Crested geckos are among the best pets to grace the herpetology space. They have been around for a while and breeders have touted them to be the best beginner pet lizards. So if you are thinking of adding a new pet to your collection, then a crestie should be top of your list.
But wait! Are crested geckos good pets? Yes! They are iconic, easy to care for, and docile, and most importantly, they come in various morphs and patterns. Lizard keepers will tell you that crested geckos are a joy to raise.
If you are still undecided on keeping a crested gecko as a pet, this post will address exactly why eyelash geckos make good pets. Keep reading to learn more about these friendly creatures.
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Are Crested Geckos Good Pets? Yes, here is why
From my research and experience, both adults and children will find it easy to keep crested geckos as pets. Unlike other lizards such as the bearded dragon, cresties do not require a lot of your attention. Below are some reasons why we find crested geckos to be great pets:
1. Can Thrive In Room Temperature
One of the cool things about cresties, is that they can survive in normal room temperature. Yes! You do not have to heat their tanks or reduce temperatures for them to be comfortable. You can easily keep a crested gecko if you are living in an area whose temperatures range from 68- 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The only time you’ll need to provide heat to your crestie is during winter months. Keep in mind to use the right heating equipment to avoid injuring or harming your pet.
Related Do Crested Geckos Need Heat? & How to Get the Right Temperature
2. They Are Easy To Take Care Of
Every one of us wants a low-maintenance pet that won’t take up most of our time. Fortunately, crested geckos are easy to raise. You don’t have to monitor this little creature every now and then.
All you have to do is make sure the humidity is at the required level. You can do this by misting the vivarium often or by using an automatic fogger.
Crested geckos do not require you to spend a lot of money to keep them happy and healthy. This explains why they are referred to as beginner-friendly lizards.
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3. Their Diet Is Simple
Keeping a pet that does not require a complex diet is always a plus for most people. With crested geckos, you won’t have to worry about providing them with balanced diets.
These geckos rely on CGD, which is nutritionally balanced and easy to prepare as well. Apart from Pangea and Repashy, you can provide your crestie with simple treats such as fruits and feeder insects. Make sure you check our post on what can crested geckos eat to get a hint on what their diet looks like.
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4. Decent Lifespan
When buying a pet, you want one that you can bond with for a very long time. Fortunately, this is exactly what you’ll get with a crested gecko. Despite being small creatures, cresties can live for more than 10 years in captivity.
You can even get them to live for 15 to 20 years by providing proper care. As long as you are providing the best environment and diet, your crestie will rarely get sick thus translating to a longer life.
5. Easy To Breed
Crested geckos are among the few prolific breeders and the best thing is that beginners can breed them successfully. Adult cresties have a natural breeding cycle that lasts for eight months every year. Once your female hits 18 months old, she will be ready to breed. On the other hand, male cresties should not be allowed to breed until they hit 2 years.
The good thing is that you can house breeding pairs together as long as the male is not stressing the female gecko. Besides, female cresties will always retain sperm for a few months, meaning she will lay fertile eggs even after you separate her from the male
Related Can You Put Two Crested Geckos Together?
6. Require Simple Setups
As it’s the case with most pet lizards, crested geckos can survive in simple setups. A 20 gallon tank should be enough for an adult crested gecko. You just have to ensure the terrarium has a lot of vertical space as these creatures are semi-arboreal.
A good enclosure should have enough space, right temperature, right humidity, proper ventilation, and most importantly, it should be escape-proof.
Are Crested Geckos Friendly?
Yes, crested geckos are quite friendly as they can put up with a decent amount of handling. They might be flighty or jumpy by nature, but they will rarely bite.
You will love the fact that these geckos are docile and calm. Once you have them acclimatized to their new enclosure and surrounding, they become pretty easy to handle. Most pet geckos are tame and should not bite you unless you offend them. You should avoid handling your crestie for too long as they can become a bit aggressive or flighty.
Are Crested Geckos Social?
Although crested geckos are friendly in nature, they do not cope well with other animals. In fact, cresties are solitary animals and should not be housed together with other species. Surprisingly, experts recommend keepers to refrain from cohabitating crested geckos unless you want to breed them.
Crested geckos can be a bit social with humans but do not expect them to show you affection the same way as your cat or dog. Most cresties will show affection when being fed, while some will feel delighted when being petted.
Final Words – Are Crested Geckos Good Pets?
In summation, it’s pretty evident that cresties make good pets for both beginners and experts. Raising them should be a walk in the park irrespective of your knowledge on reptiles. So, if you are looking for a beginner pet lizard, a crested gecko should be your go-to option.
