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Crested gecko habitat

Posted By:

darkplatypus

I'm thinking about getting my first crested gecko. Looking around the internet I see a lot of people recommending 20 gallon tall tanks. However, I have an empty 20 gallon long Visionarium that I would like to use. Do crested geckos actually need that much height or would they be happy if I put enough climbing vines and hanging plants in the long tank? Also, if anyone has any other crested gecko habitat tips please post them.


Points:	50
Topics:	Caging
Tags:	Crested, Gecko, Tank
Species:	Lizards > Geckos > Correlophus ciliatus
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Accepted Answer

2/20/2010 8:30:47 PM

Beardies08

It all depends on what size crestie you are planning on getting. Do you want an adult crestie or one thats only a couple months old? Cresteds do like to climb. Ours likes to be up at the tip top of the cage throught the day while hes sleeping. If you plan on getting a baby I wouldnt suggest putting him in such a big tank at first,he will have a hard time finding his food. I would also suggest using only papertowel with a yound crestie when get into adolescents you can use something else thats more appealing. This is all just what I know and have learned! The best of luck to you!

Assisted Answer

2/20/2010 8:33:25 PM

Sparkle

They like climbing and need height; I have a couple cresteds in 20-long tanks upended so they are tall. If the lids slide, then you just slide them open sideways. Works great! I use the Command hooks by 3M to hang vines and stuff for them to climb on (the removable sticky stuff). And there are magnetic ledges that they love too.

Assisted Answer

2/20/2010 8:34:23 PM

Krestie Kate

If you can turn the tank on it's end so that it's 30 inches tall alot of people do that for there cresties. They definatly benifit from the hight. Most of my geckos you'll see moveing up in a tank not from side to side.

Assisted Answer

2/21/2010 9:19:35 AM

abi21491

I would put it on it's side - that would be perfect. However if you are getting a baby I would recommend putting it in something much smaller first, they can have a hard time finding food in a really big cage. That would be great for an adult though. I use R-Zilla Acrylic Atriums for most of my Rhacodactylus, you can get them on Pangeareptile.com for $40 and for a limited time they come with a free mushroom feeding ledge. Can't beat the price!

Member Comment

2/21/2010 1:35:34 PM

Sparkle

Oh yes, good point - if it's a baby, I keep mine in plastic Critter Keepers. Same setup, a hide to sleep in and vines to climb in. For adults I use the coconut shell hides, they are cheap and just the right size; for the babies I use either 'rock gardens' from Petco (aquarium decoration but there's a hole in the side big enough for a crested to easily get in and out) or if I'm out of those, for tiny babies you can cut a toilet-paper tube in half and tape one end shut, then kinda flatten it a bit - so long as it's small and dark they like it.

Author Comment

2/21/2010 11:00:10 PM

darkplatypus

Thanks for all the tips everyone! I'm hoping to get an adult or sub-adult size. I think I'll save my old 20 gallon for my next snake and jump on the R-Zilla Acrylic Atrium deal, definitely can't beat that price. If I end up getting a baby I'll go with a critter keeper and save the bigger Atrium tank until it grows up.

Member Comment

2/22/2010 7:19:44 AM

Sparkle

I'd say it depends on how warm you keep your house, and if any other pets can knock the tank over... I looked at the acrylic tanks at Pangea's booth at the last NARBC show and they looked pretty chintzy. They are VERY light. I went with glass tanks instead. The Zoomed 12x12x18" tall tanks are only $10 more; if you can swing the extra cost, those are a much better quality tank. Plus they are sturdier and easier to clean (without worrying about scratching the plastic). Both the Exo-Terra and Zoomed tanks have light fixtures available (not that cresteds NEED light, but if you've got it set up like a naturalistic environment, it looks so pretty lit up!) and some people like to provide UVA/UVB as it "might" be beneficial. There's still lots of debate on that topic.

Petco online has the Zoomed tanks on sale for $49.97 with FREE SHIPPING (will save you some $ over Pangea): http://www.petco.com/product/108504/Zoo-Med-Naturalistic-Terrarium.aspx

Here's Pangea's enclosure page: http://www.pangeareptile.com/store/index.php?target=categories&category_id=180

If you don't mind reaching DOWN into the tank to change food/water, this one will work too: http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-supplies/reptile-cages-glass-and-screen/-/creative-habitat-05rtt-glass-cage/

ALSO, if you can wait for a bit, I'm not sure how far you are from Long Island but LLL Reptile will be there on March 21 for the Long Island Reptile Expo, and New York in April for the New York Metro Reptile Expo (April 18 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY). They always have awesome deals on tanks, and you would not need to have it shipped. I got my 12x12x18 Exo-Terra tanks for $39 each at the last NARBC show from them.

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