Gecko Crestado
Distinctive dorsal crest. Docile. Excellent for beginners with limited space.
Foto: Wikipedia Commons · CC BY-SA
Ideal for
- ✓Those seeking an exotic pet with a technical commitment
- ✓Patient people (reptiles need time to build trust)
- ✓Homes with room for a terrarium
Reconsider if
- ×Homes with young children without supervision
- ×People without prior experience (consult an exotics vet first)
- ×A life 100% in a small terrarium (cruel)
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Is the Gecko Crestado a good match for you?
Indicative rating from 1 (low) to 5 (high).
💶 Estimated cost of ownership
15-30 €/month
CGD diet 5-10 € + the occasional insect 3-6 € + electricity/misting 4-8 € + substrate and maintenance 3-6 €.
History and origin
An arboreal gecko from New Caledonia, rediscovered in the 1990s; very popular for the ease of feeding it on commercial diets.
Temperament and character
Reptiles are NOT social like mammals. They tolerate handling but do not seek company. Trust is earned with patience.
Living together
Children: depends on the species + supervised handling. **Other pets:** avoid — risk both ways. **Other reptiles:** depending on species, separate terrariums are better.
Life stages of the Gecko Crestado
Each stage has its own care priorities. Life expectancy: 15-20 años.
Hatchling/Neonate
0-3 months
Cool temperatures 22-26 °C (sensitive to heat), high humidity; species-specific crested gecko diet with calcium.
Juvenile
3-12 months
Commercial diet and occasional insects; humid planted vertical terrarium; watch for 'floppy tail from MBD'.
Subadult
1-2 years
A tall terrarium with branches, humidity by misting; a calcium-rich diet based on the powdered mix.
Adult
2+ years
Avoid excessive heat, maintain humidity for shedding; monitor egg-laying in females; it drops its tail and does not regenerate it.
Care
Terrarium: minimum size depending on species (consult species-specific guides). UVB is mandatory for diurnal species.
Temperature: day/night gradient · warm vs cool zone for thermoregulation.
Humidity: depending on species (rainforest 70%+ · desert 30-50%).
Feeding: species-specific diet · insectivores, herbivores and carnivores vary radically.
Veterinary care: exotics vet (a general vet will NOT do). Annual check-up.
Care in detail
🍽️ Nutrition
An easy omnivore: powdered commercial diet (CGD) as the base, supplemented with the occasional insect dusted with calcium. Water and misting to drink.
✂️ Grooming
It is not bathed; humidity and misting ensure complete sheds. Watch the toes especially after each shed.
🎓 Training
Docile and one of the most manageable; it tolerates short handling sessions. Careful! It can drop its tail, which does not grow back.
🏃 Exercise
A planted vertical terrarium (min. 45x45x60 cm) with branches and foliage; cool ambient temperature 22-26 °C, never intense heat; humidity 50-70%.
Breed-specific health
Lack of UVB (rickets, MBD), parasites, respiratory infections from incorrect humidity. Life expectancy 15-20 years when well cared for.
🩺 Health predispositions of this breed
Conditions this breed is more predisposed to. Knowing about them helps with prevention and early detection. A predisposition does not mean the animal will develop them.
Common diseases in reptiles
Learn the symptoms, prevention and when to see the vet. Reviewed indicative information that does not replace a veterinary consultation.
Screening and prevention for the Gecko Crestado
Recommended tests and screenings
- ✓Faecal exam (parasites)
- ✓MBD assessment (common if calcium is lacking)
- ✓Inspection of the tail and of shed skin on the toes
- ✓Weighing and hydration monitoring
Prevention
A complete commercial crested gecko diet (CGD) with calcium/D3, adequate humidity (50-70%) with misting, and COOL temperatures: it does not tolerate heat above 28-29 °C well. It does not need UVB if the diet is complete, though a mild UVB is beneficial.
Check-up schedule
Check-up with an exotics vet at acquisition and annually.
Warning signs
- !Soft jaw or a 'floppy'/wavy tail (MBD)
- !Retained shed on the toes (risk of necrosis)
- !Loss of the tail (autotomy; it does not regrow)
- !Lethargy and open mouth in high heat (heat stress)
Gecko Crestado gallery
Frequently asked questions about the Gecko Crestado
- How long does a Gecko Crestado live? ▾
- The life expectancy of the Gecko Crestado is 15-20 años. A good diet, adequate exercise, annual veterinary check-ups and preventive care can help reach the upper end of that range.
- How much does a Gecko Crestado weigh? ▾
- An adult Gecko Crestado weighs between 30-55g, depending on its sex, genetics and condition. It is pequeño.
- Where does the Gecko Crestado breed come from? ▾
- The Gecko Crestado originates from Nueva Caledonia. An arboreal gecko from New Caledonia, rediscovered in the 1990s; very popular for the ease of feeding it on commercial diets.
- How much exercise does a Gecko Crestado need? ▾
- The Gecko Crestado has media energy. **Terrarium:** minimum size depending on species (consult species-specific guides). UVB is mandatory for diurnal species.
- Is the Gecko Crestado good with children? ▾
- **Children:** depends on the species + supervised handling. **Other pets:** avoid — risk both ways. **Other reptiles:** depending on species, separate terrariums are better.
- Who is the Gecko Crestado NOT recommended for? ▾
- It isn't the right breed for: Homes with young children without supervision. People without prior experience (consult an exotics vet first). A life 100% in a small terrarium (cruel). It's important to choose a breed that's compatible with your lifestyle.
- What health problems does the Gecko Crestado have? ▾
- Lack of UVB (rickets, MBD), parasites, respiratory infections from incorrect humidity. Life expectancy 15-20 years when well cared for.
- Is it a good choice for beginners? ▾
- Yes, it is one of the easiest reptiles: docile, needs only a small terrarium, thrives on a complete commercial diet and has no strict UVB requirement.
- Does its tail grow back if it loses it? ▾
- No. Unlike other geckos, the crested gecko does not regenerate its tail; a tailless specimen is healthy but stays that way for life.
- Does it need a lot of heat? ▾
- On the contrary: it prefers cool temperatures (22-26 °C) and suffers above 28-29 °C, which makes it easy to keep in temperate climates.
- Can it be handled? ▾
- Yes, it tolerates handling well in short sessions, ideally cupped over the hands so it does not jump and hurt itself.
Learn more about reptiles
Practical veterinary guides to support your Gecko Crestado.
Sources and references
Content compiled from official breed standards and leading veterinary sources.
- WikipediaCorrelophus ciliatus ↗
- The Reptile DatabaseReptile Database ↗
- AHESpanish Herpetological Association ↗
Want to adopt a gecko crestado?
There are gecko crestados in rescue shelters looking for a family. Filter by breed in the catalogue.
