daily Care
If you are buying a crested gecko you are signing up for daily care. This really should come as no surprise but if you are used to, let’s say, keeping snakes you are in for a very different experience.
You will need to make sure they are fed every day to every other day, but this really isn’t uncommon with keeping lizards as pets.
Require humidity
As we’ve discussed crested geckos require daily care one of which that cannot be overlooked is humidity. If it’s too dry then your gecko can die of dehydration.
It’s also important that it is not too wet and humid as this can lead to a respiratory infection and death. A light misting with water using a simple sprayer each morning and each evening is adequate. Just make sure the enclosure isn’t constantly damp and you will be fine.
This is easy to do but it’s also easy not to do. If you are someone who struggles with consistent daily habits and routines then a crested gecko may not be for you.
They Can Lose Their Tails
Like most other lizards crested geckos can lose their tails. They just tend to lose them a little more readily. They can lose their tails and they DON’T grow back.
This can be a real bummer. Not an issue that will affect the health of your gecko but one more thing to consider.
Not the Best for Small Children
Rough handling is the fastest way to hurt and even kill your crested gecko. For this reason, allowing your small children to handle them is not recommended. Once they are older and can be taught how to properly handle them then it’s okay.
If you are considering a crested gecko as a pet for a small child this is a big consideration. Children really like to touch, hold and interact with little creatures.
For the health and safety of your gecko as well as the continued smiles of your son or daughter this is a big one to keep in mind.
Conclusion
Crested geckos are considered by many one of the best pet lizards you can own. They are often included on “top 5” or “top 10” lists right along with bearded dragons, blue tongued skinks and others.
They are easy to take care of, tame, fun to handle, available and affordable. It’s easy to see why.
If you are reading this article then chances are good you are considering a crested gecko as a new pet lizard and we hope the information we’ve provided will help.