Crested Gecko
Great beginner; room-temp tolerant; can drop tail (won't regrow)
Overview
The Crested Gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) is a reptile reaching about 7–9 in and living 15–20 yrs. It is an omnivore (insects + fruit), kept in a arboreal set-up. It is tolerant of occasional, gentle handling. With a typical lifespan of around 18 years, it's a long commitment.
Is the Crested Gecko right for you?
A good match if — you're new to reptiles and want a hardy first species.
What a Crested Gecko needs from you
The real work is the enclosure: correct heat, lighting/UVB and humidity, plus a moderate amount of space — for this species, a tall, planted enclosure with climbing height. Feeding means the correct species diet. Get the habitat right and most reptiles are calm, low-drama animals.
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Correlophus ciliatus
- Adult size
- 7–9 in
- Life span
- 15–20 yrs
- Diet
- omnivore (insects + fruit)
- Habitat
- arboreal
- Care level
- beginner
- Handling
- some
- Notes
- Great beginner; room-temp tolerant; can drop tail (won't regrow)
What it needs from you (at a glance)
| Space needed | |
| Experience needed | |
| Maintenance | |
| Time per day | |
| Need for company | |
| Handling / closeness | |
| Cost level |
What it costs
Scaled to this breed’s roughly 200 g and a ~18-year life, keeping a Crested Gecko works out at about:
Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →
Temperament (at a glance)
| Affection | no data yet |
| Energy | no data yet |
| Vocalness | |
| Trainability | no data yet |
| Tolerates alone | no data yet |