Beginner Mistakes

Most problems with new crested geckos come from a handful of avoidable mistakes, and almost all of them involve heat, moisture or handling. Here are the ones we see most, with the fix for each.

• Keeping the enclosure too warm: hold 72 to 78°F and stay under 82°F; skip heat lamps
• Misting constantly or never: mist once each evening and let it dry out by day
• Housing geckos together: one gecko per enclosure
• Using loose substrate for hatchlings: paper towels until the gecko is larger
• Putting a tiny gecko in a huge enclosure: start small and move up as it grows
• Feeding mainly fruit or baby food: use a complete powdered gecko diet as the staple
• Grabbing the tail: let the gecko walk onto your hand
• Handling too soon after arrival: wait one to two weeks
• Skipping quarantine: keep new animals separate for 60 to 90 days
• Over-supplementing: follow the diet label; add calcium only for insects
• Trusting stick-on thermometers: use a digital probe thermometer and hygrometer
• Waiting too long to call a vet: contact an exotic vet at the first signs of illness

Most of these are easy to fix once you know about them, and a gecko that has been through one of them can usually recover with the right changes.

If you are ever unsure, our other care articles cover each topic in detail, and you are welcome to contact us with questions.