Tank size for adults

[Zach]

So I am soon to be a first time creasted owner and I have a question about tank size. I really like the exo terra 18x18x24 and have heard its great for adult cresties but is a tad overpriced in my opinion. So does the 12x12x18 give them enough room when they are adults? I've heard it can make their tails go wonky if they find have enough room. Any comments help, thanks!

[amandarenee]

There are going to be people who tell you yes, and people who tell you no.

Frankly, a 12x12x18 is not quite enough room for a full-grown crested gecko. The accepted rule of thumb is a minimum of 20 gallons. That exoterra is only about 11 gallons. If you want to save on cost, and you're a bit handy, you can buy a 20 gallon long fish tank, stand it on end, and make a door for it using acrylic, a window screen kit, and some screen. There's a great thread about it in the caging section here. I am in the process of making one for a new subadult I'm getting this week, and it'll probably end up costing about $60 for the tank, with some supplies left over to start a second one as well.

[Zach]

Yeah it's seems like not everyone can agree on tank size. I want the little guy to have enough room to not feel stressed soo I guess more money is a better option

[rubberduckey273]

If you want a simple answer, the answer I give buyers that are new to cresteds is a minimum of 20gallons for an adult crested (typically 40+grams).

But I think a more in depth answer is a little more difficult. I think it can depend on the gecko, although almost all of them do much better with at least 15 gallons. I have a couple smaller, "lazier" adults that seem to do really well in the 12x12x18, but they're on the smaller side. And then I've experienced some cresteds that are so lively that I feel they would do best in something even bigger than a 20gallon. If you only have one or two cresteds, its really in their best interest to just save up and get a larger tank. Generally, if someone doesn't have the money or room for larger accommodations, they should be cutting back on the number of geckos they have. Besides, larger tanks tend to look a lot nicer as well. But if you ask me (and I'm sure there are some people that don't agree) a 10-15 gallon tank would be fine for a crested if you are planning on upgrading to a larger tank in the future. I personally would rather have a gecko in a 12x12x18 that is filled with plenty of branches, vines and plants to climb on and hide in, than in a 20gallon where a large part of the tank is open air that the gecko can't use.

I know what you mean about the confusion on caging size as well, when I first started with cresteds pretty much everyone agreed that 10 gallons was a good size, but now if you keep a crested in a 10 gallon its borderline abuse to some people. And if money really is an issue, and you're worried about not giving them enough space, you can always go the plastic bin route. Not the prettiest setup, but its cheap and easy to clean.

[Zach]

My crestie is only a baby, 4g I think. I get him/her Friday! So I've gone for just a 10 gallon kritter carrier for now while its small and when it gets big enough to not get lost in a larger cage I will have saved enough money to really get something nice.