In this guide, you will find answers to the most common questions about crested geckos.
You’ll learn about what it takes to take care of your crestie properly and keep him healthy.
This guide is meant as a way for you to get started on the right path and along the way, we will provide tips, tricks, and suggestions that we have learned from years of experience with crested geckos.
If you are new to owning crested geckos, then this is going to be the best resource for you!
Do crested geckos have teeth?
Crested geckos have teeth, but they are small, pointed, and not sharp. In fact, you’ll rarely ever see your crested gecko’s teeth.
The teeth in a crestie’s mouth are there to help it grip food that’s in its mouth.
They aren’t used for chewing as reptiles do not chew food. Instead, they swallow their prey whole and digest everything after the animal has been consumed.
Teeth can be found on both the upper and lower jaw of any crested gecko.
These small teeth are just enough to help your crested gecko grip onto its prey (or your finger).
If you were curious about the condition of a crested gecko’s teeth, taking a close-up photo is your best bet at seeing them since they are so tiny!
Do crested geckos bite?
Crested geckos are not normally aggressive, but they will bite if they feel threatened.
They have “microscopic'” teeth, so they don’t really bite, but they do have rows of tiny spiny projections on their lower jaw that they can use to hold onto their prey.
Crested geckos have a very bad reputation for biting people and other pets. This is largely undeserved.
While some crested geckos do bite, this is usually because of poor handling or inappropriate housing conditions.
Many crested gecko owners have never been bitten by their pets!
If you handle your crested gecko carefully and don’t try to pick it up from below or from the side (where it can’t see you), then you’ll be unlikely to get bitten at all.
It should be possible to handle your crested gecko from above with confidence if you know how to do it properly.
Biting is an expression of stress in most cases; if you want your crested gecko to learn not to bite, you need to reduce its stress levels as much as possible (by providing good care and handling).
Once its stress levels are down low enough that it’s relaxed around you all the time, then it probably won’t.
Do crested gecko bites hurt?
No, they don’t hurt!
We know your first reaction to a bite is “OWWWW!!!” But it really doesn’t hurt.
The only reason you might feel pain is because their jaws are pretty strong and you are probably not expecting to be bitten.
The thing to remember about a crested gecko bite is that it will not break the skin.
They don’t have teeth, just small bumps on the roof of their mouths. So there will be no bleeding or anything like that after being bitten by a crested gecko.
Crested Geckos will sometimes bite if they are scared or if they are being handled too roughly. But again, no blood-shedding teeth means no pain!
Why do crested geckos drop their tails?
Although it might seem alarming for a gecko to drop its tail, this is a normal defense mechanism in a crested gecko that’s frightened or stressed, and it’s not an indication that the animal is sick.
This process is called caudal autotomy, which means “tail separation” in Latin.
It happens when a thin band of muscle tissue beneath the skin on the animal’s tail breaks down, allowing the lizard to shed (or autotomize) its tail easily.
When threatened by a predator, this band of muscle will contract and cause the blood vessels in the tail to constrict; this protects against blood loss as much as possible so that the rest of its body can keep working instead of wasting energy on bleeding out.
The lizard will then run away while twitching its tail; since they have such great dexterity with their tails, they can even wiggle them around like worms once they’re separated.
This movement serves as something of a distraction for predators—either giving them something else to focus on aside from their actual prey or making them think that there are actually two animals present instead of one—thus increasing their chances of escaping danger!
Crested geckos do not always drop their tails when threatened or stressed, but it is a defense mechanism that they can use if necessary.
When threatened, a crested gecko will often raise its tail up and flail it around in an attempt to intimidate the predator, but this strategy only works if the predator is close enough to see it.
If the predator sees the flailing tail and attacks anyway, then there’s a chance that your crested gecko will drop its tail and run away while the predator is distracted by it.
Do crested geckos’ tails grow back?
You may have heard something about crested gecko tail regeneration, and you’re wondering if it’s true.
Can a crested gecko really grow a new tail? If so, how? Luckily, the answer to both of these questions is yes—but there are still some things you should know about their tails before you start celebrating.
First of all, most lizards can’t regrow their tails at all—and this includes leopard geckos and many other pet lizards. But cresties can regenerate their tails up to two times over the course of their life (though they usually only do it once).
If a lizard drops its tail as a defense mechanism against predators in the wild, that’s called “autotomy.”
This is different from when owners accidentally pull off or cut the tail off with scissors (something we definitely don’t recommend doing!).
Crested geckos are one of few lizard species that can even regenerate lost tails through autotomy.
Do crested geckos like to be held?
Most geckos do not like being held. They are not naturally “pet” animals, and they don’t generally get used to it.
Crested geckos are no different in this regard. In fact, We would say that they are even warier of being handled than other gecko species.
The best way to interact with your crested gecko is to let them come to you.
They will usually emerge from hiding if you make some noise or move around the tank, but don’t force the issue and try to pick them up unless they are clearly interested in interacting with you.
If your crested gecko does approach you and wants a little attention, feel free to gently pet their head and body with your fingertips or use a small paintbrush or Q-tip when they’re not moving around too much (like when they’re sleeping).
Can crested geckos swim?
Crested geckos are not very good swimmers, but they can survive if they fall into the water.
They can also swim to an extent, but it’s not something that they enjoy and it isn’t recommended.
Crested geckos do not need a water bowl, as they can get all of the moisture that they need from their food.
A shallow water bowl could be dangerous for your crested gecko. Because they don’t swim very well, a water bowl could make it harder for your crestie to get out of the water if it falls in.
A better option is to provide a humid hide. This will help keep your crested gecko hydrated and will give them somewhere to go if your terrarium gets too cold at night or during the day.
Learn More:
Do crested geckos need a heat lamp?
No, crested geckos do not need a heat lamp. A heat lamp is used to regulate the temperature of their habitat. However, if you are using a thermostat to control the temperature of your crestie’s enclosure, you will be able to maintain a proper temperature without one.
When using a thermostat with heat mats or lamps you can get your nighttime temperatures down closer to 60F which most crested geckos prefer.
Crested geckos are nocturnal (they sleep in the day and come out at night) so they would benefit from having it cooler during the day and warmer at night.
Since crested geckos are used to living in trees that provide them with lower temperatures during the day and higher temperatures at night due to the sun warming up their environment during the day.
That being said, if an overhead basking light is available for daytime use it will not harm them but they may not benefit from it either because they are nocturnal creatures; therefore, they will most likely sleep underneath it instead of basking in it as diurnal reptiles do.
To recap: Cresties can live without one but may benefit from having one occasionally or when heating devices such as a thermostat are being used especially since cresties are nocturnal creatures that require daily changes in temperature for health purposes.
Can crested geckos eat strawberries?
Strawberries are a delicious fruit that many people love to eat. However, some people are not aware that there are other animals out there that also enjoy eating this tasty fruit.
One of the most popular reptiles in the pet trade is the crested gecko, so it’s no surprise that people want to know if their pet can eat strawberries too.
Crested geckos are omnivores, which means they can eat both plants and meat.
Fruits like strawberries have some things going for them: they’re high in vitamin C and low in calcium, which is good since crested geckos already get plenty of calcium from their regular diet.
The answer is yes, but it is important to note that not all species of strawberry are safe for a crested gecko.
The only type that should be fed to your gecko is the royal Hawaiian variety. This is because it has a lower sugar content than other types of strawberries and a higher amount of vitamin C.
If you feed your pet the wrong kind of strawberry or overfeed them, they could get sick or even die from an overdose of sugar or too much vitamin C intake.
This is why it’s important that you provide them with only one strawberry per week as part of their diet and make sure they don’t eat any other foods while eating this fruit as well!
Crested geckos are omnivores, which means they can eat both plants and meat.
Fruits like strawberries have some things going for them: they’re high in vitamin C and low in calcium, which is good since crested geckos already get plenty of calcium from their regular diet (more on that below).
On the flip side, they’re also high in sugar and water content, meaning that too much could cause your crested gecko to get diarrhea.
How do you know if your crested gecko is dying?
Crested geckos are one of the most beautiful and popular lizards in the pet trade.
They come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, and can make excellent pets for beginners.
While not as hardy as some other lizards, crested geckos are fairly easy to care for.
However, like all animals, they can occasionally become sick or injured.
If you suspect that your crested gecko is dying, there are several signs that you should look out for:
1. Loss of appetite
A healthy crested gecko will eat all its food within two hours of being fed. If your gecko refuses to eat or stops eating altogether, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
This may be due to an infection or parasite in the gut which causes anorexia or even death.
It could also be caused by stress or being kept at too high a temperature — especially if it is a hatchling that has recently emerged from its egg.
2. Lethargy and lack of movement
Crested geckos are active creatures who love climbing and exploring their environment.
If your gecko seems inactive or lethargic, it may be a sign that something is wrong with it — such as internal parasites.
3. Change in behavior
A change in behavior is one of the first signs that something isn’t right with your crested gecko.
If your normally active gecko suddenly becomes lethargic or stops eating, there could be something wrong.
This can also happen if your crestie suddenly becomes aggressive towards another animal or person in its enclosure.
In this case, the aggressive behavior shouldn’t be ignored — it might mean that the animal is feeling stressed out by something in its environment.
4. Weight Loss
If your crested gecko has been losing weight for no apparent reason then there might be something seriously wrong with them.
A lot of times this happens when there has been an infection that has caused secondary problems like diarrhea or dehydration due to being unable to absorb nutrients from food properly or digest them properly due to stressors such as parasites or bacteria.
5. Red eyes
Red eyes in reptiles can be caused by many things including stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, infection, or even vitamin A deficiency.
Be sure to check with your vet before treating red eyes as it could be something more serious that needs immediate attention.
6. Lumps or bumps on the skin
It’s normal for crested geckos to have bumps on their skin, but if these bumps become large or painful-looking, then your pet might be suffering from something more serious like parasitic mites or bacterial infections.
7. Excessive shedding
Excessive shedding is another sign that something is wrong with your crested gecko’s health.
In most cases, excessive shedding is caused by an infection or parasite in the gut or throat area.
If you notice that your gecko has excessive shedding, it may be a good idea to consult with a vet before the problem gets worse and becomes life-threatening for your pet.
If any of these symptoms persist for more than a couple of days, you should consult with a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles so that they can diagnose the problem and get your gecko back on track!
Thoughts
You’re welcome to use this resource as you see fit.
If you are a Crested Gecko owner or at least an interested potential owner, you’ve come to the right spot.
You’ve found what is easily one of the most complete compilations of gecko questions and answers out there.
We know – because I’ve spent countless hours through the years doing my own research, keeping this list up-to-date, and helping answer questions from fellow gecko owners all over the world. Hopefully, it will help you too.
