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New Caledonian Crested Gecko
Rhachodactylus ciliatus
Dragon's Den Herpetoculture

The New Caledonian Crested Gecko, Rhachodactylus ciliatus, is quickly becoming one of the most popular geckos in the pet trade. Simple husbandry, small space requirements and relative hardiness make these lizards an excellent choice for beginners and experts alike. In addition, breeding R. ciliatus in captivity has proven to be very easy and eggs are often produced throughout the year. With the amazing variety of color morphs now available, there is something to please even the most experienced reptile keepers. We currently produce Crested Geckos that show amazing colors of bright red, neon orange, pink and yellow, all with or without black "Dalmatian" spotting.

Crested Geckos do best in a room that ranges from the low 70s at night to the low 80s in the day. At these temperatures, they have voracious appetites and can reach adult size in less than a year. Since R. cilaitus is primarily nocturnal, there is no need for heat in the form of a "basking spot", and there is no need for any specialized form of lighting. Hatchlings can be kept in groups of 2-4 in small (2-5 gallon) containers with either paper towels or nothing at all as a ground cover. I prefer to leave the ground bare so there is no place for baby crickets to hide. Use driftwood or small branches for climbing areas and attach some plastic ivy to provide shelter. Mist lightly every day with fresh, room temperature water to provide a drink to keep the humidity around 60% to 80%.

As the lizards grow, you will need to find a larger enclosure for them. I use 10-gallon vivariums to keep an adult pair and 20-gallon vivariums to keep a trio of adults. For adults, I use about 1/2" of fine orchid bark as a ground cover and I supply several branches to climb on. In addition, place a pile of green moss in one corner to serve as a nesting area. Make sure to keep the moss moist by spraying every few days. Fed 5 days a week, crested geckos can reach adult size and begin breeding in less than a year.

Feeding Routine

I feed my crested geckos almost every day, alternating between appropriately sized crickets and a mixture of peach, banana or apricot baby food with calcium and vitamin supplements. Served in bottle-cap sized cups, this mixture will be readily eaten by babies and adults. I recommend raising hatchlings on baby food alone until they are about a month old. At that time, I start giving them 1/4" crickets every other feeding, and the baby food mixture on the off days. Adults will eat 2-3 adult crickets every other night if allowed. Crested Geckos will drink from a shallow water dish if provided, but it will need to be cleaned daily.