In this edition of vet advice, we ask Dr. Salina Locke, an exotic animal specialist veterinarian about crested geckos and how to properly care for them.
Can You Give Us A Short Introduction About Yourself?
Hi! My name is Salina Locke, and I am an exotic animal specialist veterinarian.
I own a seven-doctor, exotics exclusive veterinary practice, Avian and Exotic Animal Care, in Raleigh, NC.
I am board certified in Avian medicine and am an Aquatic animal specialist, but I see literally every species under the sun.
I grew up all over the world, and developed a love for wildlife- birds, reptiles, fish and everything else, at a young age.
I’ve been working in the exotic animal medicine field for over 20 years, have published scientific articles on the subject, and truly love exotic animal medicine.
What’s The Most Important Piece Of Advice When It Comes To Caring For Reptiles, To Be Specific Crested Geckos?
I’d say, the most important piece of advice for anyone, when it comes to caring for reptiles is to never stop learning. And learn from reputable resources, often.
I meet so many people everyday with extremely sick animals, with horrible illnesses that could have been prevented, had they simply done some research before getting them.
Also, keeping exotics is always going to be an educational process. We are continually discovering new things every year and it is important that we don’t stay stuck in the past.
When it comes to crested geckos specifically, they all have very different personalities, some don’t mind handling and others do.
Floppy tail syndrome is very common, as well as autotomy (loss of their tail)- which is not something we should strive for! I’ve had people ask, when will their gecko finally shed it’s tail.
Their tails, unlike many other geckos, do not regenerate and if yours hasn’t lost theirs that’s a good thing!
Floppy tail is thought to occur because these geckos are always hanging upside down causing gravity to pull the tail and spine over.
Cresties seem more sensitive to low or improper calcium levels and quickly develop nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (improperly described but also known as metabolic bone disease).
This fact may contribute to the prior condition in some cases.
What’s The First Thing To Do When I Get A New Crested Gecko?
When getting a new crested gecko, of course, I’d recommend getting it examined by a trained exotic animal veterinarian.
Secondly, is quarantine, for at least 2-3 months. Reptiles are often very slow to show signs of illness, and it could take a while before you notice that something is wrong.
Many of the diseases they carry are contagious, some incurable, and many can be fatal.
Thirdly, is to be patient. You need to allow your crestie some time to acclimate to its new environment without the stressors of excessive handling, loud sounds, and high-traffic areas.
What Do Crested Geckos Need When It Comes To Making A Habitat For Them?
Crested geckos, Correlophus ciliates, or New Caledonian Crested geckos, as they are also called are arboreal- meaning they spend most of their time in the canopy of the forest.
They should be offered a vivarium that has vertical stratification in order to simulate this type of environment.
In order to prevent fungal overgrowth, proper ventilation is also very important, as with most tropical species.
Crested geckos require no lower than 50 % humidity for most of the day, and should get several hours of 80-100% humidity which can be offered with an automatic mister.
It is incredibly important that crested geckos not become heat stressed. They are a very “cool” species of gecko, in more ways than one!
Their optimal temperature ranges are just barely above what is considered standard room temperature (75°F/25°C), in fact, a crested gecko kept at temperatures of 85°F (29.4°C) or more will become extremely stressed, ill and may even die.
And finally, even though this species is primarily nocturnal and shaded by the forest canopy in the wild, I recommend, like most exotic animal veterinarians, that they should be offered full spectrum low wattage (shade dwellers type) UVB light for 2-4 hours of the day.
This has been shown in many species to improve their well-being by helping to regulate their circadian rhythm, increase activity, and better simulate the natural environment (that would still have reflected and refracted UV light), and it is very important for vitamin D synthesis in most animals.
How Big Should A Crested Gecko’s Habitat Be?
A 4’ x 6’ vivarium would be very good for an adult crestie but they can also do very well in a 20 gal high (24”x12”x 16”) as juveniles.
So My Crested Gecko Is Underweight And Not Eating What Do I Do?
If you haven’t taken your crestie for a proper physical exam by a veterinarian yet, this is the first thing to do.
A list of veterinarians comfortable seeing reptiles is available on www.arav.org and click find a specialist.
The later website will be board-certified veterinarians in reptile and amphibian medicine, however, this is the newest specialty so there are fewer options there to choose from.
I recommend taking photos of your enclosure, lights, humidity and temperature readings, food, and videos of any odd behaviors you’re noticing to bring with you for your appointment.
Also, collecting a fresh fecal (stool) sample in a plastic baggie to bring with you for analysis can help with diagnosing many parasitic infections that may be making your gecko unthrifty.
If you have already seen a veterinarian then you may want to switch up the way or type of food you are feeding, especially if this crestie is new to your home.
It is very common for them to be picky eaters, and prefer one flavor or brand of food over another.
Some cresties will readily consume small live or processed bugs, while others would prefer if they were not around.
Are Commercially Prepared Crested Gecko Diets Good?
Yes. There are many very suitable commercial crested gecko diets available on the market, and as mentioned before some will develop a preference.
If there is no commercial product available in your area or if you prefer to make your own, they can be fed human baby food, with the addition of vitamin and mineral supplementation.
Crested geckos, unlike most other gecko species, are true omnivores because in the wild they consume fruits and occasionally insects so they are sometimes considered frugivores.
An example of an at-home recipe often used is 8 parts fruit and 2 parts chicken human baby food, and then supplements.
Typical fruit-flavored baby foods offered are peach, pear, apricot, or banana. It has been suggested that citrus fruits should not be offered to this species.
When Should You Take Your Crested Gecko To The Vet?
I recommend bringing them when first acquired, if they seem ill, are losing weight/not gaining weight, and as a rule for most exotics every 6 months for wellness exams- fecal exams should be done annually in addition to annual blood analysis, once they are of adult size.
This will help your vet to screen for parasites and infection, potentially catch a disease before it becomes life-threatening and develop a baseline for your gecko.
Many exotic species do not have normal parameters for blood analytes (values) and there is no better normal for you than you.
How Do I Know If My Crested Gecko Is Healthy?
The sign of a healthy crested gecko is proper growth, large calcium sacs, and a great appetite.
What Final Piece Of Advice Can You Give Us On Crested Geckos?
Have fun! These are some of my favorite species! They all have very individual personalities and many can become comfortable with occasional handling, others not so much.
Be careful though, there are so many color morphs and independent traits out there that they can quickly become addicting!
Do You Have A Website, Socials, Etc, Our Readers Can Get Access?
Currently, my website is under a remodel but should be up and improved soon including constantly updated care sheets for different species.
Here’s a list of recommended sites: www.avianandexotic.com, www.reptilesmagazine.com, www.pangeareptile.com, www.reptifiles.com, www.dubiaroaches.com .
Despite their ease of care, there are a ton of reptile rescues with them available for adoption.
I recommend checking them out. My favorite local one is www.bewildnc.org, but also a very reputable company that has a huge nationwide database is again www.dubiaroaches.com.
Pet Engineers: Thank you so much, Dr. Locke, for finding the time to answer our questions.
