Crested Gecko's

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The Crested Gecko (Rhacidactylus ciliatus), is also known as; the New Caledonian gecko or the eye-lash gecko. In the wild, they can be found on a small area on the island of New Caledonia and the Isle of pines in the South Pacific.  They are nocturnal, primarily solitary and can be found climbing in the lowland forest trees that inhabit the islands. 

When full grown, the Crested Gecko can reach 8 - 10 inches long, if they keep their tails.  They easily drop their tails, and don't grow them back.  They can live up to 20 years, if given proper care and enclosure. 

Crested Gecko's do best in tall rather than long enclosures.  A 10 gallon tank is ok for a juvenile, but an adult should be housed in a minimum of a 20 gallon (tall) enclosure.  To give a Crested Gecko its best life, the enclosure should be bioactive, containing branches and plants to climb on and hide behind, as well as springtails and isopods (the clean-up crew). 

Plants that do well in a Crested Gecko's enclosure include: Pothos, Cryptanthus, Philodendron, Ferns, and Dieffenbachia.   

The enclosure should not have a full screen top. Ventilation and humidity are important to a happy healthy Crested Gecko.  In the wild, the Isle of pines has an average yearly ambient air temperature in the low 70's (F).  The average ambient humidity level is in the low 70%.  You want to model what is natural for them.  If you don't plan on a misting system, you will need to spray the enclosure down twice a day.   

You won't need a water dish, as Crested Gecko's drink the water droplets off of leaves and the side of the enclosure. 

- The Crested Gecko was thought extinct, until 1994. 

- They drink off of leaves or the side of the enclosure. 

- They don't have eyelids and clean their eyes with their tongue.