Since their rediscovery in the 1990s, crested geckos have become a firm favourite pet reptile. They’re being kept in greater numbers and many people ask a lot of questions about them. So in this article, we ask “How long is a crested gecko’s lifespan?”
Factors Affecting a Crested Gecko Lifespan
Numerous factors can affect a crested gecko’s lifespan. Female geckos that have been bred tend to have a shorter life than those that are kept just as pets.
Another factor is the quality of their care. Getting the right temperature, humidity, and feeding regime is important. Feeding is very important, while crested geckos can eat just meal replacement options, it is better to feed them a mixture of live foods and powdered crested gecko food, this provides the best balance of nutrients.
You might also need to adjust the design of the enclosure. Some people limit their designs to providing vertical climbing structures for crested geckos. However, we’ve found that climbing opportunities that are at an angle and also horizontal help with tail retention and muscle building.
You should also provide a hide. In the wild, crested geckos hide on the floor in small hollows or under leaf litter. If they’re not provided this in captivity it can stress them out and shorten their life.
How Long Do Crested Geckos Live For?
Crested geckos can live for about 15 to 20 years in captivity, as long as they’re kept in ideal conditions. Those that are bred from might live for less than this.
However, that doesn’t mean this is their maximum age. There are examples of some crested geckos living longer than this. But this is a rarity.
How to Improve Health Care for a Crested Gecko?
To help your crested gecko live longer, it is important to consider the proper care for your crested gecko and build an efficient routine for your care. You can choose to perform maintenance at a regular time of the day.
For those with kids, perhaps providing care when they get home from school. Or if you work, when you get back from work. Crested geckos are more nocturnal, so providing care just before dusk is a great idea.
You can also add monitoring equipment, such as humidity and temperature monitors.
Final Word: How Long is a Crested Gecko Lifespan?
Crested geckos can live a long time, often up to 20 years in captivity. Proper care should be maintained for this, but crested geckos are relatively one of the easiest geckos to look after, with only the leopard gecko being easier to care for.
Do you have a crested gecko? Let us know how old your gecko is.
