Crested geckos are masters of their arboreal domain, and will very much appreciate a variety of climbing structures within their tank. Driftwood , cork bark flats , cork bark tubes , and both live and artificial plants may all be used. When choosing plants, opt for ones with broad, flat leaves, as these surfaces seem to be a favorite resting spot for this species. Crested geckos truly love leaping from branch to branch within their enclosure, as well as hanging from slabs of cork bark.
Use of copious amounts of cork flats and cork rounds combined with one or two ficus trees is one highly recommended method of housing them. In addition to the more conventional decor, there are now a wide range of magnetically attached products that seem designed exclusively for crested geckos.
This includes magnetic ledges , magnetically attached vine bridges , vine clusters , naturalistic cave hideaways , and feed and water ledges with disposable cups for feeding! A large, shallow water bowl should be provided, and should be kept full and clean at all times. Crested geckos will tolerate a wide range of humidity levels, but prefer moderate to high humidity.
Lightly misting the cage furnishings, bedding, and cage walls once or twice a day will provide necessary moisture as well as droplets that your geckos may drink. Use of a hand spray bottle or pressure sprayer is one method of misting, which can be used to supplement reptile foggers or automatic misting systems.
Time your misting schedule so that the enclosure never becomes soggy, and has time to nearly dry out between sprayings.
Crested geckos will enjoy a staple diet of typical lizard fare; appropriately sized crickets , mealworms , and waxworms. All live prey should be no longer than the geckos head is wide, and mealworms should be saved for geckos 5 inches and larger smaller geckos may have trouble digesting the shells. In addition to the above food items, crested geckos will also eat non-animal foods.
Baby food, over ripened fruit, and a variety of commercially available gecko diets should be offered. One of the most well known and reputable blends is Repashy , and it is designed to be the only food item you ever need to feed your geckos. However, variety is the spice of life, and in addition to the Repashy diet they can be offered numerous canned foods, such as canned mango , papaya , or red banana. Once your gecko is used to eating canned products, you can even offer canned insects such as caterpillars or snails.
All foods should be regularly dusted with a quality calcium supplement ideally one containing vitamin D3. This is especially important for quick growing juveniles and egg-producing females.
A multi-vitamin should also be added to the diet as per the manufacturers directions. There are a number of safe substrates to use for crested geckos. A few things to consider when choosing what substrate you are going to use would be the age of your gecko, and average humidity levels in your home. Crested geckos less than a year of age, or under 10 grams, can be slightly more susceptible to impaction from stress. Coconut husk fiber is a natural product that can be passed if swallowed by crested geckos making it a safe naturalistic option.
Another benefit of this substrate is that it naturally resists mold and fungal growth, and it absorbs odor very well. This can be found in two forms: a compressed brick, and loose.
As a brick, it saves a ton of space. Simply soak in water and it falls apart and swells into a humidifying substrate ready to add to any tropical reptile habitat. Eco Earth and other coco husk substrates are easy to maintain by spot cleaning any droppings on a weekly basis.
As long as this substrate is spot cleaned it can last for several months before needing to be changed. Recommended: Zoo Med Eco Earth. Okay, so this is significantly less natural looking than coco husk, but this is the best choice for hatchling to 1 year old crested geckos since it cannot be swallowed.
They contain a mix of soils and dry botanical ingredients, such as tree fern fiber made from the roots of Cyatheaceae fern species. This is the preferred mix for the health and beauty of a crested gecko display tank.
If you have a lot of tanks to fill, it might not be economical to order all of your supplies online or buy them at a pet shop. You can find some good options at local gardening centers and hydroponics stores, if you know what to look for — and what to avoid.
Next, get peat moss or coco fiber coir to add a little more body and aid moisture retention. You can change this mix to suit the conditions of your tank. Mixing potting soil, compost or topsoil with a fibrous, plant-based material such as peat moss or coir will create an aerated medium to properly plant the tank. Peat moss is decomposed sphagnum moss harvested from natural bogs, many of which are home to threatened wildlife. Coco fiber, or coir, is the hairy part of coconut husks and is absorbent and expansive and is environmentally friendly.
We do use both, but since peat fiber takes a very long time to break down, soil can be re-used after thorough rinsing and sunbaking to kill microorganisms.
Note that any particulate tiny pieces substrate can cause issues. Some people have had issues with peat or coir as they can both be ingested and swell in the intestine, causing impaction.
Mixing it with the compost or soil reduces the risk. Here are some other tips to avoid impaction:. Add bags of compost or appropriate soil, and 5 kilo bale of Cocotek coco fiber coir in a large tub.
You can see how the coir becomes loose and mixable. You can screen out the larger bits and strands to make the particles as small as possible to reduce risk of impaction.
Be sure to have a qualified dirt inspector on staff after you mix your substrate! This will greatly minimize cleaning and maintenance on the tank. You can use straight coco-fiber but this can pose impaction risks as the fibers expand when wet, such as in the stomach or intestines if eaten. Mixing with small soil particles helps minimize but not eliminate the risk.
Hi Lesleyann! Sawdust is definitely not safe!
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