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Care sheet

Crested Gecko

Correlophus ciliatus

Also known as: Eyelash Gecko

Diplodactylidae · Squamata

BeginnerIUCN VU
Activity
🌙 Nocturnal
Temperament
Docile
Adult length
7–9 in
Adult weight
35–55 g
Lifespan (captivity)
15–20 yrs
Native range
Southern New Caledonia — humid subtropical forest canopy

Care guide

Overview

Crested Gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) — Rediscovered in 1994 after being thought extinct, now one of the most popular pet lizards. Low-maintenance: room-temperature husbandry (no heat needed in most homes — heat above 82°F is actively harmful), a complete powdered MRP diet with optional live insects, and a vertically-oriented planted enclosure. Crested geckos drop their tails readily and, unlike most geckos, do not regrow them — a tailless crestie is not a health issue but is permanent. Mist nightly, let the enclosure dry during the day.

Environment

Climate

Cool side
65–72 °F
Warm side
72–78 °F
Basking spot
78–82 °F
Nighttime
65–72 °F
Humidity (ambient)
60–80%
Shed-cycle boost
70–90%

Environment

UVB lighting

Required?
Optional / beneficial
Fixture type
T5 HO
Distance to basking
12–18 in
Replacement interval
Every 12 months

Housing

Enclosure

Orientation
Arboreal
Bioactive setup
Suitable
Minimum size by life stage
  • HatchlingKritter Keeper or 5-gallon equivalent (too large stresses young crestes)
  • Juvenile12"L x 12"W x 18"H minimum
  • Adult18"L x 18"W x 24"H (or 36"H for a lightly-planted vivarium)

Housing

Substrate

Depth
2–4 in
Safe options
coco fiber / topsoil blendbioactive mix with sphagnum topperpaper towel (quarantine)
Avoid
calcium sandwalnut shellcedarpine

Nutrition

Diet & feeding

Dietary type
Omnivore
Prey size by life stage
  • HatchlingPinhead crickets (rare treat)
  • Juvenile1/4" crickets, small dubia (1–2× per week)
  • AdultSmall-to-medium crickets or dubia (treat, 1× per week at most)
Feeding frequency by life stage
  • HatchlingMRP (e.g. Repashy, Pangea, Black Panther Zoological) nightly; insects optional
  • JuvenileMRP 3–5× per week; live insects 1–2× per week
  • AdultMRP 3× per week; live insects 0–1× per week
Prey ratio by body weight
Stage
Body weight
Prey (% BW)
Interval
  • Hatchling
    up to 8 g
    3–6%
    1–2 days
  • Juvenile
    9–20 g
    3–5%
    2–3 days
  • Subadult
    21–35 g
    2–4%
    2–3 days
  • Adult
    36 g+
    2–4%
    2–3 days

Feed prey roughly the listed percentage of the snake's current weight, at the listed interval. Use it as a starting point — adjust based on body condition, not the calendar.

Feeding thresholds
Typical hatchling weight
2–4 g
Power-feeding line
> 8% body weight
30-day weight-loss concern
> 10% in 30 days
Supplementation

Primary diet is a complete powdered gecko meal-replacement (MRP) — Repashy, Pangea, or Black Panther Zoological are the industry standards. MRP alone is nutritionally complete; no calcium/D3 dusting needed when MRP is the primary diet. Live insects are optional enrichment, 0–2× per week. Dust those insects with calcium (no D3 needed if MRP is the staple).

Care

Water & behavior

Water

Small bowl plus nightly misting — crestes drink from droplets on leaves and glass. A fine mist 1–2× daily maintains humidity while letting the enclosure dry between cycles (no stagnant damp).

Defensive displays
tail drop (common — tails do not regrow in this species)vocalizing (squeaks, barks)jumping

Legal & ecology

Conservation

IUCN Red List
VU · Vulnerable
Wild populations

Listed as Vulnerable by IUCN due to habitat loss in New Caledonia. Captive population is large and genetically well-established; all animals in the pet trade should be captive-bred.

Genetics

Morphs

Morph market
Active
Complexity
Moderate

Citations

Sources

Every husbandry parameter on this page is backed by the references below. Click through to read the originals.

  1. Crested Gecko Care Sheet

    ReptiFiles

    breeder community

    Keeper reference for Correlophus ciliatus with veterinary cross-referenced husbandry ranges.

    Published: 2023-01-01

  2. Crested Gecko Care

    Pangea Reptile

    breeder community

    Industry reference from a major crested gecko breeder and MRP manufacturer.

    Published: 2023-01-01

  3. Crested Gecko Care

    Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center

    veterinary

    Veterinary husbandry reference for Correlophus ciliatus.

    Published: 2023-01-01