Pet Keen advocates for adopting before shopping. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. We have not personally investigated all of the breeders below, rather, we have gathered their details for you to get in touch and ask all the right questions before you decide. Learn more about our position and how to choose a breeder here.
If you’re hoping to get into raising lizards or other reptiles, but you lack experience with the animals, a crested gecko is a great way to get things started. These lizards are easy to care for and fairly outgoing and affectionate (for a lizard, anyway), which is why so many crested gecko owners fall in love with raising reptiles.
However, tracking one down can be a bit of a chore. Fortunately, if you live in the U.S., U.K., Canada, or Australia, there are several high-quality breeders to choose from, and we cover some of the best in more detail here.
Crested Gecko Breeders in U.S., U.K., Canada & Australia
If you’ve decided to adopt a crested gecko, you may be tempted to just cruise on down to your local pet store and pick out the first one you see.
We urge you not to do this, however, as many store-bought cresteds are bred using inhumane techniques, and they can be unhealthy as a result. Also, most chain pet store employees know little to nothing about proper care of reptiles, whereas a dedicated breeder can be a fount of information about these animals.
The breeders listed here take care of their animals extremely seriously, and they can be trusted to deliver healthy, well-bred lizards every time. In the rare event that something goes wrong with your order, they’ve staked their reputations on being able to make it right.
Crested Gecko Breeders Near Me
Crested Gecko Breeders That Ship
Crested Gecko Rescues
How Much Does a Crested Gecko Cost?
Crested geckos can be relatively inexpensive pets, as you can find them for as little as $50 in some pet shops. However, you can also see them being sold for well over $5,000 in some places.
Why is one so cheap and the other so expensive? The price can depend on their age, sex, and how easy they are to acquire where you live, but by far, the biggest factor is their morph.
“Morph” is the gecko’s color, size, and pattern. Some rare morphs can be unique and outstanding, which is why they cost so much. Geckos with plainer, more common morphs will be much cheaper.
Another thing to remember is that buying from a reputable breeder will be more expensive than buying from a chain pet store, but you’ll get plenty of value for that extra price. A gecko from a breeder is more likely to be healthy, have a well-defined family line, and come with superior customer service.
The 4 Things to Ask a Crested Gecko Breeder
Before you buy from any breeder, you should do a bit of probing to see just how knowledgeable they are. There isn’t any official licensing that goes into breeding geckos for the most part, so there are a few weak links mixed in with the pros.
Here are a few good questions to ask before you do business with someone.
1. Can You See It, or Can They at Least Provide Plenty of Photos?
The easiest way to assess the health of a crested gecko is through a visual inspection. Are its body and tail well-rounded and filled out, or does it look half-starved? Does it have clear eyes and an unblocked nose vent? Is its tail kinked, or is it missing toes?
If the breeder won’t let you do a visual assessment, they may have something to hide.
2. What Was Their Diet? How Did They Eat?
You want to make sure that the breeder fed your potential pet a healthy diet and that it eats its food readily. If not, that’s a sign that the gecko might be sick somehow.
3. How Does It Tolerate Being Handled?
Not every gecko likes being held. If you want an affectionate lizard, try to buy one up front, as it’s unlikely that its temperament will change over time.
4. What Is Their Return Policy?
Despite any breeder’s best efforts, sometimes crested geckos don’t survive long after being purchased. As long as the animal’s death isn’t due to neglect or abuse on your part, the breeder should be willing to replace it within a reasonable timeframe.
The 5 Things to Know Before Buying a Crested Gecko
1. Crested Geckos Are Nocturnal
A crested gecko will be a poor choice if you want an animal that you can watch all day long. It likes to stay up all night, so it will do most of its entertaining antics after you’ve gone to sleep.
2. Be Careful About What You Put in Its Tank
Crested geckos are largely solitary creatures, so you shouldn’t give them any unwanted roommates. This is especially true for males, as two males will often butt heads, sometimes to the point of death.
You may be able to successfully house multiple females simultaneously, but it will always come with risk and is inadvisable for all but the most experienced keepers.
3. Don’t Leave the Top Off the Cage
These lizards need cages that are taller than they are wide, and if you get a really tall enclosure for them, don’t assume that they can’t climb out. They have sticky pads on their feet that make them capable climbers, and they love to ascend as high as possible, as often as possible. If you don’t secure the tank lid, you may end up with a fugitive on your hands.
4. They’re Omnivores
Many people assume that all lizards eat insects, but if you don’t give your crested gecko fruits and veggies as well, it can become malnourished. The easy way to accomplish this is with commercial food, but you can also provide insects alongside mashed-up bananas, pears, and the like.
5. They Live a Long Time
Most people don’t realize that a crested gecko can live up to 20 years or more if properly cared for. That’s a long time to have a pet, so don’t buy one on a whim. You may just end up spending a quarter of your life taking care of the critter.
Conclusion
If you hope to add a crested gecko to your menagerie, you can find one by contacting the breeders on this list. They can hook you up with a healthy lizard and provide valuable advice on how to feed and care for the animal.
There are other places that you can find one of these lizards, of course, but if you go another route, you’ll be putting your money and/or the health of your pet at risk.
Featured Image Credit: Jeff McGraw, Shutterstock
