Crested geckos are one of the most popular reptile pets in the world. They are easy to care for, have a variety of colors and patterns, and can live up to 20 years in captivity.
But can crested geckos live together? This is a common question among crested gecko owners and enthusiasts who want to keep more than one of these adorable creatures.
The answer is not simple, as there are many factors to consider before deciding to cohabit crested geckos.
There are pros and cons of keeping multiple crested geckos together, and each situation is different depending on the individual geckos and their environment.
In this guide, we will explore the social behavior of crested geckos, the benefits and risks of cohabiting them, and the best practices and tips for housing them together safely and happily.
Key Takeaways:
- Crested geckos are not inherently social creatures, preferring solitude even in small groups or colonies. They are mostly nocturnal and tend to hide during the day.
- They communicate through vocalizations and body language, using various sounds and physical cues to express emotions, intentions, and needs.
- Gender, age, size, and personality influence their social behavior. Males tend to be more territorial and aggressive, especially during breeding season.
- Crested geckos display solitary, territorial, aggressive, submissive, and mating behaviors, each carrying specific characteristics and examples.
- Aggression, stress, disease transmission, feeding issues, and housing challenges are significant risks associated with housing multiple geckos together.
- Consider gender balance, adequate space, hiding spots, health monitoring, and readiness to separate geckos if conflicts arise.
Table of Contents
Crested Gecko Social Behavior
Crested geckos are not very social animals in the wild. They live in small groups or colonies, but they do not form strong bonds or hierarchies with each other.
Also, they are mostly nocturnal and spend most of their time hiding in the foliage or under rocks, only coming out at night to hunt for insects, fruits, and nectar.
Vocalizations and Body Language
Crested geckos communicate and interact with each other through vocalizations and body language.
They can make various sounds, such as chirping, barking, squeaking, and growling, to express their emotions, intentions, and needs.
They also use their tails, crests, eyes, and mouth to signal their mood, status, and readiness to mate.
Factors That Influence The Crested Geckos Social Behavior
The social behavior of crested geckos is influenced by several factors, such as gender, age, size, personality, and season.
Generally, male crested geckos are more territorial and aggressive than females, especially during the breeding season.
They will fight with other males for dominance and access to females, and they will mark their territory with their scent glands.
Female crested geckos are more tolerant and submissive, but they can also show aggression if they feel threatened or stressed. Juvenile crested geckos are more playful and curious, but they can also be more skittish and nervous.
The table below summarizes the different types of crested gecko social behavior and their meanings:
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Solitary | Crested geckos prefer to live alone or in small groups. They do not seek social interaction or companionship. | A crested gecko that hides in its enclosure and avoids contact with other geckos. |
| Territorial | Crested geckos defend their space and resources from intruders. They mark their territory with their scent glands and display aggressive behavior. | A male crested gecko that barks, growls, and bites another male that enters his enclosure. |
| Aggressive | Crested geckos attack or threaten other geckos that they perceive as rivals or enemies. They show signs of anger, fear, or frustration. | A female crested gecko that hisses, lunges, and tail-whips another female that tries to steal her food. |
| Submissive | Crested geckos surrender or retreat from other geckos that they perceive as stronger or more dominant. They show signs of submission, appeasement, or respect. | A juvenile crested gecko that squeaks, lowers its crest, and flattens its body when approached by an adult. |
| Mating | Crested geckos court or mate with other geckos that they perceive as potential partners. They show signs of attraction, interest, or readiness. | A male crested gecko that chirps, licks, and nuzzles a female that he likes. |
Benefits of Cohabiting Crested Geckos
- Socializing and enrichment: Cohabiting crested geckos can provide some social stimulation and enrichment for each other. They can interact, play, and learn from each other, which can improve their mental and emotional health. They can also keep each other company and reduce boredom and loneliness.
- Space-saving and cost-effectiveness: Cohabiting crested geckos can save some space and money for the owner. They can share the same enclosure, substrate, decorations, and accessories, which can reduce the need for buying and maintaining multiple setups. They can also share the same food and water dishes, which can lower the feeding costs and waste.
- Breeding and reproduction: Cohabiting crested geckos can enable the owner to breed and reproduce them. They can produce fertile eggs and offspring, which can be sold, traded, or kept as pets. They can also increase the genetic diversity and quality of the crested gecko population.
The main benefits of cohabiting crested geckos are:
- Socializing and enrichment
- Space-saving and cost-effectiveness
- Breeding and reproduction
Risks of Cohabiting Crested Geckos
However, there are also some disadvantages of keeping multiple crested geckos together, such as:
- Aggression and territoriality: Cohabiting crested geckos can cause aggression and territoriality among them. They can fight, bite, and injure each other, which can result in stress, pain, infection, and even death. They can also damage their tails, crests, and toes, which can affect their appearance and health.
- Stress and anxiety: Cohabiting crested geckos can cause stress and anxiety for them. They can feel threatened, intimidated, or overwhelmed by the presence of other geckos, which can affect their behavior and well-being. They can also develop behavioral problems, such as hiding, pacing, or refusing to eat.
- Disease transmission and parasite infestation: Cohabiting crested geckos can increase the risk of disease transmission and parasite infestation among them. They can spread bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites through their saliva, feces, urine, and blood, which can cause infections and illnesses. They can also contract mites, worms, and protozoa, which can affect their skin, digestion, and immunity.
- Feeding issues and competition: Cohabiting crested geckos can create feeding issues and competition for them. They can have different dietary needs and preferences, which can make it difficult to provide a balanced and varied diet for them. They can also compete for food and water, which can lead to malnutrition and dehydration.
- Housing difficulties and maintenance: Cohabiting crested geckos can pose housing difficulties and maintenance challenges for the owner. They can require a larger and more complex enclosure, which can take up more space and cost more money. They can also produce more waste and mess, which can increase the cleaning and sanitizing frequency and effort.
So, the risks of cohabiting crested geckos are:
- Aggression and territoriality
- Stress and anxiety
- Disease transmission and parasite infestation
- Feeding issues and competition
- Housing difficulties and maintenance
Considerations for Cohabiting Crested Geckos
If you decide to cohabit crested geckos, you need to consider some best practices and tips for housing them together safely and happily, such as:
- Choosing the right gender and number of crested geckos: The gender and number of crested geckos you keep together can affect their compatibility and harmony. Generally, it is best to avoid keeping male crested geckos together, as they are more likely to fight and injure each other. You can keep female crested geckos together, as they are more tolerant and peaceful. You should not keep more than four crested geckos together, as they can become overcrowded and stressed.
- Providing adequate space and enclosure size: The space and enclosure size you provide for your crested geckos can affect their comfort and happiness. Generally, you should provide at least 10 gallons of space per crested gecko, and at least 20 inches of height for them to climb and explore. You should also choose an enclosure that has good ventilation, lighting, and humidity, and that is easy to access and clean.
- Offering plenty of hiding places and decorations: The hiding places and decorations you offer for your crested geckos can affect their security and enrichment. Generally, you should provide at least one hiding place per crested gecko, and more if possible, to allow them to escape and rest. You should also provide various decorations, such as plants, branches, vines, and rocks, to create a natural and stimulating environment for them.
- Monitoring the health and well-being of each crested gecko: The health and well-being of each crested gecko you keep together can affect their survival and quality of life. Generally, you should monitor the weight, appetite, activity, and behavior of each crested gecko regularly, and check for any signs of injury, illness, or stress. You should also quarantine any new or sick crested geckos before introducing or reintroducing them to the group, to prevent the spread of diseases and parasites.
- Separating the crested geckos if necessary: The cohabitation of crested geckos can sometimes fail or become unsustainable, depending on the circumstances and the individual geckos. If you notice that your crested geckos are constantly fighting, injuring, or stressing each other, you should separate them as soon as possible. You should also separate them if they have different health or dietary needs, or if you want to prevent unwanted breeding or overpopulation.
Conclusion
Can crested geckos live together? The answer is yes, but with some caveats and precautions. Cohabiting crested geckos can have some benefits, such as socializing, space-saving, and breeding, but it can also have some risks, such as aggression, stress, disease, feeding, and housing.
Keep in mind that the social behavior of crested geckos is influenced by their gender, age, size, personality, and season, and they can exhibit different types of behavior, such as solitary, territorial, aggressive, submissive, and mating.
So, if you decide to cohabit crested geckos, you need to consider some best practices and tips, such as choosing the right gender and number, providing adequate space and enclosure size, offering plenty of hiding places and decorations, monitoring the health and well-being, and separating them if necessary.
We hope this article has helped you understand the pros and cons of cohabiting crested geckos, and how to do it safely and happily.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below, and if you want to learn more about crested geckos and their care, you can check out this other guide.
Thank you for reading and happy gecko keeping!
Extra Resources
FAQs about Can Crested Geckos Live Together?
Can you have 2 crested geckos together?
Yes, you can have 2 crested geckos together, but only if they are both female or one male and one female. You should not keep 2 male crested geckos together, as they will fight and injure each other.
What size tank for 2 crested geckos?
The minimum size tank for 2 crested geckos is 20 gallons, but larger is better. You should also provide at least 20 inches of height for them to climb and explore.
Can you keep 2 geckos together?
It depends on the species and gender of the geckos. Some geckos are more social and tolerant than others, and some geckos are more territorial and aggressive than others. You should research the specific needs and behaviors of your geckos before cohabiting them.
Can crested geckos bond with each other?
Crested geckos are not very social animals, and they do not form strong bonds or hierarchies with each other. They may interact, play, and mate with each other, but they do not seek companionship or affection from each other.