When you get your crested gecko, you’ll need a habitat (also known as vivarium or terrarium) to keep him in. Crested geckos need relatively small but high cages. A crested gecko is a (semi-)arboreal animal that loves to jump and climb.
Crested geckos need a vertical enclosure such as a cage, a tank, or a terrarium. The general term for such an enclosure is a vivarium. A vertical enclosure allows your arboreal crested gecko to climb and jump around. The size of the enclosure will depend on the age and size of your crested gecko.
The enclosure is probably the item you’ll spend the most money on. It’s essential but a good enclosure (including substrate and plants) will cost several hundred dollars. It’s a good idea to know exactly what enclosure you need so you don’t have to buy another one after a year or so.
In this article, you’ll learn everything there is to know about crested gecko cages. At the end of this article, you’ll know what type of enclosure to choose and what size you should get. You’ll also get an idea of the perfect cage location in your home.
If you’re interested in stickers or other products of crested geckos, you can always visit our Etsy Shop, which is called Artful Animalia. We currently only send stickers in the United States. If you’re interested in certain crested gecko-related products, don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Crested geckos make for unique and easy-to-care-for pets. These colorful lizards are a joy to observe and interact with. However ensuring your crested gecko remains healthy and happy requires providing an appropriate enclosure.
The good news is that you can get creative with crested gecko habitats! From DIY backgrounds to bioactive setups, there are many innovative ways to design an engaging vivarium your gecko will love.
In this article, we will explore 23 creative crested gecko enclosure ideas to help inspire your pet’s perfect home.
Key Factors for Crested Gecko Enclosures
When designing a habitat for crested geckos there are a few key factors to keep in mind
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Size – An adult crested gecko requires a minimum enclosure size of 20 gallons. Bigger is often better to allow climbing and exploration.
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Climbing Areas – Crested geckos love to climb! Be sure to incorporate branches, vines, ledges, and other vertical elements.
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Plants – Live or artificial plants help recreate the rainforest environment. Be sure any live plants are crested gecko safe.
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Humidity – Crested geckos require a humidity level around 50-60%. Provide proper ventilation while maintaining moisture.
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Temperatures – Ideal temperatures range from 70-80°F. Avoid direct sunlight which can overheat a tank.
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Substrate – Use a substrate that holds humidity well such as eco earth, sphagnum moss, or orchid bark.
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Hiding Spots – Incorporate caves, huts, cork logs, and other hides to help your gecko feel secure.
By keeping these factors in mind, you can design a perfectly suited habitat for your crested gecko. Now, let’s explore some specific enclosure ideas!
1. Naturalistic Vivarium
A naturalistic vivarium mimics the gecko’s wild rainforest environment. You can use live plants like pothos, philodendrons, and bromeliads paired with a substrate like orchid bark or sphagnum moss. Add in vines, driftwood, and leaf litter to complete the look. A natural setup provides enrichment.
2. Bioactive Enclosure
Take the naturalistic vivarium a step further by making it fully bioactive. This means including live plants, microfauna like isopods and springtails, and microbes to create a self-cleaning ecosystem. Bioactive enclosures provide the most natural habitat, but require more work to set up properly.
3. Waterfall Feature
Incorporate a small waterfall or drip wall into your crested gecko enclosure to increase humidity levels and provide drinking water. The sound of trickling water is also soothing. Be sure to use a quiet submersible pump and watch for electrical hazards.
4. Hanging Plants
Hanging pothos, philodendrons, or other vining plants from the top of the enclosure adds visual interest and climbing opportunities. Let the plants grow wild or train them along the walls. Just be sure they are securely fastened and won’t fall.
5. Background Painting
Get creative by painting a themed mural right onto the background of the tank. Use non-toxic acrylic paint to create a rainforest, jungle, or abstract design. This adds visual depth and enrichment for your pet.
6. Climbing Vines
Add climbing enrichment by incorporating hanging vines made of rope or other reptile-safe materials. Affix sturdy vines horizontally across the tank for traversing. You can also use bendable vines to form loops and crosses for climbing over and under.
7. Mossy Hideaway
Crested geckos love hiding spaces like caves and huts. Give your gecko a comfy, humid place to retreat by lining a natural wood or rock hide with moss. Sheet moss or reindeer moss work well and help hold moisture while providing a soft bed inside the hide.
8. Magnetic LEDs
Add lighting effects safely by incorporating magnetic LED light strips. These battery-powered lights stick right onto the sides of the glass tank using magnets. Use them to create mood lighting or illuminate specific areas of the tank.
9. Fogger
A cool mist humidifier or reptile fogger can automatically mist the tank whenever humidity levels drop too low. Foggers provide the convenience of maintaining proper humidity without the daily chore of hand misting the enclosure.
10. Mesh Cage
For an enclosure with excellent ventilation, try a screen or mesh cage design. Mesh cages made from fiberglass or metal mesh allow for airflow while retaining humidity when misted. They are lightweight and easy to clean too.
11. Wooden Canopy
If using a glass tank, build a matching wooden canopy to place on top. This provides opportunities to mount lighting and increase the height and climbing area. Customize the canopy shape and stain it to match your home decor.
12. Corner Glass Tank
Take advantage of wasted space by using a corner-mounted glass vivarium. Corner tanks maximize floor footprint in a room and provide more surface area for arboreal geckos to utilize.
13. Coconut Hut
Add a natural, eco-friendly hideaway using a real coconut husk hut. These hollowed-out coconut shell hides offer an extra humid retreat. Look for ones with cutout windows so you can still view your pet inside.
14. Bamboo Poles
Use bamboo stalks secured horizontally across the enclosure to create climbing and basking poles. Natural bamboo offers the grip crested geckos love and you can incorporate live plants into the tops.
15. Clay Background
Get creative by sculpting a customized 3D clay background. Carve out ledges, cliffs, and crevices then bake the clay to harden. Finish with non-toxic paint. Sculpted clay backgrounds add enrichment and levels for climbing.
16. Wooden Vivarium
For a roomy and stylish enclosure, build a large vivarium out of wood and glass. Construct it to fit perfectly on a dresser or tabletop. Just be sure to properly seal and waterproof the interior wood to be safe for high humidity.
17. Jungle Gym
Go vertical by turning the entire enclosure into a reptile jungle gym. Usenets, ropes, vines, hammocks, and platforms to create multi-level climbing space utilizing all the height available. It will be fun to watch your gecko explore!
18. Custom Cabinet
Build or repurpose an old curio cabinet or entertainment center into a gorgeous glass display case to showcase your beautiful crested geckos. Custom cabinets allow for large, highly functional enclosures.
19. Hanging Gecko Hut
Hang a premade gecko cave from the top of the tank to utilize vertical space. Hanging hides provide a comfortable perch up off the ground and help crested geckos feel securely elevated.
20. Terrarium Room Divider
Get the most out of an extra large tank by placing it in the center of a room as a divider. Built-in storage can hide necessary equipment while creating a convenient crested gecko habitat centerpiece.
21. External Waterfall
For a truly unique design, build an external waterfall that flows down into the tank. This allows for larger water features while isolating electrical components from the inside of the enclosure itself.
22. Arboreal Zoo Exhibit
Mimic professional zoo exhibits by designing a tall, vertically oriented enclosure optimized for arboreal species. Use strong, safe materials to allow for multiple stories of climbing space suited for active crested geckos.
23. Themed Habitat
Let your imagination run wild and create a themed habitat, like a tiki jungle or bat cave. Use terrain, painted backgrounds, and decorations to craft an imaginative world for your crested gecko to explore. Just be sure decor is safe.
Give Your Crested Gecko the Perfect Home
Part of the fun of owning crested geckos is providing them an engaging habitat suited to their needs. There are so many innovative ways to design an enjoyable environment. Hopefully these 23 enclosure ideas offer inspiration for you to get creative with your own crested gecko’s setup!
With the proper size, climbing amenities, plants, and decor, your pet crested gecko will thrive in its vivarium. The possibilities are truly endless when crafting the ideal habitat. So give your gecko a healthy home to display its lively personality. Both you and your pet will enjoy the results for many years to come!
“Bad” enclosure locations
There are some locations that are more suitable than others to place your crested gecko vivarium. Here are some “bad” locations, although a lot will depend on the particular situation in your home:
- bedroom: crested geckos are active during the night so when you place a cage in your bedroom it’s possible that they make noises that wake you up.
- garage or shed: garages and sheds are usually colder than the rest of the house. Also, exhaust fumes are dangerous for your crested gecko.
- closet: some owners place their enclosure in a closet or in a spare room but this creates a risk to forget your gecko. This might not happen to you but it’s better to know the risks.
What kind of cage does a crested gecko need?
A crested gecko can be kept in a vivarium or terrarium, (remodeled) aquarium, or in a screen cage. A lot will depend on your personal preference and budget. There are pros and cons to all different types of enclosures.
If you’re a new crested gecko owner I would recommend getting a vivarium that’s specially made for crested geckos. There are a lot of different brands that offer this kind of terrarium.
Beginner’s Guide To Crested Gecko Supplies | Tank, Heater, Light, Substrate & More
FAQ
What do crested geckos need in their enclosure?
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Size:While they can be housed in smaller enclosures as hatchlings, adult crested geckos need a larger, vertically oriented enclosure, with height being more important than length or width.
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Material:Glass or screen cages with good ventilation are suitable, according to Pangea Reptile LLC.
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Vertical Structures:Provide plenty of branches, vines, cork bark, and other climbing structures to allow them to explore vertically.
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Hideaways:Ensure there are multiple places for them to hide, like cork bark sections, leaves, or artificial caves.
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Plants:Both live and artificial plants can be used, and can help regulate humidity.
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Substrate:Use a humidity-retentive substrate like coconut fiber or a soil mix, and consider adding a layer of moss.
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Feeding Ledges:Provide a magnetic or suction cup feeding ledge for easy access to food and water.
Is a 12x12x18 big enough for a crested gecko?
The common tank size for crested geckos is 12x12x18 inches (around 11 gallons). Baby and juvenile crested geckos can live in a 12x12x18 terrarium. However, you should house a crested gecko weighing 25 grams or more in a larger tank.
What do you put in the bottom of a crested gecko tank?
For Crested Geckos, it’s best to use a humidity retentive, soil-based substrate that is similar to what is found in their natural tropical habitat.
Can crested geckos live in enclosures?
Small, friendly, and once believed to be extinct, Crested Geckos can live in enclosures and unique reptile pets. The good news is you can create or get inspired by our Crested Gecko enclosure ideas, get one, or build one yourself. Temperature and humidity are among the most important variables to control in an enclosure.
How do you house a crested gecko?
Never house more than one male crested gecko in the same enclosure. When choosing an enclosure, make sure it’s made of durable, waterproof materials like glass or plastic (PVC or ABS). Avoid permeable materials like unsealed wood.
What can be used to create a crested gecko enclosure?
You can find crested gecko enclosures online or create your own enclosure from an old aquarium or screen cage if you’re handy. When looking for a suitable habitat for your crested gecko don’t be fooled by the term “terrarium”.
What is a good enclosure for a gecko?
Real logs are some of the simplest solutions for a proper gecko enclosure. Logs are cheap and come in different shapes to add diversity to the enclosure. Most importantly, they can be a great addition for enclosures with insects and spiders which are known to like logs and wood chips. 16. Vine Paradise
What should I avoid near my crested gecko’s enclosure?
It is also important to eliminate any toxic or harmful substances in the vicinity of your crested gecko’s enclosure. Avoid the use of pesticides, cleaning products, or plants that are toxic to reptiles.
Can crested geckos be kept in a mesh cage?
While mesh cages are typically used for rodents, they can also be used for some reptiles, including crested geckos. A screen or mesh cage consists of a frame made of plastic or aluminum, with a screen or mesh pulled over it and zipped on one or more sides.