Want to know what enclosure is best for a crested gecko? We’ve done some research and found some of the best cages for your pet crested gecko.

Having an appropriate sized, secure enclosure is vital for crested gecko health. Adjust humidity, space and layout based on gecko’s age and size.

Use substrates that hold some moisture like eco earth, sphagnum moss, or natural coconut fiber. Crested geckos need a humid environment between 50-80%.

Provide ample hide spots, foliage for cover, and branches/hammocks for climbing and resting. Fake vines and plants work well.

Give crested geckos enough room to move around comfortably. As a rule of thumb, the enclosure should be at least as long and wide as the full adult length of the gecko.

Crested Gecko Enclosure Best Sizes:

Adult crested geckos need a minimum enclosure size of 20 gallons tall. This provides enough height for climbing and adequate space.

Juvenile crested geckos can start in 10-20 gallon enclosures. Babies under 3 months do well in smaller enclosures around 5-10 gallons.

24 inches high is the absolute minimum height requirement for an adult crested gecko enclosure. This allows for ample vertical climbing space. More height is beneficial.

Enclosure height is more important than floor space. Crested geckos are arboreal lizards and like to climb. Provide with horizontal branches, hanging plants, and cork tubes.

18 inches wide is the minimum recommended width for the enclosure length and depth. This gives enough horizontal floor space.

Any dimensions beyond 24 inches tall by 18 inches wide are optional and up to the owner’s discretion. For example, an enclosure that is 36 inches high by 18 inches wide would meet the minimums and provide even more generous climbing room.

List of Best Crested Gecko Enclosure by size and gallon

1. Zilla Tropical Vertical Habitat Starter Kit
2. Zilla 10 Gallon Pet Reptile Starter Habitat Kit
3. Exo Terra Rainforest Habitat Kit Medium
4. Exo Terra Glass Natural Terrarium Kit
5. Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Open Air Screen Cage
6. Zilla QuickBuild Terrarium with Easy Clean Bedding Tray

Best Crested Gecko Enclosure

1- Zilla Tropical Vertical Habitat Starter Kit

This 11 gallon starter kit definitely has a lot of great features going for it as a habitat for small tree-dwelling lizards. The dimensions meet the minimum recommendations for an adult crested gecko and the ample height is perfect for displaying climbing and leaping behaviors.

Both the front-opening doors and hinged screen lid allow excellent accessibility for maintenance and interaction. I love that the water-tight base enables you to do a decorative waterfall paludarium setup too.

In terms of accessories, it’s fantastic that essentials like a heat dome, bedding, thermometer, and dish are all included right out of the box.

However, I’d probably swap out the halogen bulb for an under-tank heater and replace the coconut fiber substrate which tends to get moldy. The background foam takes up precious vertical real estate as well.

Considering you get an appropriately sized glass vivarium plus all core habitat gear included at a reasonable price point, I think this Zilla kit offers very good value.

With a couple easy modifications, it would be an awesome glass enclosure option for animals like crested geckos. I would recommend this to someone looking to upgrade their pet gecko into a quality arboreal habitat.

2- Zilla 10 Gallon Pet Reptile Starter Habitat Kit

As far as 10 gallon crested gecko enclosures go, this Zilla kit has some nice features. The fresh air screen cover provides good ventilation while keeping pets securely inside.

The inclusion of a ceramic heat emitter and under tank heater pad allow for the all-important mild temperature gradient crested geckos require. The background liner also enables plant or cage decoration.

Its dimensions suggest it provides ample floor space for geckos to roam and the fresh air screen cover ensures ventilation while keeping the gecko secure.

The inclusion of a reflective dome light fixture, spot bulb, and small heat mat addresses the lighting and heating requirements essential for a tropical habitat.

The kit’s green terrarium liner and humidity/temperature gauge are also critical for maintaining a proper environment.

As crested geckos grow, they may require larger space than what a 10-gallon tank can offer, so this kit might be more suited to beginners or as a temporary habitat.

3- Exo Terra Rainforest Habitat Kit Medium

The Exo Terra Rainforest Habitat Kit, with its 20-gallon capacity, is a robust choice for a crested gecko tank.

The 20 gallon glass tank is a perfect size for an adult crested, providing ample floor space and vertical room to climb and perch. The dual front opening doors make access a breeze for feeding, cleaning, and handling your gecko. This also allows you to decorate the background and utilize all portions of the tank.

I’m particularly impressed by the full screen mesh top which enables superb ventilation and light penetration while still securing your pet inside. The included lighting fixtures and decorative vines, plants, substrate and accessories are the icing on the cake—everything you need for a thriving tropical habitat out of one box.

If I had to make one critique, it would be that the compact top light takes up precious overhead vertical space. An alternative like an LED bar attached to the doors might preserve more usable area. But that’s a negligible issue given the overall quality setup.

For convenience, aesthetics, and meeting the needs of crested geckos, you simply won’t find a better all-in-one habitat than Exo Terra’s 20 Gallon Rainforest Kit. It’s worth every penny for any crestie owner looking to upgrade their enclosure game.

4- Exo Terra Glass Natural Terrarium Kit

The Exo Terra Glass Natural Terrarium Kit (18x18x18) is well-suited for crested geckos, which thrive in arboreal environments. The front doors for easy access, the escape-proof lock, and separate door opening feature cater to the safety and maintenance of the habitat.

Both doors swing open widely for complete access to the enclosure’s contents. This allows you to intricately design a visually stunning paludarium, utilize every inch of space, and easily tend to inhabitant’s needs.

I’m also thrilled by the full mesh screen top that enables superb ventilation. The removable top and closable cable holes are perfect for cleanly installing misters, sensors and heat projectors without cluttering the tank. Raising the bottom plate also neatly accommodates under tank heating pads to establish a subtle thermal gradient.

About the only negatives I can think of would be the background takes up some usable area and the included deco accessories are relatively basic. But with the outstanding front-and-center glass enclosure, you have an awesome foundation for decking out the interior exactly how you want.

For conveniently providing ideal dimensions, ventilation and access for displaying crested geckos alongside aesthetically vibrant rainforest landscaping, Exo Terra’s 18x18x18 tall terrarium checks every box. It may cost a bit more, but absolutely worth it for the quality and perfect fit for cresties.

5- Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Open Air Screen Cage

The Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Open Air Screen Cage, sized at 18x18x36 inches, could potentially serve as a good enclosure for a crested gecko, given the species’ need for vertical space to climb.

Ventilation and airflow is also exceptional thanks the open-air design on all sides. This is perfect for maintaining a healthy 50-60% humidity range with good evaporation.

My main gripe is that unlike solid glass tanks, installing accessories takes a bit more forethought and creativity since you can’t drill into aluminum mesh. As the commenter mentioned, cable ties or bread ties work fairly well to hang décor pieces, though very heavy objects may still be problematic. Mist king integration would also require some inventive outlet positioning.

Despite the minor outfitting hurdle, a ReptiBreeze still provides superb visibility and ventilation that is hard to beat at this price point. For crested gecko setups emphasizing lush greenery and free movement with less worry about stagnant air and mold, I think ZooMed’s 18x18x36 screened enclosure is a wonderful choice! With some clever decoration tricks, it can be a spectacular display.

6- Zilla QuickBuild Terrarium with Easy Clean Bedding Tray

The Zilla QuickBuild Terrarium with its Easy Clean Bedding Tray is an attractive option for a crested gecko habitat due to its modern glass design, secure locking mechanisms, and ease of access with a double-hinge top closure.

This allows for easy feeding, cleaning, decorating and pet interaction. I also appreciate the lockable fronts and top which securely contain pets while still allowing great visibility from all sides.

My main reservations with using this 20 gallon tank for adult crested geckos is the height and depth. While longer than tall variations, the 16.5 inch height and 12 inch width may limit climbing range and horizontal surface area for an active, arboreal gecko. Supplemental vertical cork bark additions could help compensate.

For the affordable price though, Zilla’s QuickBuild packs great functionality from the sliding doors, to the removable tray, to ventilation and security features. With some creativity boosting usable vertical space, it would work nicely enough to house crested geckos. I would potentially recommend it more for juveniles over full grown adults, or those with tighter budgets.

Conclusion

When it comes to selecting the ideal housing for a crested gecko, there are a few key considerations to ensure their habitat supports natural behavior and optimal health. As arboreal lizards, cresties utilize vertical space more readily than floor space. This makes tall, narrow enclosures far superior to wide, short tanks.

Popular high-quality choices are front-opening glass Exo Terra terrariums and aluminum screen Zoo Med ReptiBreezes. For an adult, the bare minimum dimensions would be 18 x 18 x 24 inches (height most crucial), although larger always provides more opportunity to thrive.

Inside the crested gecko enclosure, provide ample hide spots, foliage, vines and climbing décor like cork to enable concealed sleeping and exploration between feeds.

Abundant plants also aid humidity retention between 40-60%. A mild temperature gradient from 70-80° F should be established along with 12 hour light cycles.

For substrates, simple paper towels work well, though naturalistic options like orchid bark or sphagnum mosses enable engaging digging behaviors.

Crested geckos are display pets, so optimal visibility and routine access helps ensure their continued health and wellness at all stages of life.

So invest upfront in a high quality, vert-oriented front-opening tank that aligns to their natural rainforest habitats as close as possible. This provides not only proper husbandry but enjoyment during ownership as well!

FAQs

What cage is best for a crested gecko?

The best cages for crested geckos are tall, front-opening glass terrariums or screened cages that are at least 18 x 18 x 24 inches for adults. This allows for plenty of climbing space as well as easy access to the habitat for maintenance and handling. Popular options include glass Exo Terra terrariums or aluminum Zoo Med ReptiBreeze enclosures.

What tank are best for Crested Geckos?

The best tanks for crested geckos are front-opening, vertical tanks that are at least 20 gallons tall for an adult. Minimum dimensions should be around 18 x 18 x 24 inches (height is most important), with screen tops for ample ventilation. Glass tanks provide more humidity retention while mesh/screen cages offer maximum airflow.

What is the proper crested gecko enclosure?

The proper crested gecko enclosure is a secured, front-opening tank or cage at least 20 gallons tall, with dense foliage, ample climbing décor (branches, vines, cork), a mild temperature gradient (70-80°F) and humidity around 60-80%. Substrates like reptile carpet or naturalistic beddings work well. Good ventilation plus hiding spots are also necessities.

What is the Crested Geckos preferred habitat?

In the wild, crested geckos are arboreal lizards that thrive in tropical, high humidity forests in New Caledonia. They prefer vertically-oriented habitats with ample tall trees, leaf litter, vegetation and bark to climb on with safe hiding spots. Replicating these rainforest conditions as best as possible is ideal for their captive enclosures as well.