Crested geckos are native to the southern aspect of New Caledonia, and among their terrain there are three distinct populations. They were originally discovered in the late 1800s and were thought to be extinct in the wild until 1994. Ciliatus live around 10-20 years and reach an average length of 14cm long making them a small lizard ideal for apartment living. Crested geckos are excellent climbers due to the lamellae on their toes and the tip of their tail.  Lamellae are hair like structures which allows the crestie to adhere to nearly any surface, including the hand of a keeper. Ciliatus do not have a fully prehensile tail like a chameleon, but they are capable of autonomy (“tail dropping”) much like a leopard gecko, however, there is no regrowth of lost tails.  The most regrowth noted on crested gecko tails is a small point affectionately known as a “duck butt” by some keepers.  When this species was originally discovered in 1866 it was thought that crested geckos did not have long tails since nearly all the adults in the wild have lost their tails.  Crested geckos have an excellent sense of taste which can be frustrating to owners trying to convert their pets to a different diet. These interesting and popular little geckos are also nicknamed “Eyelashed geckos”. They are known to leap out of their owner’s hands, so always ensure you are handling your gecko over a solid surface to prevent falls. They are available in many different colors and patterns, with most being shades of yellow, orange, red, brown, and cream. There are also “dalmatian” geckos with and black spots. Because of their unique look and relative ease of care, they are one of the most popular reptiles kept.

Sexing

The older a crested gecko is, the easier it is to definitely determine the sex of the gecko.  Males develop a large bulge under the vent on the tail.  This bulge is called a hemipenal bulge.  Generally, the earliest most people can sex crested geckos is six months of age although some breeders can sex with fair certainty as early as four or five months old.  The hemipenal bulge of males is usually wider than the tail base.





Reproduction

Copulation occurs at night generally.  The male will subdue the female by holding her neck in his mouth and may bite hard enough to leave marks.  These marks are generally minor and removed with the next shedding cycle.  Females lay two eggs every three weeks during breeding.

A plastic lidded container with an access hole and several ventilation holes is ideal for nest boxes and allows the crested gecko to feel secure during egg laying.  Vermiculite or sphagnum moss is used as substrates in the nesting boxes to promote nest digging and decrease stress on the female by offering a natural feeling medium.  The vermiculite should be medium grade and mixed one part water to two parts vermiculite by weight.  Properly mixed substrate will clump when squeezed together without water dripping out of it.  This should be a few inches deep to allow digging.  If sphagnum moss is preferred, the moss should be soaked in water until completely saturated and excess removed by squeezing. Lightly pack this substrate a few inches deep.  Incubation is between 75 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit for 60-120 days.  It is recommended to transfer the eggs, being incredibly careful not to alter the eggs position, to a Gladware or Ziploc container with vermiculite and holes drilled in the top for ventilation. 

Handling

All geckos new to a collection typically require a few days to acclimate before handling is attempted.  This acclimation period also helps to preserve the tail which may be dropped during handling if the gecko perceives itself to be in danger.  Generally, crested geckos will tolerate handling for around 5 minutes a day when they are fully acclimated.