Five rites, seven days, six omens, and the instruments to keep a crested gecko for fifteen to twenty years.
* This Grimoire is meant to be used as a starting point for your crestie’s care.
You might find that your own animal has preferences that dip outside of standard practice, and that’s okay.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions. ♡
Water
The Five RitesRite I of V · Air
The VesselCrested Gecko Enclosure Setup
Give it room to rise
Crested geckos are arboreal. They live up high, so build tall rather than wide. Fill the top half with branches, cork and dense leaves for cover, and use a vent, mesh, or multiple holes in the enclosure for proper airflow while still retaining humidity.
Adult
18×18×24 in
Juvenile
12×12×18 in
Do
Vertical enclosure, lots of climbing branches and foliage, good airflow.
✕Forbidden
Tanks wider than they are tall, bare walls, sealed glass with no ventilation.
“I give my vessel room to rise.”
The Five RitesRite II of V · Fire
The HearthCrested Gecko Temperature
Hold the warmth, banish the heat
Normal room temperature is usually perfect. Heat lamps are NOT needed. Heat is the real danger: above 82°F they get stressed, and 85°F or more can kill. In winter a gentle drop at night is fine.
Day
72–78°F
Night
65–72°F
Never above
82°F
Do
A thermometer at the top and bottom of the enclosure. Keep it out of direct sun.
✕Forbidden
Heat lamps in a warm room, or an enclosure by a window or radiator.
“I hold the warmth steady and the heat at bay.”
The Five RitesRite III of V · Water
The MistCrested Gecko Humidity & Misting
Mist at dusk, dry by dawn
Offer water two ways. Mist the enclosure at dusk so your gecko can lap droplets off the leaves, and keep a shallow dish of fresh water out at all times. Let the enclosure dry out between mistings to prevent mold and skin trouble.
Baseline
50–60%
After mist
70–80%
Do
Use a hygrometer. Aim for a spike after misting, then a dry-down.
✕Forbidden
Constantly wet, or bone-dry for days.
“I nourish with mist and let the dawn dry it.”
The Five RitesRite IV of V · Earth
The FeastCrested Gecko Diet & Feeding
Feed the body well
A complete powdered gecko diet mixed with water covers everything they need. Gut-loaded insects dusted with calcium are helpful for adolescent growth, but some adults still enjoy them as well. Remove old food every 24–48 hours so it doesn’t spoil.
Diet
Complete powder
Insects
Optional, 1×/wk
Do
Complete diet 2–3× a week, insects 1× a week.
✕Forbidden
Fruit-only diets and wild-caught insects.
“I feed my vessel well, and I am fed in turn.”
The Five RitesRite V of V · Aether
The BondCrested Gecko Handling & Settling In
Earn the trust
Give a new gecko two weeks to settle in before you handle it. Keep sessions short and low to the ground, and let it walk from one hand to the other. Never grab the tail: it can drop off, and it won’t grow back.
Settle-in
2 weeks
Session
5–15 min
Do
Sit on the floor, hand-walk for 5–15 minutes, keep a calm presence.
✕Forbidden
Grabbing, chasing, or handling during shed or right after a meal.
“Patience is my offering; trust is my reward.”
The Planetary Week
Seven Days, Seven RulersWeekly Crested Gecko Care Schedule
Each day answers to its planet. Keep to the calendar and the care keeps itself.
Today
Sundayof the Sun
Inspect
Read the thermometer. Check toes and tail tip for stuck shed.
Today
Mondayof the Moon
Feast
Fresh complete diet, mixed and placed up high.
Today
Tuesdayof Mars
Clear
Remove yesterday’s food. Spot clean droppings.
Today
Wednesdayof Mercury
Feast
Fresh complete diet. Swap the cup, don’t top it up.
Today
Thursdayof Jupiter
Bounty
Optional: a few calcium-dusted insects.
Today
Fridayof Venus
Feast
Fresh complete diet, then let them be.
Today
Saturdayof Saturn
Reckon
Wipe the glass. First Saturday of the month, weigh in grams.
At dusk, mist the enclosure. As long as it dries out the next day, mist again.
Some adults may eat only 2× a week or even every 4–5 days, especially as temps cool in the fall and winter. Observe your crestie’s habits and adjust as needed.
Ill Omens
Read the SignsCrested Gecko Health Warning Signs
Six portents every keeper should know. Turn a card to read its remedy.
0 of 6 omens read
Instruments of the Craft
Prepare for the SummoningCrested Gecko Supplies Checklist
Tick off each instrument before your gecko comes home.
0/9
The circle is undrawn.
Questions keepers ask
Whispered QuestionsCrested Gecko FAQ
The things new keepers ask me most. Tap a question to reveal its answer.
How long do crested geckos live?
Crested geckos commonly live 15 to 20 years with good care. They’re a real commitment, and a wonderful one.
How big of an enclosure does a crested gecko need?
The standard recommendation is now 18×18×24 inches for adults and subadults, and a juvenile can start in 12×12×18. They’re a tree-dwelling species and love to climb, so height is more important than floor space.
Do crested geckos need a heat lamp?
No. Normal room temperature (72–78°F by day, 65–72°F at night) is usually perfect. Heat into the 80s can stress them out, and the high 80s can cause death.
What humidity do crested geckos need?
Keep a baseline of 50–60%, with a spike to 70–80% right after misting. (Your hygrometer may read even higher if it’s wet from the mist.) It’s VERY important to let the enclosure dry out enough every day to prevent mold and skin issues.
How often should I feed my crested gecko?
Offer a complete powdered diet 2–3 times a week, plus optional gut-loaded, calcium-dusted insects once a week. Remove old food every 24–48 hours so it doesn’t spoil or attract fruit flies.
Can crested geckos eat fruit?
Not as their main diet: fruit alone doesn’t provide the nutrients they need. A complete powdered diet already includes fruit in the right balance.
Do crested geckos need UVB lighting?
They can live well without it, since complete diets include vitamin D3, but low-level UVB is a nice benefit many keepers now offer. Some geckos enjoy basking in it, and some avoid it.
How do I know if my crested gecko is male or female?
Males develop a visible bulge below the vent once they mature, usually around 15–20 grams. Younger geckos can be hard to sex, which is why young ones are often listed as “unsexed.”
Will my crested gecko’s tail grow back?
Nope. If a crestie drops its tail, it won’t regrow. Many healthy adults live happily as “frogbutts,” and in the wild they’re rarely spotted with their tails intact.
Can I keep two crested geckos together?
It’s safest to house them alone. Never put two males together: it will inevitably end in death, with no exceptions.
If you’d like to house a male and female together, monitor their behavior closely. Make sure they aren’t too aggressive with each other, and that the female has plenty of places to hide and escape the male if needed.
Then ask yourself: are you prepared to provide space and care for any hatchlings, and even larger enclosures as they grow up? In an increasingly saturated market, would you be able to sell those babies if needed?
How long should I wait before handling my new gecko?
I recommend giving new geckos two weeks to settle in before really handling them, and even longer if they’re skittish or spazzy.
How is my gecko shipped?
Geckos ship overnight, insulated and insured, to your nearest FedEx hub that accepts live animals. If you’re not sure where your local hub is, I can help you find one by zip code.
We’ll pick a ship day between Monday and Wednesday based on the weather and our schedules, and then your gecko will be on its way!
Still wondering about something? Send word and I’ll answer.
Let It Be So
The grimoire is learned. Now go find the entity it was written for.