12 Essential Crested Gecko Supplies for Your Reptile (2023 Guide)

The Crested Gecko is an arboreal reptile that needs a tank that has plenty of climbing space, so stick to a tall vivarium. At minimum, an adult Crested Gecko needs an enclosure that is 12” by 12” by 18” to ensure your crestie has plenty of space to climb and move. For two Crested Geckos, stick to a larger enclosure to ensure there is plenty of space for both of them to have their own areas to prevent stress and aggression. The HerpCult Acrylic Front-Opening Reptile Habitat is a good option for beginners.

There are a lot of different substrate options for Crested Geckos, but there are also some substrates that you should avoid with these critters. Paper towels and coconut husk substrate are the two most commonly used options with Crested Geckos. Avoid using sand, wood chips, walnut husks, exposed soil, and reptibark. Instead, opt for something like this SunGrow Coconut Fiber Substrate.

One of the best ways to keep your Crested Gecko healthy is by keeping their enclosure clean and hygienic. Traditional cleaning supplies are often unsafe for use in and around reptiles’ enclosures, so it’s important to choose products that are safe for use around your Crested Gecko. The Zoo Med Wipe Out Terrarium Cleaner is a good option. If you’re unsure what products are safe to use in your crestie’s enclosure, stick to commercial cleaning products that are made specifically for use with reptiles.

Crested Geckos are somewhat unique in the reptile world because they don’t usually require a heating element in their enclosure. In fact, a heater can cause the enclosure to get too warm, leading to overheating of your Crested Gecko. Because of this, it’s best to stick to an LED light for your crestie’s enclosure, like the Exo Terra Day/Night Reptile Terrarium LED Fixture.

Crested Geckos require quite a bit of humidity in their enclosure, and they often drink water from surfaces in their tank. There are multiple options for adding humidity, from spray bottles to advanced misting systems. No matter what approach you choose to take, it’s important that you ensure there are always appropriate humidity levels in your Crested Gecko’s tank to keep them healthy and hydrated. Something like the MistKing 5.0 Ultimate Misting System is a good way to ensure they’re getting all the moisture they need.

Every animal needs to eat! You should already have a plan for feeding your Crested Gecko something healthy and high-quality before you bring them home. While there are fresh foods that can be appropriate for your crestie, there are now multiple high-quality food mixes on the market that provide great nutrition while giving you a convenient option. Powdered mixes are a good food option for your Crested Gecko. Try out the Repashy Superfoods Grubs ‘N’ Fruit Meal Replacement Powder.

Not only does your crestie need food, but they also need a food bowl. Because of their arboreal nature, your crestie will likely be most comfortable eating from a feeder that sits up high in their tank. A raised or canopy feeding dish like the Exo Terra Elevated Gecko Dish is an ideal way to offer food to your Crested Gecko without them having to come down low in the enclosure. Make it a priority to clean your crestie’s food bowl daily to prevent bacterial growth, and make sure they always have fresh food.

Even though your Crested Gecko doesn’t need a heater, you still need to keep a close eye on the temperature in their enclosure. An enclosure that is too hot or too cold can be dangerous for your crestie, leading to stress, illness, and even death. While there are multiple types of thermometers available on the market, many reptile keepers recommend using an infrared thermometer to get the most accurate temperature readings, like this one: Zoo Med ReptiTemp Digital Infrared Thermometer.

As previously mentioned, humidity levels are extremely important for the health of your Crested Gecko. A hygrometer is a tool that allows you to measure the humidity levels of your crestie’s enclosure. These are typically very affordable, along with being an essential tool in your kit of supplies for the care of your Crested Gecko. This Exo Terra LED Reptile Hygrometer is an affordable option to get you started.

Crested Geckos value having plenty of places to hide and rest in their enclosure, so providing hides is important for maintaining their overall health and well-being. You can DIY hides or purchase them,  like the Stroodies BubbleLoft Gecko Hideout, and there are lots of shapes and textures to choose from to match the enclosure setup. Make sure to clean the inside of the hides when you are doing tank cleaning and maintenance to ensure that mold, mildew, and bacteria aren’t allowed to grow in them.

While you can set your crestie’s enclosure up to meet your aesthetic preferences, you do still need to provide plenty of climbing surfaces for them to spend time on. Wood, like mopani, manzanita, cork bark, and grapevine are all good options. For example, this Zoo Med Mopani Wood would work well. Most of these woods are also sturdy and should last a long time in a humid environment. Just remember to clean them when you clean the rest of the enclosure, especially since wood can absorb moisture and allow bacterial growth over time.

Putting wood into your crestie’s enclosure likely isn’t enough to make the enclosure comfortable for them. Plants are a wonderful way to make the enclosure look and feel more natural for your gecko, especially with something like Fluker’s Repta-Vines. While there are safe live plant options, they do require more care than fake plants. Fake plants are easy to clean, and they’re available in many colors, textures, and types, allowing you a great deal of customization.