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Reptile

Crested gecko

Correlophus ciliatus

🇫🇷 Gecko à crête 🇬🇧 Crested gecko 🇩🇪 Kronengecko

Semi-arboreal, nocturnal, excellent jumper. Crepuscular.

Download advice sheet (PDF)

Overview & key figures

📜
Regulations

Not CITES-listed

ℹ️OPAn: minimum standards for arboreal geckos (vertical space, hides, humidity). Individual housing acceptable; keep basic records.

⏳
Lifespan

from 15 to 20years

⚖️
Adult weight

from 35 to 45g

📏
Adult size

from 18 to 20cm

🌙
Lifestyle

Semi-arboreal, nocturnal / crepuscular

🌡️
Body temperature

Ectothermic / poikilothermic

🧬
Sexual maturity

from 10 to 18months

🥚
Incubation

from 60 to 90days

ℹ️Gestation: ~3 weeks. Incubation: 60-90 days.

🪹
Litter / clutch size

from 2 to 2eggs

ℹ️Per clutch

Habitat & environment

Type of housing

Humid tropical terrarium made of glass or plexiglass (easy-to-clean, heat-retaining materials). Ventilation on each side of the terrarium is essential.

Substrate & bedding

Sandmat Exoterra®, kitchen paper, newspaper. Substrates that can be ingested (sand, soil, or those used for the humid hide) carry a risk of intestinal impaction: use only with certain precautions.

Lighting

Photoperiod : 12 h cycle

UVB

  • UVB need : Beneficial
  • Recommended brands : X-ReptileReptile ExpertSolar RaptorArcadia
  • Replacement : Every 6 months
  • Crested geckos are crepuscular, so in the wild they are also exposed to UVB. However, unlike bearded dragons for example, they can absorb calcium given as a dietary supplement without UVB radiation. With regular calcium intake, UVB is therefore not considered vital compared with some other lizard species; it is nonetheless appreciated, improves calcium absorption and best reproduces the gecko's natural environment.
  • UVB does not pass through glass or plexiglass. Place the lamp inside the terrarium, under a protective grille. Direct sun behind a window pane is ineffective and may cause dangerous overheating.

Required equipment

  • ✓ Climbing branches
  • ✓ Live plants (Phyllostachys, etc.)
  • ✓ Several hides on the warm and cool sides
  • ✓ Humid hide (sphagnum, vermiculite or a damp sponge) to aid shedding
  • ✓ Shallow water dish, large enough for bathing
  • ✓ Daily misting

To avoid

  • ⚠️ Heating plates
  • ⚠️ Hot rocks
  • ⚠️ Heat mats inside the terrarium
  • ⚠️ Lamps too close to the animal and unprotected (risk of burns)

Technical parameters

Hot spot 30–32 °C
Cool spot 20–25 °C Also the night temperature
Humidity 60–80 %

Nutrition

Daily base

Frugivore and insectivore. Rehydrated complete-diet powder (Repashy, Pangea, Arcadia, Zoo Med, Black Panther Zoological (BPZ), Komodo Complete Diet) or organic fruit purées. Insects are offered 1–2× per week maximum.

🦗 Insects

🦗 Cricket
🪲 Roach
🦗 Locust
🐛 Silkworm

🍎 Fruit

As an occasional supplement when a complete powder is used as the base diet. Offer as a smooth purée, very small portions, <5–10% of the weekly intake.

🍌 Banana Ca/P 0.3
🥭 Mango Ca/P 0.5
🍈 Papaya Ca/P 0.8
🍑 Fig Ca/P 2.1
🍐 Pear Ca/P 0.6
🍈 Melon Ca/P 0.6 Vit A
🫐 Blueberry Ca/P 0.7
🍓 Raspberry Ca/P 1
🍈 Guava Ca/P 1.1

Supplements

  • • Dust calcium powder onto the food 2–3× per week.
  • • Gut-load the insects with a food rich in calcium/vitamins.

Treats

Occasional treats.

🪱 Mealworm Very fatty, in moderation.

To avoid

  • 🥑 Avocado — Toxic.
  • 🌿 Rhubarb — Toxic.
  • 🌟 Star Fruit — Toxic.
  • 🍋 Lemon — Citrus, too acidic.
  • 🥝 Kiwi — Excess vitamin C.
  • 🍍 Pineapple — Too acidic.
  • 🍊 Grapefruit — Citrus, too acidic.
  • 🍊 Orange — Citrus, too acidic.
  • 🍇 Grape — Too high in sugar.

Behaviour & socialisation

Social life

Solitary. Males must not be housed together. Female groups possible with adequate space.

Activity cycle: Active at night, climbs and jumps.

Enrichment

  • Variety of branches and climbing supports
  • Hunting live insects
  • Daily misting

Health & prevention

Preventive medicine

Recommended calcium/phosphorus ratio of 2:1. Monitor calcium intake. Annual check-up.

Clinical warning signs

⚠️ Floppy tail syndrome
⚠️ Tremors (calcium deficiency)
⚠️ Shedding problems (dysecdysis)
⚠️ Open mouth
⚠️ Lethargy
⚠️ Nutritional osteodystrophy

If any of these symptoms appear, prompt veterinary care is essential. Contact an exotic-pet vet as soon as possible — they can assess your animal's condition and make the appropriate diagnosis.

Common conditions

Nutritional osteodystrophy

Cause: Calcium deficiency or unsuitable Ca/P ratio

Symptoms: Deformities, tremors, rubber jaw

Prevention: Regular supplementation, Ca/P ratio > 2:1

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