Crested geckos, also known as eyelash geckos, are a species of lizards that were believed to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994 by German herpetologist Robert Seipp.
Native to New Caledonia, Crested geckos are listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which makes it difficult for reptile lovers to keep them.
But do Crested geckos or Eyelash geckos make good pets for first-time owners? Or are they tricky challenges for beginners? Let’s find out:
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Can Crested Geckos Make Good Pets For First-time Owners?
Crested or eyelash geckos are known for their low-maintenance costs and are very friendly with children and older people. These lizards can be ideal choices for those owners who don’t have enough time for their reptiles.
Temperament:
Despite having a skittish nature, Crested geckos are considered among the docile-tempered pets. These lizards require very gentle and careful handling, as their tails are prone to breaking off.
However, it is important to remember that eyelash geckos don’t prefer to be handled and held by humans. They might try to jump away from you and injure themselves.
Also, they often drop their tails to escape if they are handled roughly. Unfortunately, like other lizard species, such as Leopard geckos, crested geckos cannot regenerate their tails.
Crested geckos have specialised toe pads that allow them to climb and jump from the branches of trees. Additionally, their prehensile tails add extra agility and can grasp things effortlessly.
Hence, a bunch of bunches or vines must be present inside the enclosure if you are planning to have them as pets. Safe woods, such as fruit trees, can also allow them to climb and jump inside the enclosure.
Being nocturnal, crested geckos hide from the sunlight. Thus, providing halves of coconut shells and cork bark tubes is necessary to help them hide.
Are Crested (Eyelash) Geckos Dangerous To Humans?
Crested geckos are neither venomous nor secrete any toxic substance from their bodies. Hence, these are safe to touch by humans and other animals.
However, they can bite only when they are threatened. Their bites don’t have enough strength to start bleeding or cut off fingers, but the bites can be startling.
Habitat:
Crested or eyelash lizards are endemic to South Province, New Caledonia. They are arboreal species, living in the New Caledonian rainforests.
The geckos are able to jump long distances between branches to move to new locations. Like other lizards, Crested geckos can swim well in the rivers.
Diet:
Crested geckos are omnivorous. They feed on fruits, pollen, nectar, as well as varieties of insects.
Predators:
Rodents such as Pacific rats, ship rats, and cats are the primary predation threats to crested geckos.
In an analysis of New Caledonian rodents in 2017, it was seen that the crested gecko was present in the digestive tracts.
But the geckos become unidentifiable in post-digestion samples, and threats may be diluted.
Lifespan:
Crested geckos can live for a long period of time. In the wild, they can live 15-20 years or even more. However, in captive care, the data are not enough to claim their life expectancies in captivity.
Is It Legal To Keep Crested Geckos As Pets?
Despite being vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, crested geckos are one of the most widely-kept and bred gecko species around the world, just after common leopard geckos.
Although the export of wild specimens of Eyelash geckos is now completely prohibited. The scientists exported several specimens around the world for study and breeding before the New Caledonian government put restrictions on export.
With these specimen breeders around the world, especially in Europe and the USA. They have established new breeding lines for these lizards. It is advised that if you plan to buy crested geckos, buy them from a reputable breeder, not from an illegal pet market.
Price of Crested Geckos:
Despite being one of the most popular pet lizards, Crested geckos are not available everywhere for sale. Depending on its availability and supply, the price of these geckos may vary from 40 USD to 300 USD.
You may find them at a cheap price in illegal pet markets, but they are highly disease-prone. Also, buying wild-caught lizards is ethically and morally dangerous for wildlife.
Health Issues:
Like any other lizard breed, Eyelash geckos have some common health issues such as skin infections, parasitic infections, respiratory and digestive problems, mouth rot or stomatitis, etc.
Conclusion:
Hence, we can confirm that Crested geckos are suitable pet breeds for new reptile owners. They are friendly with everyone, especially with children and old people. They are also quite harmless. Additionally, they are low-maintenance pets.
Care Sheet For Crested Geckos:
Crested geckos are among the very low-maintenance pets and very easy to handle if you are careful.
Enclosure:
The bigger the tank is, the better for the lizards. A 20-gallon terrarium is perfect for an adult crested lizard. However, it is advised not to keep two male crested lizards in the same container. You may keep one male and one female lizard together.
If you plan to keep two lizards together, a 29-gallon glass terrarium is required with a screened side for ventilation. You must need a tall enclosure to keep branches inside that allow the lizards to climb and jump.
Cleaning:
You need to clean the uneaten food from the tank every day in order to prevent bacterial growth. However, always keep an eye out for any insect that is dead inside the enclosure.
Depending on substrates, you need to change them once every two weeks or monthly to ensure cleanliness. Also, provide them with fresh water on a daily basis.
Substrate:
The best substrate for geckos is one which can be cleaned easily, is lizard-friendly, retains humidity, and lasts longer. Hence, coconut fibre bedding, coco, moss, or peat can be ideal substrates for crested geckos.
Crested geckos often ingest substrates while hunting. To prevent this, you may use paper towels (especially for juvenile geckos), sphagnum moss, or coconut fibre bedding, which will be suitable for your gecko.
However, reptile sands, non-organic soil, attractive gravel or pebbles are not suitable for your lizard as they are difficult to clean, and your gecko may swallow them.
Heat:
As cold-blooded animals, Crested geckos need to regulate their body temperatures. During the day, the temperature of the enclosure must be between 72 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (22-27 degrees Celsius).
However, at night, the temperature must be lower than during the day. 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit (18-24 degrees Celsius) is considered ideal for these lizards during the night.
Eyelash geckos get stressed in higher temperatures. Thus, you need to closely monitor the temperature to protect them from overheating. A low-wattage bulb can be a good source of heat for the lizards.
Humidity:
Crested geckos require medium to high humidity levels (60-80%) to survive. You may use a hygrometer or humidity gauge in order to keep an eye on the humidity level inside the enclosure.
Being an owner, you must ensure the humidity level is up to the mark, especially at night, as the lizards are nocturnal.
If you are unable to maintain the humidity level by sprinkling water several times a day, you can use an automated mister or fogger inside the cage at a timed interval.
Light:
A 12-hour light cycle is very important for the geckos to maintain their daily lifecycle. 5% UVB lights can be very beneficial for the geckos to get proper lighting.
Food and Supplements:
It is always advised to provide your gecko well-balanced, nutritious diet. Commercial packaged foods are the best because they maintain a good balance between nutrition.
Gut-loaded crickets, worms (such as wax worms, silk worms) are suitable for crested geckos. However, avoid mealworms as they have a hard, undigestible exoskeleton.
Before feeding the insects, gut-load them 24 hours prior to ensure proper nutritional value. Also, crested geckos consume fruits like banana, papaya, mangoes, pears, etc.
Adult crested geckos consume food two to three times a week. However, the juveniles must be fed daily. Additionally, provide them shallow water dish for drinking freshwater, which is changed daily.
To boost, vitamin and mineral intake of your gecko, you must add vitamin D and calcium supplements at least once a week. Dust the insects or fruits with the dust of calcium and vitamin D, and feed the geckos.
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