How to Set Up the Crested Gecko Hatchling Starter Kit

My complete hatchling starter kit is designed as a first home for a young crested gecko. This is what comes in it and how I set it up, step by step.

What is in the kit

• A custom 20 × 20 × 30 cm (8 × 8 × 12 in) acrylic enclosure with a sliding magnetic front door and ventilation on the sides and top for airflow and humidity control
• A naturalistic hide and food dish combination
• A 30 cm (12 in) hanging plant
• A bendable climbing vine
• An ultra-fine mist spray bottle
• A 57 g (2 oz) bag of gecko diet

Choosing a substrate

I recommend one of two options.

Coco fiber and moss. This looks more natural and holds humidity better. It is harder to deep clean, and it makes it harder to keep track of how much your gecko is eating.

Paper towels. Easy to change, easy to deep clean, and it makes it easier to monitor food intake by checking droppings. It holds much less humidity, so you may need to mist a little more often.

For more experienced keepers I usually suggest coco fiber and moss. For newer keepers I suggest paper towels: easy to set up, easy to clean, less guesswork, and easier to see that your gecko is settling in.

Setting up paper towels

Fold paper towels to roughly the size of the enclosure and stack them 7–8 thick. That gives your gecko some cushion and absorbs more moisture when you mist. Spot clean daily, and deep clean weekly with fresh paper towels.

Setting up coco fiber and moss

Start with about 1 cm (½ in) of damp coco fiber, then add a layer of damp moss on top. Several types of moss work; a local reptile shop or garden centre usually stocks them. Never use moss with artificial dyes, and never collect moss from the wild for the enclosure.

Hide and food dish

Place the log hide and feeding dish combination next. It gives your gecko a secure place to rest and a consistent place to eat. A disposable portion cup or a reusable silicone bottle cap in the dish makes feeding and cleaning easier.

Hanging plant

Attach the plant to the back of the enclosure with its suction cup so some of the foliage drapes down in front of the hide. The extra cover helps your gecko feel secure.

Climbing vine

The vine bends into any shape. I like to make an archway and use the smaller branches to form a climbing lattice in the middle. Crested geckos are arboreal, and the vine lets your gecko use the vertical space and move the way it naturally would.

Misting

Mist the enclosure before your gecko goes in. The aim is to add humidity, not to keep your gecko wet. It will drink droplets from the leaves and the glass, and the humidity helps when it sheds. Your gecko should dry out every day. As a rule of thumb, misting once in the evening suits most places, but you may need to mist more or less depending on the humidity where you live and in your home.