Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I was curious to know everyone's opinion on cage sizes. What is the smallest cage you would keep a 7 month crestie in and what is the largest. How big is too big for 1 maybe 2 adult geckos? What is everyones personal preferences? Do I ask to many questions in one post?

Thanks,

-Mike

Not too many questions. I keep my cresties in screen cages that are 16" x 15" x 20". I also have a couple in a 29 gal tank. Hope that helps.

Brian
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Rhacodactylus Ciliatus 7.3.4
Eublepharis Macularis 0.0.2
Tarentola Annularis 0.0.1
Antaresia Maculosa 0.1
Python Regius 2.0.1

It depends on the size, sex and temperament of the particular animal being housed. I keep Cresteds in enclosures ranging from two and a half gallon tanks (for hatchlings) up to a fifty-six gallon tank (12x30x24; currently housing three adult females). I generally keep individual adults in 10 gallon tanks (10x12x20), 20 gallon tanks (12x24x12) and pairs and trios in 29 gallon tanks (12x30x12). I've had as many as five adult females in the fifty-six gallon tank and a pair of adults in a 10 gallon tank.

I prefer to keep groups in the largest tanks I have available and have only put even-tempered individuals together in the smaller tanks (pair that was temporarily in a 10 gallon were both extremely laid-back). I tend to give females more space to reduce stress and also time away from the males to cool off / reduce stress from breeding activity.

Keep in mind that any time an animal is in a smaller habitat, you have to keep up with cleaning and provide plenty of climbing / hiding structures. This can be accomplished a number of ways including climbing branches, cork bark, the synthetic stuff that's available, converted tupperware or gladware, egg-crate, elaborately planted set-ups, etc. etc. In my experience, cresteds thrive in a variety of habitat set-ups from basic to elaborate with equal success. Cresteds are by far one of the easiest geckos to house and maintain.

-Christopher

8.10.3( 12 eggs) Crested Geckos
0.0.1 Sudan Plated Lizard
1.0 White's Dumpy Treefrog
0.0.2 Tiger Salamanders
0.0.1 California Kingsnake
0.1 Leopard Gecko

thanks for your thoughts.
The man I bought my gecko from recommends that a 10 gallon would be too large for an adult animal and that it would be difficult to find food. His animals look great and are very hardy so he's doing something right. We'll see

-Mike

I wouldn't dream of confining an adult gecko to a 10 gallon myself. I use 15 talls for adults by themselves, and 39 gal. for pairs or trios, a 45 gal for a male & 3 females. I also have 1 pair in a 20 tall. As far as their ability to find food, don't kid yourself! They have an excellent sense of smell (mine come out licking from all their hiding places when I put their CGD in) and excellent eyesight for spotting crickets. Remember that these little beasties in their native habitat had all kinds of space in the rainforest and found food without help for ages by using their senses. All of my enclosures are elaborately set up with branches, cork logs and fake vinyl vines, for lots of hiding places.
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Terri
6:10:9 crested geckos: Bear, Goldfish, Kermit, Brimstone, WildSpatter-Spots-to-Spare, White Lips, Big Red, Olive, Smudge, Belle, Brilliant, Tina, Brick, Toni, Beauty, Shine, Randi(y), Squeak, Bling, SqueakII, Stripe, Redhead, Speckles, Fudgefire & BlackCherryMarble (2 brand new hatchlings).

There is no way that a 10 gallon should ever be considered "too big" -- these animals are quite capable of finding food in virtually any size enclosure (this goes for crickets, baby food and CGD). 10 gallons should be considered a minimum size for housing an adult, in my opinion / experience. Hatchlings/young animals/sick animals should be kept in smaller enclosures to monitor feeding, but a normal, healthy adult should have no problems locating food in most enclosures (planted, unplanted, heavily decorated, etc. etc.)

-Christopher

8.10.3( 12 eggs) Crested Geckos
0.0.1 Sudan Plated Lizard
1.0 White's Dumpy Treefrog
0.0.2 Tiger Salamanders
0.0.1 California Kingsnake
0.1 Leopard Gecko