Crested Gecko - Rhacodactylus ciliatus
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Crested Gecko - Rhacodactylus ciliatus
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Lizard Care Sheets]
General Information
Distribution — Endemic to the island of New Caledonia. Found primarily on the southern half of the island and small islands surrounding New Caledonia.
Habitat — Warm, moist, lowland forests. Found primarily on the trunks of trees several meters off the ground.
Size — Adults grow to a length of 11.25-13.5 cm (5-6 inches). Hatchlings are typically 6.75-8 cm (3-3.5 inches) long.
Temperament —Crested geckos are one of the few arboreal species of geckos that are easy to handle. They are initially shy and reclusive however, they are relatively calm slow moving lizards provided it is handled gently and carefully.
Longevity — Very little longevity information is available for this species as it has not been bred and raised in captivity for long. However, crested geckos are believed to live 8-10 years in captivity. As captive care of this species improves, it may be found that they live even longer.
Captive Care
Rating: 2; Due to this animal’s good nature, feeding habits, and adult size it receives an excellent rating; Crested geckos are a good reptile pet for beginners but they can be a little more difficult to handle when compared to species such as leopard geckos and bearded dragons.
Diet: Both insects (crickets, mealworms, wax worms, silkworms, and butter worms) and fruit should be fed to ensure good health in this species; however, a pre-prepared powdered food manufactured by T-Rex is also available. Fruit flavoured baby food and a fruit-honey mixture (click here to view a recipe) are also a favourite.
Temperature: 24 to 26°C (77-80°F) during the day and 19° to 23°C (68-75°F) at night.
Required Space: Crested geckos are arboreal, their enclosures should be tall rather than long. Minimum tank dimensions for this species are 36x45x50 cm (16x20x22 inches).
Breeding: Crested geckos have only recently been bred in captivity; however, they are relatively easy to breed. Males have pronounced hemipenal bulges and preanal pores. Breeding typically occurs after a period of cooling - 21 to 22°C (71-73°F) daytime and 15 to 19°C (60-68°F) nigh time. Reducing the day length in the environment from 14 hours to 10 hours is also recommended. Eggs are typically deposited at the base of plants in a moist substrate. Females will lay clutches of two eggs every 24-28 days up to 6 times a year. Eggs should be transfered to a container with a 50:50 mix of perlite:vermiculte that is moist. This incubation tray should be permitted to dry out a little approximately 7-10 days before the expected hatch date. The duration of incubation varies with temperature. Higher incubation temperatures yield shorter incubation times. On average, eggs incubated at 25-26°C (78-80°F) hatch within approximately 70 days. Crested geckos have temperature dependent sex determination. Incubation temperatures lower than 25 and higher than 27 yield virtually all male offspring.
Special Requirements: Although crested geckos are primarily nocturnal, they do spend time basking in the early morning and late in the day. This species does require full spectrum lighting (specifically UVB) to assist in vitamin D3 production and calcium absorption. Without this lighting, the geckos will be unable to absorb calcium and they will suffer from metabolic bone disease. Suitable climbing sites, such as pieces of cork bark and grape vine, should also be provided in the terrarium to make the geckos feel comfortable.
Sources (Suggested Reading):
Bartlett, R.D. and P. Bartlett. 1997. Lizard Care from A to Z. Barron’s Educational Series Inc., New York. Pp. 178.
Siepp, Robert and Friederich Wilhelm Henkel. 2000. Rhacodacylus: Biology, Natural History & Husbandry. Warlich Druck, Meckenheim, Germany. Pp. 173.