Crested Gecko’s are considered to be solitary species, therefore Frodo is housed individually.

Crested Geckos are omnivores, enjoying both fruits and insects. As crepuscular animals (active at dawn and dusk), it’s common to see Frodo hunting insects after 9:00 pm — a behaviour that keeps him active and mentally stimulated.

Frodo is fed live crickets once or twice a week, along with a fruit-based prepared diet called Pangea twice weekly. Because crested geckos prefer to eat where they feel safe — usually higher up — we place his food dish on a ledge near the top of his enclosure.

His live foods include crickets and dubia roaches. As Frodo lives in a bioactive setup, he also snacks on the clean-up crew (woodlice). Waxworms are offered occasionally as a special treat.

All live food is gut-loaded (fed nutritious food 24–48 hours before being offered) and dusted with calcium to support Frodo’s health.

Crested Geckos prefer to drink from water droplets left after the nightly misting of their vivarium, but we also provide a small bowl of fresh water as a backup.

Vivarium
Frodo lives in a 90cmH x 90cm W x 45cmD front opening glass vivarium. With tree climbing (Arboreal) species, we aim for a light / dark and warm / cold gradient from top to bottom, i.e. it is brighter and warmer at the top and darker/cooler at the bottom as would be seen in a rainforest.

Heat & Lighting
● Luminez Linked UVB Lighting (7% UVB) for Fergusson Zone (a shadedweller) with a solar meter reading of 1-2 at the main basking branch. The UV lights should be on a 12 hour day / night cycle in winter and a 14 hour light cycle in summer. The UVI of a new bulb may need to be reduced via the App downwards to keep the UVI below 2. However, making sure Frodo can move away to regulate his own UV access is the most important consideration.
● Frodo has a linked Luminez LED Jungle Dawn Bar. Both the LED and UVB lighting are controlled via a bluetooth App, and are programmed to come on at 08:00am and switch off at 20:00.

Vivarium Lighting and heating
● Luminez UVB T5 (7%) for Fergusson Zone 1 with a solar meter reading of 1-2on a 12 hour day / night cycle
● Luminez LED Bar on a 12 hours day / night cycle
● The cooler part (bottom) of the vivarium should ideally be 70-75°F (21-24°C)
● Night time – the vivarium can drop to 65-72°F (18-22°C)

Heating
Frodo, like all reptiles, needs a temperature gradient in the vivarium for health. Frodo has a basking heat bulb (Deep heat projector) controlled via a Habistat Pulse Proportional Thermostat. He has thermometers and hygrometers on both sides of the enclosure to check ambient temperatures and we use a laser thermometer to test basking and surface temperatures.

Temperatures as follows:
● Basking area (top of enclosure) — 82-85°F (28-29°C)
● Cool area (bottom of enclosure) —70-75°F (21-24°C)
● Nighttime temperature — 65-72°F (18-22°C)

Note that it is very important to provide this range of temperatures! Consistent temperatures above 85°F (29°C) can cause stress and heat stroke, and consistent temperatures at or below 72°F (22°C) can cause lethargy, poor appetite, and illness.

Crested Gecko’s need a high level of humidity to replicate rain forest settings, where the humidity would increase at night through rainfall and drop again in the day with the heat of the sun.

Ideal daytime humidity will be between 40-50% and evenings should be 80% – 100%, maintained through evening misting with dechlorinated water.

Crested geckos thrive between 60-80% humidity. This can be maintained with daily misting and a moisture-retentive substrate. We try to make sure the tank dries out in the day and the humidity drops to 50% before misting again. If the humidity stays constantly high mould can develop which can affect Frodo’s health.

Substrate
Frodo needs a substrate similar to a wild environment, so we make up our own mix of 40% organic, additive-free topsoil + 20% Zoo Med Reptisoil + 20% Zoo Med Fine Orchid Bark. In places, this should be around 3 inches deep to allow for plant growth and we have live plants such as Devils Ivy, Dracaena, Fittonia and Bromelaids,

Frodo also has several hanging humid hides made up with sphagnum moss and these aid with shedding.

Frodo being a climbing species, needs height to his enclosure and needs enrichment that would simulate a rainforest canopy, so he had hides that are both attached to the glass and hanging, with natural vines, tall plants and his vivarium background is molded to create crevices. His favourite places to hide are on his cork log underneath a trailing plant or his small green cottage.

● Check doors are closed / secure
● Check UV lights and LED is on (UVI reading is ideal at 1-2)
● Check basking temperature at the top is 82-85°F (28-29°C)
● Check the cool temperatures are 70-75°F (21-24°C)
● Check humidity is 40-50 (day) and 80% evening – the tank usually needs misting several times a week in the evening.
● Water change (use reptisafe)

Daily
Spot clean glass etc, when faeces are seen.

Weekly full clean.
This includes checking all through the enclosure and removing any faeces
● The water bowl should be thoroughly washed and disinfected using F10, vivarium clean
● Glass doors should be cleaned inside and our (inside with white wine vinegar)
● The substrate should be agitated to prevent mold and the substrate becoming stagnant. The humidity should be kept high (60-80% in the day and 80-100% at night)

Quarterly
We do not carry out the usual quarterly deep clean, as bioactive set ups can be harmed to remove the substrate. However, deep cleans of any artificial hides and plants are carried out:

○ Remove all hides and enrichment and where appropriate (not for wood), disinfect using F10.