Crested Gecko Care Calculators & Charts
Last updated: · Reviewed against sources listed below
Crested gecko care is simple once you know the key numbers: how much water to mix into the diet, how often to feed, how warm is too warm, and how to cycle humidity. This crested gecko care sheet puts them in one place, with a diet mix calculator for your gecko’s food.
Quick facts
- Adult length
- 7–9 in18–23 cm
- Lifespan
- 15–20 years
- Adult weight
- 35–55 g (1.2–1.9 oz)35–55 g
- Diet
- Omnivore (prepared diet + insects)
- Basking spot
- 75–80°F24–27°C
- Humidity
- 50–80%
Crested Gecko calculators
Calcium & Vitamin Schedule Generator
A printable 7-day calcium, D3 and multivitamin dusting schedule.
Reptile Age & Growth Estimator
Estimate age from length or weight, and check growth against normal ranges.
Reptile Enclosure Size Calculator
Minimum and recommended tank size, plus a gallons-to-dimensions converter.
Reptile Temperature & Humidity Checker
Enter your readings to see what is too hot, too cold or just right.
Crested Gecko Diet Mix Calculator
How much water to add to Pangea, Repashy and other powdered gecko diets.
Crested Gecko charts and guides
Crested Gecko Feeding Chart
How much and how often to feed at every age.
Crested Gecko Growth Chart
Typical length and weight by age.
Crested Gecko Enclosure Setup
Tank size, hides, lighting and substrate.
Crested Gecko Temperature & Humidity
Basking, cool-side and night ranges.
Crested Gecko FAQ
Answers to common feeding and care questions.
Crested gecko care at a glance
The crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) comes from the forests of New Caledonia, a group of islands in the South Pacific. It climbs, jumps and sleeps in the trees during the day and becomes active at night. Adults measure about 7–9 in18–23 cm including the tail and weigh 35–55 g (1.2–1.9 oz)35–55 g. With good care, crested geckos commonly live 15–20 years.
Heat. Crested geckos like room temperatures. Keep the warmest area at about 75–80°F24–27°C, the cooler, lower part of the enclosure at 68–75°F20–24°C, and nights at 65–72°F18–22°C. Long periods above about 80°F27°C can cause heat stress, which can be fatal, so a hot room is a bigger risk than a cool one.
Humidity. Mist in the evening so humidity rises to about 70–80%, then let it dry back to about 50% during the day. The daily cycle matters: constantly wet enclosures cause mold and breathing problems.
Enclosure. Crested geckos live up high, so height matters more than floor space. An adult needs at least 18 × 18 × 24 inches, and 18 × 18 × 36 inches is better.
Food. A complete powdered crested gecko diet, mixed with water, is the main food, with a few dusted insects as extras. Our diet mix calculator tells you exactly how much water to add.
The tail does not grow back
Like many geckos, a crested gecko can drop its tail when it is grabbed or frightened. Unlike leopard geckos, it never regrows it. Most wild adults have lost their tails, and a tailless gecko lives a normal life, but the tail is gone for good. Never pick up a crested gecko by its tail, avoid housing geckos together, and keep handling calm and low over a soft surface.
How our tools help
Use the diet mix calculator each time you make food, and the calcium schedule generator for the insects you offer. Track growth with the crested gecko growth chart, size the enclosure with the enclosure calculator, and check your readings with the temperature and humidity checker.
Common beginner mistakes
- A room that gets too hot. Temperatures above about 80°F for long periods can be deadly. Crested geckos rarely need extra heat in a normal home.
- Constant high humidity. Humidity should rise after misting and then fall. An enclosure that never dries out grows mold and causes breathing problems.
- Grabbing the tail. A dropped tail never grows back. Let the gecko walk onto your hand instead.
- Mixing the diet by guesswork. Too much water makes a runny mix; too little makes a paste. Follow the label ratio and adjust a little at a time.
- Housing two males together. Males fight and can seriously injure each other. Crested geckos do best alone.
Recommended crested gecko gear
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Tall 18×18×24 in or 18×18×36 in terrarium
Crested geckos climb, so height matters more than floor space.
Check price on AmazonComplete crested gecko diet powder
The main food, balanced for calcium, vitamins and protein.
Check price on AmazonDigital thermometer and hygrometer
Watches for overheating and tracks the humidity cycle.
Check price on AmazonWall-mounted feeding ledge
Crested geckos prefer to eat up high, where they feel safe.
Check price on AmazonSpray bottle or mister
An evening misting raises humidity and gives your gecko water droplets to drink.
Check price on AmazonSources
- PetMD — Crested Gecko Care Sheet (written and reviewed by veterinarians)
- Long Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic — Crested Gecko Care Guide
- ReptiFiles — Crested Gecko Care Guide
- ReptiFiles — Crested Gecko Temperatures & Humidity
- Pangea Reptile — Crested Gecko Care
- Wikipedia — Crested gecko
Where sources disagree we show the range they share. See our sources and methodology for how every number is checked.