Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there!
I was just wondering for those who have kept both cresteds and leopard geckos, which is your favorite to keep? Which is easier in terms of behaviour, feeding, breeding etc? I have done a lot of reading about both but would like some more personal opinions about them. Thanks!
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Both are great starter geckos. Crested just require a little more work and a bigger tank than a leopard gecko.
Cresties need a tall tank and lower temps and higher humidity. Other than that they are pretty much the same in maintainance. I would go for whatever fits your budget. Cresties cost more than leos, depending on the morph.
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1.1 Green Iguanas
1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0.2 Pictus Geckos
1.0 Flying Geckos
1.0 Emperor Scorpion (R.i.P)
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
0.1 Costa Rica Zebra Tarantula
1.0 Cornsnake
0.1 Ball Python
0.0.1 Some sort of treefrog that came with vegetables

Oh yea forgot to answer your other questions. Cresties do not require crickets or protein as their staple diet and their staple diet is baby food. So its easier to feed cresties than leos.Breeding is not my forte yet so i cant answer that. Both are tolerant with handling.
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1.1 Green Iguanas
1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0.2 Pictus Geckos
1.0 Flying Geckos
1.0 Emperor Scorpion (R.i.P)
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
0.1 Costa Rica Zebra Tarantula
1.0 Cornsnake
0.1 Ball Python
0.0.1 Cuban Treefrog
0.0.1 White Dumpys Treefrog
0.0.1 Pacman Frog
0.1 Cobalt Blue Tarantula
(thats it for now)

Though crested geckos can do fine with baby food, it's not the best diet for them, Babyfood by itself isn't a complete diet for them. Other things should be added to the babyfood, such as bee pollen and something else that eludes me right now. Also most baby foods are very high in sugar, which isn't good for the geckos at all. All natural, no additives type babyfood is better. However it is much harder to ensure they are getting the proper nutrients with babyfood,as you either have to mix meat based babyfood in with the fruit based, or offer insects for protein, especially with young and growing crested geckos.

It is much better to just buy the Crested Gecko Diet, which has been specially formulated to meet the dietry needs of crested geckos. Thus you dont have to give them anything else. However, alternating between the CGD and some live insects, especially for baby crested geckos and growing juveniles, is much better for them.

Crested geckos I find are very easy to keep, though they do need a taller cage than a Leopard gecko. They also need different heating/lighting needs. Crested geckos can be housed at room temperatures, if your home typically stays between 68-80F with 75F being the best you don't need any additional heating or lighting. THey also do great with papertowel substrates as long as they have alot of climbing branches and cover (these can just be fake leaves/plants or live plants). They can also be kept in a 15-20 gal tall tank or equivilant. Leopards kept singlely can be kept in a 10 gal tank but the size difference for single members of either species isn't very much.

Leopard geckos do need a hotter environment with basking spots in the high 80's to low 90's, with undertank heating being best. Both are nocturnal so UVB light isn't an issue. Crested geckos are a bit more handable than leopards but neither are hold for a long time type lizards. I don't think the price of either is much different for normal members of each species. However, crested geckos tend to have a wider range of pattern and color naturally than normal leopard geckos. High end morphs of either species are pretty much the same price, low end crested geckos may still be 2-3 times more than a normal leopard, from a show or breeder, but in petstores, they are almost the same.

At the Toronto Reptile Expo, I didn't see any normal leopard geckos for sale, but was able to get crested gecko juveniles for under $80. I personally feel the crested geckos have much more appeal to them than a leopard gecko, but I have never owned a leopard gecko myself (mostly because I just don't like leopard geckos much on a strickly appearance sake). I find crested geckos look more exotic and 'cute' than leopards, no matter what morph they are.

Besides, crested geckos are funny when they scrurry up your arm and perch ontop of your shoulder or head. LOL

Thanks for the info everyone! I was leaning more towards the crested and that's what I will get. I agree that they are far more cute than leopards . now coes the hard part of finding good ones here in Monteal...

im not the best with cresties because i dotn have any, but i guess the source i read it from was an outdated source. Oh well i learned something new today.
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1.1 Green Iguanas
1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0.2 Pictus Geckos
1.0 Flying Geckos
1.0 Emperor Scorpion (R.i.P)
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
0.1 Costa Rica Zebra Tarantula
1.0 Cornsnake
0.1 Ball Python
0.0.1 Cuban Treefrog
0.0.1 White Dumpys Treefrog
0.0.1 Pacman Frog
0.1 Cobalt Blue Tarantula
(thats it for now)

Personally i like the leopard geckos.I have a breeding pair of leopord geckos,a high yellow,a snow phase,and a run of the mill leopord gecko.As far as crested geckos go...i have 1.She's pretty cool but does require a bit a know how.I live in BC(canada)and are winters get a little bellow freezing so i use a 50w basking bulb for her 18x18x24 enclosure. I also have a dish of baby food lighty dusted with a calcium/D3 supliment that retail for about 12.99can. and is only half gone after a about a year. I offer her crickets about 2-3 times a week(and yes...in response to the last add...they do eat crickets regularily).

But i like the leopord geckos more. There way more personable,actually wanting attention and to come out. Unlike crested geckos wich will only stay still for a while, then there quick and can run up walls.

Start with a leopord gecko and you'll pobally have a crested gecko shortly after since the hobby is very addicting.

Good luck!