Short answers to the questions people ask most about crested geckos. Each one links to the page with more detail.
How long do crested geckos live?
Around 15 to 20 years with good care, according to the RSPCA, the RVC, PetMD and ReptiFiles. Plan for a long commitment.
How big do they get?
About 8 in (20 cm) from nose to tail tip, per the RSPCA and ReptiFiles, and around 35 to 45 g as adults, per ReptiFiles. PetMD gives 5 to 8 in. ReptiFiles says they reach sexual maturity at about 15 to 18 months.
Are crested geckos good for beginners?
Yes. PetMD describes them as beginner-friendly. They eat a ready-made powdered diet and need no strong basking heat. The parts to take seriously are height, the daily misting cycle and never letting the terrarium overheat. Read the setup checklist before you buy.
Do they need a heat lamp?
Not always. Their range sits close to room temperature: a warm spot of about 79 to 85°F (26 to 29°C) at the top, depending on the source, and a cooler area in the low to mid 70s °F. In a cool room, a small lamp on a thermostat provides that. In a warm room, the lamps alone may be enough. The bigger risk is heat: ReptiFiles warns that sustained temperatures above 85°F (29°C) risk stress and heat stroke, and PetMD advises avoiding long exposure above 80°F (27°C). See the lighting and heating guide.
Do crested geckos need UVB?
Current guidance says yes, at a low level. The RVC says they appear to benefit from UVB and recommends a low-output lamp. The RSPCA asks for a 5 to 7% tube. They are a Ferguson zone 1 species, meaning shade dwellers, so the lamp should cover only part of the terrarium with plenty of cover below.
What humidity do they need?
Sources vary. The RSPCA gives about 40 to 50% normally, raised up to 80% by misting. The RVC gives 50 to 70%, ReptiFiles 60 to 80%, and PetMD 70 to 80%. In practice, mist daily so humidity peaks after misting, then let it dry out to about 50%. Keep a water dish as well: the RSPCA and RVC both say fresh water should always be available, changed daily.
What do crested geckos eat?
A complete powdered diet mixed with water, such as Pangea or Repashy, plus gut-loaded insects dusted with calcium. ReptiFiles suggests adults eat the diet every two to three days and insects up to once a week, with juveniles fed daily. Fruit is an occasional treat only: the RSPCA lists blueberries, pears, papaya, strawberries and mango as safe and says to avoid citrus and banana, and ReptiFiles warns that too much fruit can make a gecko refuse its prepared diet. See the diet guide.
Do they like being handled?
Many tolerate short, calm sessions once settled. ReptiFiles suggests starting with about 5 minutes every other day and staying under 20 minutes a day. The RSPCA advises letting the gecko walk onto your hand and not handling in the first week. Wash your hands afterward: the RVC notes all reptiles can carry Salmonella, which can pass to people, especially young children or people with weak immune systems.
Why does my crested gecko jump?
Jumping is natural. ReptiFiles calls it instinctive and suggests handling over a bed or couch so it has a soft landing. Letting it walk from hand to hand, and handling during the day when it is sleepier, can help.
Will the tail grow back?
No. Crested geckos can drop their tail as a defense, and unlike many geckos they cannot regrow it, as the RSPCA and RVC both note. ReptiFiles says tail loss is not a medical emergency. Avoid it by never holding the tail, handling gently, and keeping the room free of sudden loud noises, which ReptiFiles lists among the triggers. ReptiFiles adds that no special care is needed afterward.
Can two crested geckos live together?
Usually not. The RSPCA says they are best kept singly and males should never live together. ReptiFiles warns males will fight and can injure or kill each other. Two females can sometimes share a large enclosure with plenty of cover, but it is “still not optimal”, per ReptiFiles.
What substrate should I use?
For a juvenile under about 13 g, paper towel, as ReptiFiles suggests, because of the risk of swallowing loose substrate. For larger geckos, coconut fiber or a soil and coconut mix 2 to 4 in (5 to 10 cm) deep. The RSPCA suggests coconut coir or soil topped with moss or leaves. Avoid bark chips, pine, cedar and reptile carpet.
How often should I clean the terrarium?
Spot clean waste as soon as you see it, as the RSPCA and RVC advise, and wash food and water dishes daily, as PetMD suggests. For a full clean, the RSPCA and RVC say monthly and PetMD says at least weekly. A bioactive setup needs mainly spot cleaning.
Are crested geckos nocturnal?
They are mostly active at dawn, dusk and night (crepuscular, as ReptiFiles and the RVC describe them). Expect to see your gecko sleeping in the leaves by day and moving around after the lights go off.
How often do crested geckos shed?
PetMD says juveniles shed about every one to two weeks and adults about monthly. Stuck shed on the toes or tail tip can mean humidity is too low. The RSPCA suggests a soak in tepid water and never pulling it off.
When should I see a vet?
Register with a reptile vet before the gecko arrives, as the RSPCA advises, and book a yearly check, as the RVC and PetMD recommend. Go sooner for weight loss, abnormal droppings, swellings or a misshapen leg, jaw or spine (possible metabolic bone disease), repeated stuck shed, or a gecko that stops eating. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice.
Tall, gentle, and never too hot. Get those three right and a crested gecko makes a calm, long-lived companion.