Everything You Need to Know About Owning a Crested Gecko
You're reading Preparing for a Crested Gecko in Crested Geckos: The Complete Guide for Noobs. Rapidly navigate to other chapters: Intro | Preparing for a Crested Gecko | Buying a Crested Gecko | Crested Gecko Care
Before you even buy a crested gecko yous'll demand to be fully prepared. You lot should:
- prepare yourself for your new pets and the new responsibilities
- prepare your habitation to firm a crested gecko
- know what y'all demand to buy to care for a crested gecko and where to buy it
- detect a vet that knows how to diagnose and treat a crested gecko
Every bit you can encounter we've got a lot to acquire and a lot of unlike topics to cover, so let'due south get started!
Preparing Yourself
When you expect at the ambrosial crested gecko in a pet store you might be persuaded to an impulse buy simply impulse buys are never a expert idea, especially when information technology comes to buying a pet. Pets require care for a certain flow and will have an influence on you and your family.
It'due south essential that you prepare yourself and your family unit before you get a pet. The following questions should always be asked before yous get a crested gecko:
- can you keep a crested gecko in your dwelling house?
- why exercise you want a crested gecko?
- what practise you expect from a/what can yous expect from a crested gecko?
- is everybody in your family unit on lath with getting a crested gecko?
- who's going to treat the crested gecko?
Tin can you keep a crested gecko in your habitation?
Crested geckos are considered illegal in some countries and states. You might happen to alive in such a region where information technology won't be immune to hold crested geckos as pets. Inform yourself well-nigh the regulation in your region!
Even if you can legally keep crested geckos in your region, you might not exist allowed to proceed them in your home. This can be the case when you're renting an apartment and the charter doesn't let pets. You should always bank check your rental agreement to make sure that pets are allowed. If there'south no written clause that allows this, you shouldn't get a pet even when your landlord verbally consents.
Why practise you lot want a crested gecko?
People become pets for a myriad of reasons and the reasons why y'all get a dog are maybe different than why you would want to get a crested gecko or another kind of pet. The most common reasons why you possibly would want a crested gecko are:
- companionship: if y'all live lonely your home can sometimes feel empty. This might lead to a feeling of loneliness. A lot of people become a pet to take someone to take care of and that gives a class a friendship in place.
- taking care of another beingness: people similar the feeling of beingness needed past someone or something. A pet will demand you to have care of it or else it will soon die. This intendance gives a satisfying feeling to a lot of people. Information technology's besides a expert way to give a sense of responsibility to children.
But other pets can also provide companionship and a good feeling. Then why would you want to go a crested gecko?
A lot will depend on what kind of pet fits your lifestyle. If you want an agile pet that you tin can go for a walk with, a crested gecko would not be a slap-up choice. Crested geckos are agile merely nocturnal creatures. They're relatively small and are easy to tame and handle. However, they're not cuddly animals like dogs and you lot'll need some bonding with them before they will be handled.
What exercise you expect from a/what can yous wait from a crested gecko?
You should know what to expect from your crested geckos before getting them. You should exist aware that crested geckos:
- can be kept alone or in a small group: crested geckos aren't very picky when it comes to being alone or in a group. If y'all exercise want to keep multiple crested geckos you'll need to take into account a few things similar the male-female person ratio and the way yous introduce your crested geckos to each other. If you lot just desire one crested gecko this is also fine and yous can give all your beloved to information technology.
- demand time to bond: crested geckos might seem cute and cuddly merely they need some time to bail. Crested geckos are "new" pets that aren't used to being handled and their instinct is to run away and hide when they get defenseless. Luckily, crested geckos are smart and curious animals that can be bonded with given the proper fourth dimension. Their curious nature will aid in this bonding procedure.
- crave a small terrarium: crested geckos only demand a minor vertical terrarium and there are manufacturers that have fabricated terrariums simply for them. Every bit is the case with a lot of pets, the larger the terrarium the better. Still, a proficient-sized crested gecko terrarium tin can be placed in houses and fifty-fifty apartments.
Discussing getting a crested gecko with your family or housemates
If you live alone, experience complimentary to skip this piffling section. Simply if you live with your family or friends you want to discuss getting a crested gecko with them. Make sure that yous know the basics of crested gecko intendance and have informed yourself of the total toll of crested geckos. This way yous can answer all the questions from your family or housemates. If they nevertheless got questions or are interested to learn more, don't hesitate to refer them to this site.
An important affair to hash out is whether your family unit members/housemates take pet allergies. It's as well extremely important that they're not agape of reptiles. A lot of people have a fright of getting reptiles in their house, but crested geckos are usually not a reason to go scared. They're lovely creatures that accept a friendly and curious nature.
Dividing the responsibilities
If yous're the only one in your household, you lot volition probably carry all the responsibilities related to your new pet. But if yous live with other persons or children you lot'll need to talk about the responsibilities and sharing them between all the members in the household.
To give you an idea of the new responsibilities:
- you'll need to feed and give fresh water to your crested gecko
- the terrarium needs to be thoroughly cleaned at least one time a month
- you'll demand to brand certain that the temperature, humidity, and lighting stay within the ranges that your crested gecko needs
Preparing Your Home
Where to place the crested gecko cage?
Recommended locations
You should find a good location for your crested gecko cage past taking into account the post-obit recommendations:
- place the cage on waist level or higher:crested geckos are prey animals and are preyed upon by birds. Their natural instinct is to run when they see a predator or lose their tail when grabbed past information technology. Your crested gecko should e'er be able to become to a level that'southward the same summit equally yourself. This makes it too a lot easier to cheque upwardly on your crested gecko.
- keep it away from ventilation, radiators, directly sunlight and cold spots: crested geckos are sensitive creatures that demand the correct kind of humidity and temperature to live a happy life.
Locations to avert
There are some locations that are more suitable than others to place your crested gecko muzzle. Here are some "bad" cage locations, although a lot will depend on the particular situation in your home:
- chamber: crested geckos are nigh active during twilight periods but when you place a cage in your sleeping accommodation it'southward possible that they will make noises that wake you up at night.
- garage or shed: garages and sheds are normally colder than the residual of the house. You lot volition also usually accept little interaction with your crested gecko when you house them in a garage or shed. Lastly, exhaust fumes from cars are dangerous for your crested geckos.
The in a higher place locations are less suitable because you lot'll not encounter your crested geckos as much as when you house them in your living room. Virtually people will house their crested geckos in their living room so they tin can enjoy them during the evening and in the morning.
Gecko-proofing your home
Why practise you need to gecko-proof a room?
Although information technology'south possible to continue crested geckos virtually of the time in their terrarium – if it's large enough and provides plenty stimuli – you'll have to get them out of the terrarium at some betoken.
Common situations where your crested gecko will exist kept exterior the terrarium:
- while cleaning the terrarium you'll need to keep your crested gecko in a separate terrarium or container
- when yous handle your crested gecko outside the terrarium
A lot of rooms in our homes comprise unsafe objects for animals. Since crested geckos can be escape artists and tin slip from your easily while treatment, you lot'll need to be certain that the room is gecko-proof for their condom. If you don't gecko-proof the room, they can escape and can go stepped on.
Household hazards
A house tin can exist a real decease trap for small animals and if y'all're not careful your crested gecko might observe a place to crawl in and not be able to exit. Before yous get crested geckos – and specially earlier yous permit them out of their muzzle – bank check that the room their cage is in, is gecko-proof. This ways that:
- there are no traps lying effectually: make certain that there are no gummy or snap traps in the room. You might desire to get rid of a rodent problem but crested geckos are equally in danger of getting caught in such traps.
- household chemicals are kept in a closed chiffonier: if you've got children yous should already shop these chemicals in a airtight cabinet where your children tin can't get to them. The same is applicable to crested geckos that might desire to take a nip of some bleach lying around.
- at that place are no small holes or crawl spaces: crested geckos are small – measuring only x inches – and can fit through relatively small holes and can go stuck in the process. You should brand sure that in that location are no clamber spaces or cracks in the walls.
Other pets
Crested geckos are small casualty animals and they should exist kept away from other pets. Animals, while they tin can be friendly towards y'all and your family, still have their hunting instincts. Dogs, cats and even birds tin can pose a serious threat to your crested geckos. When your crested gecko is out of its cage it'southward the safest to not let whatsoever other pet in the aforementioned room. Even when they're in their terrarium you should ever be careful that the terrarium is safely secured and that your other pets can't hurt them.
Buying the Necessary Gear
What exercise y'all need for a crested gecko?
When yous're getting a pet, you'll need to buy a few products that are necessary to accept care of your crested gecko. You'll need to buy some basic gear for the crested gecko:
- terrarium
- substrate
- terrarium plants
- lighting
- heating equipment and thermometers
- hygrometers and misting bottles
- water and nutrient dishes
You lot'll also have some recurring costs, some of which are mentioned above. The most important recurring cost, withal, is nutrient.
Terrarium
Crested geckos are arboreal. In the wild, they live in trees and large bushes. They absolutely love to spring and climb. This ways that you'll need a vertical terrarium that is high plenty for your crestie to climb and bound.
A drinking glass tank is often much better than an acrylic terrarium, which is hands scratched and damaged. Never employ a wooden enclosure every bit these quickly rot with the high humidity level your gecko needs.
What is the minimum tank size for a crested gecko?
A 12 x 12 x xviii-inch enclosure is the bare minimum for a single developed. The tank should be at to the lowest degree x-twenty gallons in volume. Of course, when information technology comes to housing developed crested geckos, taller and larger is better. This allows your gecko to climb, exercise, and explore the awesome environment y'all've created with plants and branches. It likewise allows for a temperature gradient of hot and cool areas.
If your chosen tank has no lid, you volition demand to buy a screen cover to prevent your gecko escaping, provide ventilation, and continue your gecko abroad from hot calorie-free bulbs.
Desire to know more about terrariums?
Read our guide on choosing a terrarium for your crested gecko.
Substrate
A substrate is the flooring of the terrarium and is non essential. There are reptile owners that don't use substrate but for a more naturalistic look, it'due south better to have substrate.
If you have a hatchling or juvenile crested gecko you should use paper towels or newspapers equally substrate. Why? Because they have a trend to ingest the substrate and may wind up with impacted guts. If you employ paper towels or newspapers y'all reduce this risk.
When your crested gecko grows up and becomes an adult you can use a commercial or DIY soil mix.
Want to know more about the substrate?
Read our guide on choosing a substrate for a crested gecko terrarium.
Terrarium Plants
Terrarium plants are essential for your crested gecko. You'll accept to choose between live and false terrarium plants. I would recommend using live terrarium plants but the option is of course up to yous.
If y'all choose to have live plants in the terrarium it's extremely important that the plants are rubber for your crestie. Below is a listing of plant species that are known to exist prophylactic:
- Pothos
- Sanseveria
- Hoya
- Bromeliads
- Ferns
- Bamboo
- Philodendron
- Ficus Alli
When choosing your plants, ensure they are strong plenty to support your gecko's weight. And if you use potted plants, make sure they can't topple over and crush your crestie! Also, call back to get out one-half the tank clear so your gecko tin can navigate and move effectually freely.
Want to know more about plants?
Read our guide on choosing the plants for a crested gecko terrarium.
Lighting
You don't really demand lighting for your terrarium. Only if you want to utilize lighting to assist increase the tank temperature, choose a compact fluorescent bulb such as those from a trusted brand, Exo Terra, or the Zoo Med ReptiSun bulb. Amazon.com as well has a good choice of fluorescent bulbs from a diversity of known brands.
There are special UVB bulbs available, though many experienced owners swear they aren't necessary. The benefits of UVB bulbs are that they help your gecko to convert vitamin D and they also promote natural beliefs. If yous choose to use UVB bulbs, ensure at that place is plenty of leaf coverage to protect your gecko'southward sensitive widdle eyes from UVB over-exposure. Only employ this type of bulb for 4-six hours per day.
Y'all tin can go bulbs specifically for all-nighttime utilise; these come in carmine (infrared) and blue spectrum (moonlight). These should merely be used for brief periods in the evening or early morning to heat the terrarium. This is because these lights can disturb your gecko'southward normal nocturnal behavior. Endeavor instead a red-colored drinking glass bulb as the lite volition be less harsh and confusing – you'll nonetheless get to view your geckos in a cool, creepy light.
Desire to know more most lighting?
Read our guide on choosing lighting for a crested gecko terrarium.
Heating equipment and thermometers
Heating equipment
The ideal temperature for crested geckos ranges from 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (21 and 25 degrees Celsius) during the twenty-four hours. During the night they can handle lower temperatures. At night the temperature should range between 69 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit (twenty and 22 degrees Celsius).
So, crested geckos don't really demand loftier temperatures. If you await at these temperatures you will see that these are roughly the same temperatures that humans similar. Most room temperatures volition be fine for a crested gecko. Then if you alive in a balmy climate and the room temperature is between these temperatures you should be fine.
If you need to increase the temperature in your crested gecko terrarium, you tin choose betwixt a lot of different options. If y'all desire to create a thermal gradient in the terrarium you should get either a estrus emitter or radiant heat panel.
Thermometers
You volition need to know the ambient and surface temperature of the terrarium. Ambience temperature is the air temperature while the surface temperature is the temperature of objects in the terrarium.
A good crested gecko owner monitors both because they can be very different. To measure the ambience temperature you should use a probe thermometer. This kind of thermometer tin take temperature readings at different parts of the terrarium. To measure the surface temperature you can utilise a temperature 'gun' thermometer. This kind of thermometer is great for reading the surface temperature of the plans and the substrate.
Want to know more than virtually heating equipment?
Read our guide on choosing the heating equipment for a crested gecko terrarium.
Hygrometers & Misting Bottles
A crested gecko terrarium needs to have humidity between l and 70 percent. This humidity helps go on the crested gecko stay healthy and makes it easier for him to shed his skin.
To monitor the humidity you should use a hygrometer. This is a device that measures the humidity in the air. They come in both analog and digital varieties. The digitals are generally considered meliorate every bit they are more authentic.
If you detect that the humidity is non on point, you lot should "mist" the terrarium with a and then-called misting bottle.
Food and water dishes
You'll need to feed your crested gecko every few days or three times a calendar week. Besides that your crested geckos will need to have access to fresh water every twenty-four hours. This means that you'll need to have food and h2o dishes. There is a wide variety of dishes available and you tin can even get dishes that adhere to the sides of the terrarium.
I would recommend that yous become food and water dishes that are sturdy and can go tipped over by your crested gecko. It's too important that the dishes aren't too deep since it's possible that your crestie – especially when it's young – falls in and drowns.
Food
Lastly, y'all should fix for your crested gecko by buying enough food to last for at least a month. Crested geckos don't demand to eat a lot and there are some commercial diets bachelor to get started right away. The well-nigh popular brands of crested gecko food are:
- Repashy Superfood: this is a diet that comes in a pulverisation form and has to be mixed into a paste with water
- Fluker's Crested Gecko Diet: this make offers little ball-shaped granules that you tin put direct into the food dish
- Pangea: this brand has several powdered mixes that provide a blend of insects and fruits
A lot of people feed their crested geckos simply these commercial diets and their crested geckos are healthy but y'all can also give insects and worms to your crested gecko to mimic its diet in nature. Crickets, dubia roaches, and waxworms are popular choices to give to your crested geckos. You'll need to gut-load and dust them to provide enough nutrition and supplements to your crestie. You lot can also requite fruit as a treat nigh twice a month.
Where to buy the necessary gear?
Everything y'all demand can be bought in pet stores. If your local pet store doesn't take any reptile supplies you don't need to worry, you can too buy the necessary gear online on sites like Amazon or online stores that specialize in reptiles.
To give you a caput start, here are some sites that sell the gear you'll need:
- Amazon
- Exo Terra
- Josh's Frogs
- LLL Reptile
Although these sites and others can give you competitive prices y'all might also find actually good deals at pet stores. It all depends on the region y'all're in.
Finding a Vet
Crested geckos are exotic animals and non all vets have a lot of experience with this kind of pet. You should observe a vet that lives close by and that's capable of doing the annual checkups and treatments of your crested gecko. Likewise, check what'due south the closest emergency creature infirmary and write down the number.
Now that you know what a crested gecko needs, you tin can continue to the next chapter in the guide: Buying a Crested Gecko.
Source: https://mycrestedgecko.com/crested-gecko-guide-preparing/
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