Care Sheet for Geckos: CrestedAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.43 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 05/08/2004 |
Main Category: | Lizards |
Sub Category: | Geckos: Crested |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Roachey56 |
Years Experience: | 3 to 5 Years |
Species: | Crested Gecko (Rhacodactylus Cialtus) |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | none. The care of Gargoyle Geckos is very similar though. The knowledge of cresteds can be applied to gargoyles. |
Sexing and Characteristics: | As an adult the males will develop very large hemipenal bulges near the base of the tail. Females won’t. They can be sexed at around 20 grams of weight. |
Mostly Active During: | Night |
Substrate and Water Needs: | The Ultimately best substrate for cresteds (and many other species of herps) is paper towels. For those wanting a more naturalistic environment bed a beast, cypress mulch (crickets will hide in it), and clean (pesticide/fertilizer free, no insects, etc) potting soil are good looking substrates. Misting of a recommended minimum of 1 times a day in areas with high [60+%] humidity, 2 times a day in ares of medium [40-60%], and 3 times a day in areas of low [under 40%] humidity. The absolute minimum misting is 1 time a day. |
Lighting and UVB: | No UVB is needed for the captive propagation of crested geckos due to their nocturnal (active during night) activity. A day/night cycle (12 hours on 12 hours off) is recommended to encourage healthy activity patterns. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | The temperatures should be from 70-80 (Higher than 80 degrees is harmful to your crested) optimally. But they can go to 65 degrees (no lower than 65) at night as long as they can warm up in the day. The humidity should be between 50 and 80% optimally. But that is easily achieved with the misting as outlined above. |
Heating and Equipment: | The room temperature (not on the ground) of your house should be able to maintain good temps. If your room temp is to low i suggest buying a HUMAN heat pad, set it on low and place it under the tank (raise tank up 2-4 inches). You need a spray bottle filled with chlorine, chloramine, ammonia, and heavy metal free water for misting. I suggest using a product called amquel to treat tap water or you can sue commercially bottled spring,mineral, or distilled water. |
Caging Provided: | The minimum caging for a single adult (9 months old) crested would be a 15 gallon aquarium. As a juvenile provide a cage no larger than a 10 gallon. Small plastic shoe boxes make good caging for hatchling cresteds. they should be provided with fake or herp safe plants for climbing and hiding. But the best hide/climbing area would be pieces of egg crate (which can be purchased at egg cartons.com). |
Diet: | Omnivorous |
Description of Diet: | The diet of cresteds in captivity should consist of fruit baby food/fruit baby food and gargoyle gecko diet and appropriately sized crickets or all crested gecko diet. Crested Gecko Diet (CGD) is a complete meal mixture made by T-Rex products and invented at sandfire dragon ranch. Follow the directions of usage on it and offer no more than 1 teaspoon of the already made at a time. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | If you feed a CGD only diet there is no need to supplement the diet with calcium and vitamins. If you feed cricket you should dust them with calcium every time offered. |
Maintenance: | The only daily maintenance of the crested geckos is misting, taking out the poop, and changing the baby food/CGD daily. Other than that there is no daily maintenance. You should replace the substrate when soiled and completely change it once every 2 weeks. |
Some Words on this Species: | Crested Geckos are one of the most beautiful and rewarding species. Some good reading can be found in the Rhacodactylus . |
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