Crested Gecko

Are Crested Geckos Good Pets?

Yes. Crested Geckos can make excellent pet reptiles.

They’re generally calm, manageable in size and relatively straightforward to care for once their enclosure is properly established.

Are Crested Geckos Good for Beginners?

Yes. They’re often considered one of the better reptiles for beginners.

Their feeding requirements can be simpler than those of many insect-eating reptiles because nutritionally complete commercial Crested Gecko diets are available.

How Long Do Crested Geckos Live?

Crested Geckos commonly live around 15–20 years in captivity, with some potentially living longer.

Their longevity means even a beginner reptile should be considered a serious long-term commitment.

How Big Do Crested Geckos Get?

Adults are commonly around 18–25 cm long including the tail and may weigh approximately 35–55 grams.

They’re substantial enough to handle carefully while remaining relatively compact.

Why Are They Called Crested Geckos?

The name comes from the distinctive raised scales forming crest-like ridges above the eyes and along the head and back.

Those projections above the eyes resemble eyelashes, giving the species its famously expressive appearance.

Do Crested Geckos Have Eyelids?

No. Unlike Leopard Geckos, Crested Geckos don’t have movable eyelids.

Instead, a transparent scale protects each eye.

They may lick their eyes to help keep this surface clean and moist — which can look rather extraordinary the first time you see it.

Can Crested Geckos Climb Glass?

Yes.

Microscopic structures on their specialised toe pads allow Crested Geckos to grip glass and many other smooth surfaces.

Their climbing ability is why vertical enclosure space is so important.

Can Crested Geckos Jump?

Absolutely.

Crested Geckos are capable jumpers and may suddenly leap between branches — or between your hands during handling.

Handling should therefore take place somewhere a fall won’t cause injury.

What Do Crested Geckos Eat?

Crested Geckos are omnivorous.

Captive animals can be fed a nutritionally complete commercial Crested Gecko diet, with appropriately managed insects sometimes offered for additional variety and enrichment.

A balanced diet is preferable to simply feeding fruit.

Do Crested Geckos Need Live Insects?

Not necessarily as the foundation of their diet when an appropriate complete Crested Gecko food is being used.

However, suitable live insects can provide additional protein, variety and hunting enrichment.

Any insects offered should be appropriately sized and nutritionally managed.

Do Crested Geckos Need UVB?

Appropriate low-level UVB can be beneficial and allows Crested Geckos to produce vitamin D3 naturally.

UVB provision should be considered alongside diet, supplementation and the enclosure setup rather than in isolation.

What Temperature Does a Crested Gecko Need?

Crested Geckos generally thrive at moderate temperatures and don’t require the intense basking heat associated with many desert reptiles.

Excessive heat can be dangerous, so enclosure temperatures should be monitored carefully with accurate equipment.

Do Crested Geckos Need High Humidity?

They benefit from periods of increased humidity, but the enclosure shouldn’t remain constantly wet.

A natural humidity cycle with adequate ventilation helps support hydration and successful shedding while reducing problems associated with stagnant, overly damp conditions.

Do Crested Geckos Like Being Held?

Many become comfortable with gentle handling, although they don’t seek cuddles like a social mammal.

Allowing the gecko to walk from hand to hand is usually preferable to restraining it.

Some individuals are calmer than others.

Do Crested Geckos Bite?

They can, but biting is relatively uncommon in well-socialised animals.

A gecko may bite if frightened, stressed or during feeding.

Their usual response is more likely to involve moving away or jumping than confronting a person.

Can Crested Geckos Drop Their Tails?

Yes. A frightened or severely stressed Crested Gecko can deliberately detach its tail through autotomy.

Unlike many other geckos, however, a Crested Gecko’s tail does not grow back.

A tailless adult can still live a normal life.

What Is a Frogbutt Crested Gecko?

“Frogbutt” is an informal term used by keepers for a Crested Gecko that has lost its tail.

The rounded rear profile left after healing gives rise to the unusual nickname.

Tail loss itself doesn’t prevent an otherwise healthy gecko from thriving.

Why Does My Crested Gecko Change Colour?

Crested Geckos can become noticeably lighter or darker.

Keepers often describe a more intense colouration as being “fired up” and a paler appearance as “fired down”.

Lighting, activity, environment and other factors can influence these changes.

Are Crested Geckos Nocturnal?

They’re primarily active during the evening and nighttime, with crepuscular activity around dusk also common.

During daylight hours they often rest among leaves, branches and sheltered areas.

Can Crested Geckos Live Together?

Individual housing is generally the simplest and safest approach.

Males can fight, while other combinations may involve stress, competition or unwanted breeding.

Crested Geckos don’t require another gecko for companionship.

What Size Enclosure Does a Crested Gecko Need?

Because Crested Geckos are arboreal, vertical space is particularly important.

An adult needs a tall enclosure with branches, vines, foliage, hiding opportunities and multiple routes for climbing.

A bare glass box doesn’t make good use of their remarkable natural abilities.

What Health Problems Are Common in Crested Geckos?

Potential concerns include metabolic bone disease, retained shed, dehydration, obesity and nutritional problems.

Many problems are closely associated with inappropriate husbandry.

Changes in weight, appetite, movement, droppings or behaviour should be investigated.

What Are Crested Gecko Morphs?

Morphs are selectively bred variations in colour and pattern.

Crested Geckos occur in numerous appearances, including flame, harlequin, pinstripe, dalmatian and various colour combinations.

They’re variations of the same species rather than separate breeds.

Where Do Crested Geckos Come From?

Crested Geckos are native to New Caledonia, a group of islands in the southwest Pacific.

They inhabit forest environments where their climbing feet, prehensile tails and camouflage help them move through vegetation.

Were Crested Geckos Once Thought Extinct?

Yes — and this is one of the most remarkable facts about the species.

The Crested Gecko was known from specimens collected in the 19th century but was subsequently thought to be extinct for many decades.

Living animals were dramatically rediscovered in New Caledonia in 1994.

Are Crested Geckos Legal to Keep as Pets?

Regulations vary around the world.

Some countries or regions restrict or prohibit keeping Crested Geckos, while they’re popular companion reptiles elsewhere.

Always check current local regulations before obtaining one.

Is a Crested Gecko a Good First Reptile?

Yes. For many people, the Crested Gecko is an excellent introduction to reptile keeping.

It’s generally manageable, doesn’t require enormous housing and can eat nutritionally complete prepared diets.

The important thing is remembering that easy compared with other reptiles doesn’t mean maintenance-free.

What Makes the Crested Gecko Unique?

For decades, people thought the Crested Gecko had disappeared.

Then, in 1994, it turned up alive.

That alone would make this little reptile extraordinary.

But then look at the animal itself.

It has no movable eyelids, so it can lick its own eyes clean.

Its specialised feet can grip smooth surfaces.

Its tail can help it climb — but if that tail is dropped, it never grows back.

And when it decides to move, a Crested Gecko doesn’t necessarily walk politely from one branch to another.

Sometimes it simply jumps.

Add those strange eyelash-like crests and an ability to change the intensity of its colouring, and you have one very unusual little reptile.

Not bad for an animal the world once thought it had lost forever.

Discover why Crested Geckos lick their own eyes, how they climb glass, why their tails don’t grow back and the remarkable story of how this supposedly extinct species was rediscovered.

Watch our Crested Gecko video and discover what makes this extraordinary little gecko so fascinating.