Exotic Reptiles
Exotic Reptiles
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Crested Geckos For Sale

Origins, Types and Care

Crested geckos make excellent pets for people seeking a pet in the reptile family. Once considered one of the rarest reptiles, crested geckos are now among the most popular reptiles sold in pet stores. They were thought to be extinct for many years until discovered in 1994 in New Caledonia.

Owning a crested gecko can be extremely satisfying. While reptiles do not show affection to humans, it is possible to gain the trust of a crested gecko, and ultimately form a good relationship with it.

The crested gecko is available in many colors and patterns, which adds to their popularity. There are dozens of distinct types, and their morphism isn’t well understood. Colors include beige, brown, black, orange, and red. There are crested geckos that have no designs on their scaly bodies, and there are some that have dots or stripes. Two parents with different colors and patterns can create a crested gecko that looks entirely different from either of them, making these pets unique.

Here are 7 essential facts for crested gecko care:

1) Size, Habit and Lifespan

Crested geckos grow to be about 5 – 8 inches long. Owners can handle their pet, but handling needs to be very gentle, or the reptile will feel threatened. When stressed or anxious, it is common for a crested gecko to lose its tail, and the tail does not grow back. If the pet ends up losing its tail, there is no need for concern. Because the geckos have a long lifespan, many individuals have enjoyed these reptiles for a decade or more. In fact, most crested geckos will live 15 – 20 years.

2) Caring for the Crested Gecko

Owning a crested gecko is not a hard task. It’s important that the young be housed in smaller cages (two gallon maximum) until they reach the length of five inches. This is because when they’re small, they have trouble finding food in a large space. Once the crested gecko reaches five inches, it can live comfortably in a 20-gallon terrarium or in a tall screen cage about two feet high. Crested geckos love to climb and jump, and are quite entertaining to watch, although owners may have to stay up late to watch them because they’re nocturnal reptiles and activity increases at night when they’re awake after sleeping most of the day.

3) Feeding

Crested geckos eat insects such as mealworms, roaches or crickets. They also love fruit. Most owners save the live insects for a treat, just a few times per week, and feed their crested geckos commercial food on a regular basis. A good source of fruit for crested geckos is sweet baby food such as peaches, bananas, or pears. They also love watermelon, strawberries, grapes, and figs. Owners should feed their crested geckos at night, and then remove any uneaten food or insects from the cage in the morning.

4) Hydration

Just like all living creatures, water is a necessity. Use of a simple water bowl works fine. Misting their habitat is also vital because they inherently lick condensation on plants, trees, and rocks. Water provided to the crested gecko should be non-chlorinated. Humidity is an important factor in caring for crested geckos because keeping them hydrated aids in the shedding of their skin. The ideal humidity range for the habitat is 60 – 70 percent, and the appropriate temperature is around 75 to 80 degrees.

5) Habitat

Regarding environment, crested geckos appreciate some height to accommodate their instinct of climbing and leaping. Being tree-living creatures, adding some branches, perches, vines, and faux plants help the crested gecko feel right at home. They also like to hide, especially in daylight hours, so providing some natural, hideaway accents is advised. Coco fiber mats to cover the floor are a good choice because the material increases humidity and serves as a good source for burrowing and excavating.

Crested geckos need fluorescent light for an average of 10 to 12 hours per day, so they can adapt to a day and night routine. If needed, heat lamps can help regulate the temperature in the gecko’s environment.

6) Cleaning

Crested geckos do not need to be bathed. Like most reptiles, they are fastidious about cleaning themselves. They also shed their skin as they grow, and this process continues for their entire life. It is not unusual for the crested gecko to eat their skin once it has been shed.

7) Helping the Crested Gecko to Thrive

It is important to ensure the proper diet, lighting, temperature, substrate, and water/humidity levels for the pet. Avoid synthetic substrate.

It is critical to provide a bioactive environment, so the crested gecko can thrive, partaking in its natural instinct of hunting and foraging. Ensuring the pet has adequate lighting for bone and metabolism growth is key. In the wild, crested geckos are able to eat substrate and naturally pass it through their system. Monitoring their intake and passing of meals is important. Should the gecko eat some substrate or dirt on one of their insects during feeding, there isn’t cause for alarm, as long as the pet doesn’t ingest anything synthetic, such as calci sand.

Owning a crested gecko is something many people enjoy immensely. Geckos are intriguing to watch, and after a person has gained the pet’s trust, it will favor its owner, resulting in a good, lasting relationship. With proper habitat setup and care, this appealing reptile will provide years of fun for its owners.