To properly care for your gecko, you’ll need to feed them the right amount of food and provide them with an appropriately sized enclosure in proportion to their size. However, to work out these important factors, you’ll mainly need to know how big crested geckos get.
Crested geckos are perfect palm-sized lizards that love to be handled, and they are very enjoyable to watch as they maneuver through their enclosure. They are one of the most popular gecko species to own for first time reptile owners as well as experienced herp hobbyists.
Crested geckos start out at only 2 to 3 inches in length and weigh a mere 1 to 2 grams as hatchlings! However, as they age, these tiny creatures increase in size all the way up to 35 to 55+ grams and can reach more than 12 inches long!
For them to reach this size, you need to know how to take care of them and how to enhance their growth and limit factors that inhibit their growth. Read on to learn more about how big your crested gecko should get at each stage in their life as well as how to properly facilitate healthy growth.
Size and Growth Chart for Crested Geckos
Below is a table that summarizes the growth of an average crested gecko throughout their life from hatchling, to juvenile, to subadult, and finally to an adult.
Note that the sizes listed here are from snout tip to tail tip. Some other sources only indicate the size from snout tip to vent. Crested geckos are renowned for dropping their tails. If your gecko drops their tail, they do not grow back like those of other lizards, so keep that in mind when you are tracking their growth.
This table also indicates the size of the enclosure your gecko should have depending on their size. This is only an indication for one crested gecko per enclosure. For every crested gecko you add to an enclosure, you’ll need to add 10 gallons to the enclosure size.
| Stage | Age | Length | Weight | Enclosure size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby | Hatchling | 2 to 3 inches | 1 to 2 grams | 5 gallons |
| 2 months | 3 to 4 inches | 3 grams | 5 gallons | |
| Juvenile | 3 months | 3 to 5 inches | 4 grams | 5 gallons |
| 4 months | 4 to 6 inches | 5 grams | 5 gallons | |
| 5 months | 4 to 6 inches | 7 grams | 5 gallons | |
| 6 months | 5 to 7 inches | 9 grams | 5 gallons | |
| 9 months | 6 to 9 inches | 16 to 25 grams | 10 gallons | |
| Subadult | 12 months | 9 to 12 inches | 25 to 45 grams | 30 gallons |
| Adult | 18 to 24 months | 9 to 12+ inches | 45 to 60 grams | 30 gallons |
Baby Crested Gecko Size
When crested geckos hatch, they measure about 1 to 2 grams in weight and are only 2 to 3 inches in length. They are very delicate and vulnerable during this stage of life. It is best to handle hatchling geckos as little as possible.
Crested geckos grow quite slowly in their first three months of life; however, they eat voraciously!
The prepackaged diets for crested geckos from Pangea, ZooMed, or Repashy are excellent for crested geckos at all stages of life, but they are especially great for growing baby geckos. They are fortified with
Juvenile Crested Gecko Size
Once your crested gecko reaches 3 months of age, their growth rate will pick up quite a bit. From 3 to 5 months, they will grow an inch per month and put on at least a gram of weight every month.
From 6 to 11 months, they will grow between 1 and 2 inches per month, and their weight will shoot into double digits until they get to about 20 grams.
Your crested gecko should get enough food every day to keep this growth on track. Give them a bowl of food every evening, and check on it in the morning. If there is nothing left by morning, then you can slightly increase the amount you are feeding them.
At this stage, you can introduce live feeder insects into your juvenile gecko’s diet, such as crickets and mealworms. Always make sure any feeder insects are no larger than the width of the space between your gecko’s eyes. They should be getting insects three times a week. Feed them as many insects as they will eat in a 5-to-10-minute period, then remove any uneaten bugs remaining.
Insects in your gecko’s diet will increase the amount of protein and
Once your juvenile crested gecko reaches 10 grams, they will need to be moved to a larger enclosure (10+ gallons).
Subadult Crested Gecko Size
Geckos are considered subadults when they are 12 to 17 months old. Their body length will increase considerably in this time to anywhere between 9 and 12 inches. Their weight will continue to increase slowly but steadily as they build muscle and develop healthy organs.
Again, you need to watch your crested gecko’s food dish. Check on their dish in the morning after feeding them, and if you see that everything is gone, then you can slightly increase the amount of food you feed them in the evenings.
Once your crested gecko gets to be heavier than 25 grams, then they need to be moved to a 30+ gallon enclosure.
Adult Crested Gecko Size
Crested geckos reach adulthood when they are 18 to 24 months old. They will generally stop growing entirely at around 24 months of age. However, some geckos will continue to grow until they are 3 years old!
Between 18 and 24 months, their length won’t increase much. During this time, your crestie will “bulk out” properly. They are in the final developmental stage, which means proper nutrition is crucial as they reach their final adult size.
Your crestie should be getting one prepackaged meal every evening, fruit pieces twice a week, and insects of an appropriate size three times a week. You can also sprinkle some extra
From 18 months onward, you can also definitively sex your crested gecko. Check out our guide on how to sex crested geckos.
Factors That Enhance Crested Gecko Growth
A crested gecko’s maximum size will depend mostly on their genetics. However, there are certain things you can do to help them safely and quickly reach their maximum size!
Provide Ample Space
Crested geckos need ample space in their enclosure. They are arboreal lizards, which means they need more height, or vertical space, than floor space in their enclosure.
Your gecko’s enclosure should have many perches, branches, leaves, and other interesting decorations your crested gecko can easily climb onto. Cresties love climbing and jumping around. Therefore, the perches inside the enclosure need to be stable enough for when they are leaping off and onto things.
If they have plenty of space to be active and explore, then they are being enriched and mentally as well as physically stimulated. This leads to healthy muscle attachments and strong bones so they can reach their maximum size!
Ensure a Correct Diet
A correct and well-balanced diet is essential when it comes to your gecko reaching their maximum size. They should be fed a mixture of prepackaged crested gecko food, fruits, and insects. Check out our guide on what crested geckos eat for more detailed information.
When feeding your crested gecko insects, make sure they are gut loaded and, ideally, dusted with a
Factors That Inhibit Crested Gecko Growth
While there are certain factors that will help your crested gecko reach its maximum size, there are also others that can stunt their growth considerably. It is up to you as their human parent to make sure these factors do not affect their growth. Below are the main things to look out for regardless of your gecko’s current stage of life.
Dehydration
Dehydration is a big factor when it comes to your gecko’s growth rate. If your crested gecko is dehydrated, then they won’t feel motivated to eat. If they do not eat, then they won’t get enough nutrients to fuel their growth.
Similar to chameleons, crested geckos do not generally recognize standing water as water. This can make them more prone to dehydration than other types of reptiles. They prefer to drink from water droplets on the side of their enclosure or on the branches and leaves around them.
Make sure your crestie is properly hydrated by misting their enclosure twice a day and/or installing a simple dripping system that will give them access to water droplets all the time.
If your crestie is licking their eyeballs, this does not mean they are dehydrated! This is just the super cute (and weird) way they apply moisture to their eyeballs.
Humidity and Temperature Errors
If the temperature and humidity settings in your gecko’s enclosure are not correct, then your crestie cannot metabolize its nutrients correctly, which means it won’t have enough energy to grow.
The average temperature should sit between 75°F and 78°F. The cool part of the enclosure should sit at no lower than 70°F, and the basking spot should not be any higher than 85°F.
The enclosure’s humidity should be a minimum of 50% and should spike up to around 70% at least once a day. When your crestie is shedding, the humidity level should sit closer to 70% consistently to ensure safe and easy shedding.
Do not worry if your crested gecko eats its own shed skin! This is their way of recycling nutrients and not leaving any scent behind for predators to track.
Too Many Cresties in the Same Enclosure
If you have multiple crested geckos in an enclosure, it is essential for you to increase the size of the enclosure and place many more branches, hides, and perches in it.
There should be multiple places for your geckos to go and get a drink. There should also be multiple feeding ledges (at least one for every crested gecko you have in the enclosure).
Crested geckos are naturally solitary animals. This means they need plenty of space so they do not compete for resources or become stressed out. If they are forced to compete for resources (space, water, perches, food) then they will bully each other. If a crested gecko is bullied out of resources, it cannot grow big and strong!
Keep in mind that while male geckos can be housed with females and females can be housed together, you should avoid keeping more than one male gecko per enclosure. Males are especially territorial and will fight even if they don’t have to compete for food or water.
Tail Dropping
Crested geckos are notorious for dropping their tails at the slightest inconvenience. Many people have never even seen a crested gecko that has a tail because once a crestie drops its tail, it can never grow back.
If your crested gecko drops its tail, there will be an overall immediate loss in both their length and weight. Additionally, your gecko will lose some of the fat stored in its tail, which can impact their growth overall.
Metabolic Bone Disease
Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is an illness that occurs when a crested gecko does not have enough
If you manage to diagnose and treat your gecko’s MBD early enough, the damage done can be reversed to a point. However, there will always be a reduction in their overall size because the growth plates on their bones will have been severely affected even with slight MBD.
To prevent the development of MBD, always make sure to sprinkle your crested gecko’s food with some
Parasites
Both internal parasites like worms and external parasites like mites will actively take nutrition away from your crested gecko. If they are taking nutrients away from your crestie, then your crestie is not able to use those nutrients for growing and their growth will be stunted.
To prevent parasites, keep your gecko’s enclosure clean and always feed them clean food. Additionally, always avoid wild-caught insects, as they commonly carry parasites and are often coated in harmful pesticides and herbicides. Be sure to buy your feeder insects from a reputable supplier like a pet shop or a breeder who raises the insects in controlled, clean conditions.
FAQs About Crested Gecko Growth
How do I keep track of my crested gecko’s growth?
Keep a designated growth diary for every pet you have. Measure your gecko at least once a month and make notes about how much they are eating, how often they poop, and any other observations you have like sex or coloration.
If your gecko ever gets sick or you are worried about their growth, you can hand over your diary to your veterinarian, and they can see all of the data you’ve recorded to help them treat your crestie bestie.
Can I keep multiple cresties in one enclosure?
You can keep multiple females in the same enclosure. You can also keep one male and a few females in the same enclosure. Always make sure you increase the enclosure size by 10 gallons and put in more hides and food bowls for every gecko you add.
You cannot, however, keep multiple males in the same enclosure. Male crested geckos are very territorial and are aggressive towards one another.
I want a gecko that is a similar size to a crestie but whose tail will grow back if it falls off. What should I get?
Leopard geckos are similar in size to crested geckos, and they are just as cute! Check out our guide on how big leopard geckos get to see if they are the match for you! While leopard geckos also can drop their tails, unlike crested geckos, they are able to grow them back within a few weeks.
Leaping Off…
Crested geckos are one of the most popular and well-loved species of geckos for both novice and experienced reptile owners alike because of their simple care requirements, friendly temperaments, and stunning coloration. A big bonus is their size: they are the perfect handful-sized lizards, which makes them easy to house in a fairly small enclosure!
There are some factors that can help enhance your crestie’s growth, such as a healthy diet and an appropriate enclosure size. However, other factors, such as parasites, MBD, and tail dropping can inhibit their growth.
Before you buy your crestie bestie, make sure you have done all your research so you can provide them with the best life possible!
