what do i need for my crested gecko?

**GeckosRCute112** · 11-19-2012, 12:21 PM

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hello everyone
i have been trying to figure out what kind of small pet to get, and i found it! crested geckos
so i have been looking at everything i need, and i have the basic ideas, but i would like some more specifics. i already bought a cage for him, it is an
12x 12x 18x exo terra allglass Terrarium, and i would like to know what else he needs. is the crested gecko diet good to feed him with? is paper towels an okay bedding? does he need a light or a heat lamp? if so, what brand? (link please) and what kind of plants should i put in there, live or fake? do i put a bowl of water in there? what size? and what kind of thermometer should i get? (link please) thanks for you help

**lisaowens** · 11-19-2012, 12:39 PM

if the crestie is very small he is better off in a critter keeper til he is bigger but if he is bigger then he can go in the one you got. i feed only CGD some feed that and crickets some do not and some feed only live food. paper towel is fine or you can do a planted viv which ever you do you nee lots of foliage for him to hide in light are not needed they are fine at room temp. you can use live or fake but if you use live wash the old potting soil off and use organic. depending on the size of him if small and need s to be in critter keeper you can use a bottle cap for water if larger you can use a sample cup like is used for sauce. and use a digital thermometer and humidity gauge you will need to spray the viv down at least once a day

**GeckosRCute112** · 11-19-2012, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by lisaowens

if the crestie is very small he is better off in a critter keeper til he is bigger but if he is bigger then he can go in the one you got. i feed only CGD some feed that and crickets some do not and some feed only live food. paper towel is fine or you can do a planted viv which ever you do you nee lots of foliage for him to hide in light are not needed they are fine at room temp. you can use live or fake but if you use live wash the old potting soil off and use organic. depending on the size of him if small and need s to be in critter keeper you can use a bottle cap for water if larger you can use a sample cup like is used for sauce. and use a digital thermometer and humidity gauge you will need to spray the viv down at least once a day

Okay, thank you!

**cassicat4** · 11-19-2012, 12:48 PM

The Repashy CGD is complete crested gecko nutrition and the best food for your gecko - just make sure it's the kind made by Repashy, as there are other brands that try to mimic the diet but don't match up.

Once your gecko is established on Repashy, you could consider offering appropriate-sized gutloaded dusted crickets about once or twice a week to your gecko, as some geckos absolutely love them and it adds a nice variety to their diet.

Paper towel is a great choice of substrate, and the one recommended most for all new geckos.

They require a 12-14 hour light cycle which can be achieved by either providing a light on top of the enclosure or general room lighting.

As long as you can maintain their daytime ambient temps between 72-80F, and no less than 65F at night, then a heat lamp or pad is not necessary.

Fake plants work best for new geckos, just because you do need to quarantine and monitor them for 60-90 days for any possible health conditions. As there is always a slight risk of issues with live plants, it's best to give the gecko as sterile of an environment as possible until they've adjusted so if something does show up health-wise, it can't be attributed to anything in their environment.

Generally, I like using fake plants best as they're easy to maintain and look great. However, live plants can also be used, and I currently have one crested gecko in a planted tank.

If you choose to go this route, you may want to invest in a UVB light to encourage plant growth. Keep in mind though that UVB lights do put off heat and will raise the ambient temps of your tank, so be sure the temps won't exceed the daytime high if you do use one, or find a way to keep the room a bit cooler. I wouldn't use anything higher than a 2.0 though. I've used both Reptisun 2.0 and Reptiglo 2.0 and was satisfied with both. I'll let you look them up as I'm unsure if you have brand preferences.

Yes, do include a cap or bowl of water for your gecko (depending on your gecko's size/age). While most geckos will lick water droplets off the walls or decor when you mist, many will also drink from a bowl. Keeping a bowl in there will also help prevent your gecko from becoming dehydrated.

You should invest in either a digital thermometer and digital hygrometer with a probe, or a digital thermometer/hygrometer combo with a probe. I've used both Zoomed and Exoterra brands and both have worked well for me.

The important thing to remember is that your gecko needs to feel secure, so ensure the enclosure is filled with plenty of foliage/hides/climbing vines/etc. Foliage along the glass will also deter the gecko from hanging upside down and becoming a candidate for FTS (floppy tail syndrome). I would aim for picking out a juvenile crestie for an enclosure of that size (6-12 months). A hatchling crestie can thrive in it as well, although some people have reported issues with it being stressed from a too large enclosure or having difficulty finding its food. If you choose to get a hatchling, I would ensure you have a smaller enclosure (a Kricket Keeper, for example) on hand in the event that yours doesn't do well in a large enclosure at first.