Crested Gecko FAQ: Feeding & Care Questions

The main food is a complete powdered crested gecko diet mixed with water, which contains fruit, insect protein, calcium and vitamins. Many keepers also offer a few dusted insects, such as crickets or dubia roaches, as extras. Our diet mix calculator shows how much water to add for your brand.

Offer fresh diet every day to juveniles under 12 months, and every 2–3 days to adults. Feed in the evening and remove leftovers after 24 hours. Insects are optional: once or twice a week for juveniles and up to once a week for adults. Weigh your gecko regularly to make sure the amount is right.

Most powders mix at 1 part powder to 2 parts water by volume; some growth formulas use 2.5 parts water. Stir until smooth and wait a few minutes for it to thicken to a ketchup-like texture. Add a few drops of water if it is too thick. Our calculator does the math for any batch size.

New geckos often eat little for their first week or two. Other causes include high temperatures, a food dish on the floor, stale food and the cooler months. Keep the warmest area below about 80°F, put the dish on a high ledge, and mix fresh food. See a reptile vet if your gecko loses weight or has not eaten for several weeks.

Not on their main food. Complete powdered diets already contain calcium and vitamin D3. Only the insects you offer as extras need dusting: calcium with D3 if you do not use UVB, or plain calcium if you do. Our calcium schedule generator marks the right powder for each insect day.

Occasionally, but they are not the best choice. Mealworms have a hard outer shell and are high in fat, and they can burrow out of reach in the enclosure. Crickets, dubia roaches, black soldier fly larvae and silkworms are better extras. Whatever you offer, keep insects no wider than the space between your gecko’s eyes and dust them with calcium.

Soft fruit such as mashed banana or mango is fine as an occasional treat, but not as the main diet. Fruit and baby food lack the calcium and protein crested geckos need, and relying on them can lead to metabolic bone disease. Stick to a complete powdered diet and use fruit only as a small extra.

No. A crested gecko can drop its tail when grabbed or frightened, but unlike leopard geckos it never grows back. The wound heals on its own; keep the enclosure clean and see a vet if it looks red, swollen or smells. Tailless geckos live normal lives. Never hold a crested gecko by its tail.

Stuck shed on the toes, a very dry enclosure or dirty glass can make climbing hard. It can also be a sign of metabolic bone disease, a calcium problem that weakens bones and grip. Check the toes, clean the glass and review the diet. See a reptile vet if your gecko also has a soft or swollen jaw, shakes, or has bent limbs.

Crested geckos change shade: “fired up” means darker, more vivid colors, while “fired down” means paler colors. Most geckos fire up at night when they are active, or when warm, excited or stressed. It is normal and does not by itself mean anything is wrong. A gecko that stays very pale and inactive for days, especially if it is also not eating, is worth a closer look at its temperatures, humidity and weight.

They can, but bites are uncommon and usually feel like a gentle pinch that rarely breaks the skin. Young or newly arrived geckos are the most nervous. Let a new gecko settle for one to two weeks before handling, then start with short sessions. Most bites happen when a gecko is grabbed or cornered, so let it walk onto your hand instead. Wash any bite with soap and water.

That is normal. Crested geckos are nocturnal: they sleep during the day, usually tucked into leaves or cork bark high in the enclosure, and become active after dark. You will see most of their climbing, eating and jumping in the evening. A gecko that hides at night as well, or stops eating, should have its temperatures and weight checked.

Watch for weight loss, refusing food for several weeks, a soft or swollen jaw, bent limbs, shaking, trouble climbing, stuck shed on toes, swelling, or breathing with an open mouth. Any of these needs a reptile vet. A yearly checkup with a vet who treats reptiles is also recommended.

Adults measure about 7–9 inches including the tail and weigh 35–55 grams. With good care, crested geckos commonly live 15–20 years, so they are a long-term commitment. See the crested gecko growth chart for weight and length by age.

They can live without UVB if their diet contains vitamin D3, which complete powdered diets do, but many vets now strongly recommend low-output UVB. Crested geckos are shade dwellers, so aim for a UV index of about 1–2 at the top branch, with plenty of leafy cover, and replace the tube as the maker recommends.

Yes. They eat a prepared diet, need no special heat in most homes, and tolerate gentle handling. The key things to get right are avoiding high temperatures, keeping a daily humidity cycle, and using a tall enclosure. Our crested gecko care hub links every tool and guide you need.

After a one to two week settling-in period, start with about five minutes a day and build up slowly. Crested geckos jump, so sit on the floor or over a soft surface and let the gecko walk from hand to hand. Keep sessions short, and skip handling while it is in shed or seems stressed.

Paper towels are the simplest and safest choice, especially for young geckos, and are recommended in veterinary care guides. Many keepers prefer a naturalistic soil mix with live plants, which holds humidity well. Avoid sand, gravel and small wood chips that could be swallowed, and replace any substrate that stays soggy or grows mold.

Yes. Most crested geckos drink droplets from leaves and glass after misting, but a shallow water dish should always be available as a backup. Place it on a ledge or near the plants, change the water daily, and clean the dish regularly. Mist the plants as well as the glass so your gecko can drink wherever it likes.

Mist heavily once in the evening, when your gecko becomes active, so humidity rises to about 70–80%. Mist again in the morning only if the enclosure stays very dry. Let it dry back to about 50% during the day. The gecko drinks droplets from leaves, so mist the plants as well as the glass.