Gecko Wrangling

Crestie besties might be the cutest reptiles ever but just because you love them does not mean the feelings are mutual! Crested geckos do best when handled for 30 minutes or less in the evening or at night when they are most active. Stare at them, take photos, cute videos, etc. but please resist the urge to pick up your gecko for the first two weeks (especially after shipping!). 

The best way to start building a bond is by hand feeding them, either by using tongs with insects or letting them lick the liquid diet off your finger. Holding them can be tricky for inexperienced handlers, they like unexpectedly leaping from high places and splatting right on the floor. If this happens, don't worry! They were built for the trees and a 5-foot drop is no big deal for them. If you start handling your crested gecko and freak out, that is okay; cresties do not require handling to live a long and happy life! 

If you have a busy lifestyle (kids, college, travelers, work trips, etc), a crested gecko may be the ideal pet for you! With the right setup, you may only need to interact with the gecko twice a week. 

If you get an automatic misting system, bioactive enclosure, and a timer for the lights then the gecko will be perfectly fine for a few days on its own. It should still get fed every 3 days but if you have a pet sitter you can premake the food and stick it in the fridge for them. 

A paper towel setup is also extremely easy to maintain. You could spruce it up with a few potted plants or just stick with faux plants for a fun addition to your desk or living area. Cresties take up less than 2 square feet of space so they will fit in any home, apartment, or dorm room with no problem! 

Cresties (and almost all species of New Caledonian gecko) are able to "fire up" or "fire down". 

When a gecko fires up, the colors get brighter and the contrast increases, showing off that beautiful pattern. A gecko will fire up when it gets excited, usually during feeding time. All of our geckos are pictured fired up. 

When a gecko is fired down, they may turn a more drab grey or brownish color. Some individuals called "lavenders" turn a really gorgeous shade of pale purple. This is their relaxed, chilled coloration which indicates that they are comfortable in their environment. 

Your gecko may fire up randomly throughout the day. Watch out for it especially during misting, feeding, right after the lights go out, or when you're handling them. It is amazing to see a brown gecko turn bright red or a white gecko turn neon yellow!

Crested geckos are one of the few species of geckos that do not regenerate their tail. They will still drop their tail like a normal house gecko but it will never regenerate. Cresties with dropped tails are called "frog butts".  They can drop their tail due to stress, perceived danger, mishandling, or sometimes for absolutely no reason at all! Just because your gecko drops its tail does not mean you're doing a bad job :) The gecko does not usually require any extra care when (or if) it drops its tail, the wound should close on its own. 

Cresties might take the same amount of care as a betta fish, but don't be fooled! They can be a 15-20 year commitment! With proper care, your baby gecko should be adult sized (40-50 grams) in 2-3 years and stay about that size for the rest of their lives. They should always be able to fit comfortably in your hand and make great pets for families with children, college students, adults, even the elderly! Everyone has the skills to take care of a gecko and Katamaran Reptile Ranch believes that if you want a gecko, you should get one!