Origin
Crested geckos otherwise known by their scientific name of Rhacodactylus ciliatus come from the island of New Caledonia in the southern Pacific ocean. Most of the Rhacodactylus species are found on the eastern side of the Grand Terre island and the Isle of Pines. The environment is humid with dense vegetation in a lush rainforest habitat.
Housing
Hatchlings to four months: These can be housed in critter keepers or a small glass aquarium with a screen top. Small twigs and branches can be added with some fake plants and a small feeding dish. Mist the enclosure once at night after the lights are out.
Adults: a 30cmx30cmx45cm tall terrarium is great for a single crested gecko. A pair of trio will require a 45cmx45cmx60cm tall terrarium. Screen tops are very important for air flow. These can be partially closed off to increase humidity if needed. Add branches, wood, vines and/or cork bark for climbing and vertical space as well as fake or live plants. An elevated feeding dish is a great idea.
Substrate: Paper towel is recommended for hatchlings whereas adults can be kept on a bioactive vivarium mix.
Temperature and Lighting
Crested geckos are kept at a temperature range of 21°C-27°C during the day with a night time drop to 20°C-22°C. If temperatures drop below 19°C then a heat pad or infrared lamp unit can be used. A specialized plant light can also be used if you have live plants. Allow temperatures to follow the seasons and a drop in temperature in winter is essential for the health of your Crested gecko.
An ambient humidity of 60%-70% during the day with a spike to about 80%-90% at night. It is very important to let the vivarium dry out during the day so only spray at night after the lights are out.
Diet
Crested geckos are omnivorous which means they feed on both plant and animal matter. Pollen, nectar, fruits and insects are all eaten in their native habitat. In captivity a complete gecko diet like Pangea is essential for a healthy gecko. This can be fed every 2-3 days with insects like crickets and roaches fed once in a while to stimulate their natural hunting instinct.
Breeding
Crested geckos can breed in pairs or with one male to several females. Breeding should not take place until the Cresties are at least 12 months old. An egg laying container of about 15cmx10cm with a lid and a small hole cut out is ideal. If you have a bioactive enclosure then eggs can be laid in the substrate. Just prepare a nice spot with leaf litter and your Crestie will lay there. When you see the leaf litter disturbed then you know your crestie has laid her eggs.
Egg Incubation
Once eggs have been found they should be removed and placed into an airtight plastic container with a lid with a tiny hole. I find clay incubation medium to work the best an example being Pangea hatch. Make a slight indentation into the media and place the eggs inside. Store on a shelf or cupboard at ambient room temperatures of between 22°C-26°C or in an incubator at a constant temperature of 25°C. Eggs should take about 90 days to hatch. Check them everyday. Once an egg has hatched open the container to flush the old air out and leave the baby inside for about 12 hours to recover. Afterwards remove the baby and place in a hatchling cage. Babies do not need to eat for the first 2 days as they are still absorbing the yolk. Afterwards place some Pangea on a chopstick and spray your gecko. Once it starts licking place the chopstick by its mouth and it will start eating the Pangea. Do this for the first 2 weeks every second day. From then on your gecko should start eating by itself.
