Getting a crested gecko as a pet is a popular idea as these are one of the most easily maintained pets and it looks exotic. The pets that do not consume much of your time and money and yet offer good company when you need it are always the best ones for busy pet lovers.
Those who seek to keep some reptile at home can try crested gecko, as this is also much easy a pet for beginners.
Contents
- 1 How much does it cost to get a crested gecko?
- 2 What do you need to set up the habitat of the crested gecko?
- 3 How can you check the crested gecko when you will get one at the pet shop?
- 4 What is the cost of monthly maintenance of the crested gecko?
- 5 Should you buy a single crested gecko or a pair?
- 6 Which age is best for adopting a crested gecko?
- 7 Should you buy a male crested gecko or a female one?
How much does it cost to get a crested gecko?
As mentioned, these are some of the best pets with low maintenance, and they are also available at 50 to 100 USD, depending upon the age, color, or type of morphs. There is some unique design of the morphed crested gecko which usually cost higher, but the regular ones also look much pretty and behave calmly.
What do you need to set up the habitat of the crested gecko?
A terrarium is a place where you will keep your pet crested gecko. To set it up you should first get a terrarium made of glass, wood, or wire, as per your choice. For a single baby crested gecko, a 10-gallon water tank will be enough, but when it grows up you need to shift it to a bigger place.
A light is needed to be attached to the terrarium as that will be the source of light and sometimes it will also provide heat to the reptile.
The heater is sometimes required if the place is too cold, as the crested gecko needs some heat in its shelter to stay healthy and also to absorb the energy from the consumed food.
A thermometer is also required to know if the heating element is working properly all the time or not. The thermometer or such equipment should be attached to the base of the cage or at someplace which is far from the reach of your pet.
The food bowl and water bowl are a must, The water bowl needs to be kept so the gecko drink as well as take a bath sometimes when it feels so.
How can you check the crested gecko when you will get one at the pet shop?
There are certain ways to ensure that the gecko you would be buying is a healthy one. So you should check if the eyes of the reptile are bright and clear. The unclear o dull eye indicates a somewhat sick creature that is going to suffer from other critical conditions.
Also, you should check if the nose and vent are clear and it is not having any problem related to the respiratory system. This is one of the commonest ailments of the crested gecko. The jaws of the creature should be well structured. Make sure that the reptile can easily chew its food, and it is not having any pain or difficulty in doing so.
All the toes of its forelegs, as well as hind legs, should be intact. Check the paws and fingers to know that there is no sign of breakage or bacterial or fungal infection. This is a severe issue and if neglected can get worsened.
The tail and the frog but portion should be clean and intact, no cut marks on these areas should be present.
The crested gecko should be able to move its limbs with full tenacity. There should not be any sign of weakness as that will be the symptom of bone density.
The behavior of the creature should be alert and spontaneous, this shows that they are high in energy and will not be the victim of any illness anytime soon.
There should be no sign of stuck shedding in their body. Their skin should be free from scratches, bites, or any kind of shedding marks.
What is the cost of monthly maintenance of the crested gecko?
When you are first bringing the crested gecko home, then it would cost around 500 USD as the start-up. For the maintenance of each month, it would be around 20 USD along with the food and other equipment.
Should you buy a single crested gecko or a pair?
There are certain creatures that do not prefer to live alone. When the probable pet owners get them singularly, they do not remain happy and content in their confined space. so they should always be bought in pairs as that way you can have a happy set of pets in your home.
But this is not the case of the crested gecko. They love to stay solitarily as they stay that way when they are in their wild habitat. If you wish to buy more than one crested gecko, then you have to arrange for separate houses for them. Or else you can keep two or more female crested geckos at the same terrarium, provided the terrarium is a large one.
Keeping two male crested geckos in the same habitat is not a great idea as the dominant one will control the behavior of the docile one and eventually one can suffer from malnutrition and anxiety.
If you are keeping a male and one or more female crested geckos at the same terrarium then you should be prepared to get more baby crested geckos soon.
Which age is best for adopting a crested gecko?
For the many first-time owners, bringing home a baby crested gecko often causes tension. They think that a baby needs too much protection and care, which will be hard to manage. But when it comes to recognize its habits and also train it in a certain way and make friends with them, a baby crested gecko is always welcome.
There are pros and cons to everything. When you get a baby crested gecko, you can never tell its sex. Before the geckos get matured, which they get at the age of six months or so, you will not be able to find out if you have adopted a male or a female one.
Also if you are seeking a particular morph or have a fetish for a distinct color or pattern, you will not be able to identify it as it comes to its full color when it becomes mature.
Taking care of the baby crested gecko is something vital and that often creates misunderstanding. But if proper guidance is followed, then it would not be a strenuous job for the owners.
If you are going to adopt a fully matured or a juvenile crested gecko, then it will take some time to get adjusted to the new home and atmosphere. You would not know its nature and thus it turns out to be aggressive or violent.
Should you buy a male crested gecko or a female one?
Male crested geckos are low in price and also they are more available than the female ones. The female ones cost more not only because they can lay eggs and thus can breed many more crested geckos, but also they are much calmer in nature.
Male geckos are much aggressive and they cannot be kept in the same habitat as other males. They act territorial and are quite violent when it comes to protecting their area. If you get a female crested gecko then you have to be ready for the breeding process and that includes lots of other equipment. Also, a highly nutritious diet should be fed to the female geckos at the time of breeding.
But you can have multiple female geckos at the same terrarium which will save you a good amount if you wish to keep many geckos at once.
More: