[0215]

Hello I'm new to this website and don't have A pet gecko yet, but I'm thinking about buying a crested gecko. I went to petcothe other day and one employee let me hold one! It jumped to the floor a few time and I thought it was hurt. I liked it a lot, but don't know how to care for one.

I think it needs a 20g tall tank for climbing, but I'm not sure.
Basically I would like to know what it's habitat/enclosure needs, what size tank, what's its diet, and anything else I need to know.

Thanks!!!!!

[crestokay]

well welcome to geckos unlimited and i can almost say congrats on your first crestie. but the tank all depends on how big your gecko is when you buy it. a 20 gallon tank is too big for a hatchling. it wont be able to find its food but it is about right for a single adult. if a hatchling i suggest a small plastic container or kritter keeper till it gets a little bigger. and personally i wouldnt buy it from petco but thats me. the ones ive been to never seem to take good care of their reptiles. just make sure it is healthy and you should be fine. but their temps can be around mid 60's to mid 70's. they should have several hides such as plants and cork bark. something to climb on, i use sandblasted grapevines. you can buy them from pet stores. now their diet should be mostly repashy diet. your can buy it online for cheap or in some pet stores. they can also be fed crickets, but they should be gutloaded (i use the repashy diet for that as well with a little added calcium) then dusted with calcium with d3. but crikets should only be fed as a treat. only once a week or once every other week. just dont let your gecko get hooked on purely crickets cuz its a hard habit to break. other than that you just NEED to look at some care sheets on them to get a more in depth understanding. i would look at jbscresties.com. but hope this helps out a little. and hope you love your new gecko when you get it. and beware keeping cresties goes from keeping one to being an ADDICTION!! lol

[lauraleellbp]

Welcome to GU!

In addition to Crestokay's information, I highly recommend spending some time reading through reliable caresheets (please don't go by the one Petco provides, it is horrible- for example, if you keep your Crested gecko at 85-90 F it WILL die, and that's just the beginning... )

I recommend the caresheet here on the forum, the one on my own website (linked in my signature below), JB's Crested Gecko Info, and Ciliatus.com - The Ultimate Crested Gecko Resource - Home.

Once you've spend some time reading and absorbing all the information there, spend some time in the Crested Gecko forum here and feel free to ask any additional questions.

Best of luck with your hunt for the perfect crested gecko- they really do make fantastic pets, I love them!

[0215]

Atcually I've got two books on them and about seven care sheets book marked on my computer and my Itouch.

Anyway thanks for the advise but I would still like more.

Thanks

[Elizabeth Freer]

Originally Posted by 0215

Hello I'm new to this website and don't have A pet gecko yet, but I'm thinking about buying a crested gecko. I went to petcothe other day and one employee let me hold one! It jumped to the floor a few time and I thought it was hurt. I liked it a lot, but don't know how to care for one.

I think it needs a 20g tall tank for climbing, but I'm not sure.
Basically I would like to know what it's habitat/enclosure needs, what size tank, what's its diet, and anything else I need to know.

Thanks!!!!!

A hearty welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

Best wishes with the purchase of your crestie. Have you found the GU subforum devoted entirely to cresties?