Can Crested Geckos Live Together? Crucial Tips To Know

Crested geckos are lovely little reptiles that can be a joy to own. And because of this, many people want to know if they can live together.

This resource will help you learn what needs to be done if you want them to cohabitate without any problems.

Can Crested Geckos Live Together?

Crested geckos living together is possible, but it’s not always the best idea.

Crested geckos typically live solitary lives. While experts don’t know much about the social structure of these lizards in the wild, the most accepted theory is that they prefer to live alone. Some lizards may group up in the wild for protection and safety in numbers.

But no concrete information exists because behaviors can vary wildly from one lizard to the next.

The same principle applies in captivity. Crested geckos all have unique personalities. Some are more social and outgoing, while others have aggressive streaks. You can house multiple geckos together, and many owners have had success doing so.

But to prevent issues, you must be strategic about how you house these lizards.

Potential Issues That Can Arise From Housing Crested Geckos Together

The biggest issue you’re likely to encounter when letting crested geckos live together is aggression. Males are notorious for being territorial. They do fine alone but can have a mean streak around others.

Injuries are a genuine risk. This type of gecko might not seem like major predators or bullies, but they can fight one another to the point of causing bodily harm. That’s especially true when living in cramped quarters.

Crested geckos can also compete for food. Not only does that create a higher risk of injury, but the lizards that can’t fend for themselves may experience malnutrition issues. As with any animal, tougher geckos will rise to the top, while the weaker ones can suffer from poor health.

Another issue is accidental breeding. This problem can persist when you house males and females together. Getting hatchlings isn’t a big deal if you’re a breeder. But for the average reptile owner, reproduction can cause major headaches!

Finally, keeping multiple crested geckos in a single aquarium can make it more difficult to monitor the health of your reptiles. When geckos live alone, you can easily observe urates and feces, control the spread of bacteria, etc. But that’s not an easy task when you’re monitoring several lizards.

It can be difficult to pinpoint which lizard needs attention, and diseases can spread fast once they enter the habitat.

Can A Male And Female Crested Gecko Live Together?

Male and female crested geckos can cohabitate, but a single male and female should never be a long-term arrangement.

Why? It all comes down to breeding.

There’s a high chance of breeding when you keep males and females together. Having a lone female fending for herself against an aggressive male will cause issues.

Males go into reproductive mode in the presence of females. It becomes their top priority, and you can observe him chasing her down. Males can get rough and cause injuries.

Usually, females can defend themselves in these situations. But problems arise when it’s a lone female and male. If the female lays eggs, she’ll need time to recover. But the male will be persistent about reproducing again.

That’s why breeders temporarily house single male and female crested geckos. It gives the pair enough time to reproduce while providing the female ample time to recover after laying eggs to avoid health problems.

You can house multiple females in a single cage with one male. Breeding may still occur. However, with numerous female targets, males are less inclined to focus on a single female. As a result, she has time to recover after laying eggs.

If you choose to house males and females together, you must be strategic about the arrangement to avoid issues.

It’s a different story with juveniles. You have more wiggle room with younger crested geckos. Before they reach maturity, these lizards are used to living with others.

The males aren’t territorial yet, and the females don’t release pheromones to attract a mate. As a result, issues aren’t as common with the younger lizards.

However, it’s best to decrease the size of the group as the lizards get bigger. By the time they reach sexual maturity, you must separate them to avoid aggression and territorial behavior.

Can Female Crested Geckos Live Together?

The best approach to reptile enthusiasts wanting to let crested geckos live together is to stick to all females.

Female crested geckos can live together peacefully. In fact, many will develop strong bonds! It’s common to see females sleeping close to one another.

Because females are less territorial than their male counterparts, they don’t mind the presence of others. Groups often develop social hierarchies. One may become more dominant over the others, but females generally keep the peace.

Typically, keeping up to five female crested geckos together in an appropriately sized tank is fine. You can keep more if you have a substantially large enclosure with plenty of space for every gecko, but it’s usually best to stick with small groups of five or fewer.

Recommended Enclosure Size For Housing Crested Geckos Together

As a good rule of thumb, providing about 15 gallons of space for every crested gecko you plan to keep in a single enclosure is the best approach. Offer even more space if possible. The more room for your lizards to roam, the lower the chance of aggression.

Here’s a quick breakdown of appropriate tank sizes for housing several female crested geckos together.

• Two adult female crested geckos: 30-gallon terrarium
• Three adult female crested geckos: 45-gallon terrarium
• Four adult female crested geckos: 60-gallon terrarium
• Five adult female crested geckos: 75-gallon terrarium
• Six adult female crested geckos: 90-gallon terrarium

If you plan to keep several females with a single male, the minimum size requirements are a little different. You can stick to the 15-gallon rule for females. But to ensure there are no issues with the male, it’s best to add an additional 30 gallons of volume.

For example:

• Three adult females with a single adult male: 75-gallon terrarium
• Four adult females with a single adult male: 90-gallon terrarium
• Five adult females with a single adult male: 105- to 120-gallon terrarium

What Female To Male Ratio Works Best?

You already know that keeping a single adult male and female together is not a wise choice beyond temporary breeding. So, what’s the appropriate ratio?

Generally, experts recommend keeping at least three females for one adult male. Keeping even more females can lead to better results. The goal is to outnumber the male to minimize aggression and keep your females healthy.

That doesn’t mean you should keep a massive group of six females to two males. Some seasoned reptile keepers have successfully housed multiple males together using a similar arrangement.

But for the average owner, it’s best to avoid keeping mature males together at all. Doing so will only lead to fighting, even if females are present.

Additional Tips For Housing Crested Geckos Together

Getting the right group arrangement is just half the battle. Even with the right grouping, issues can arise. Here are a few tips to keep the peace and ensure all the crested geckos that are living together stay happy and healthy.

Make Sure Everyone Gets Enough Food

The most important thing is to avoid food scarcity. Fights are inevitable if you don’t provide enough food for the entire group. It will only be a matter of time before the stronger crested geckos bully the weaker ones for food.

Don’t assume that you can combine portions and toss the food in. That’s the quickest way to create competition!

Instead, provide more food than you think you’ll need. Plan for the stronger lizards to steal from the smaller ones.

Create larger portions and place food in multiple trays throughout the enclosure. Arrange them on opposite sides of the tank so your lizards can get away from others to eat. Don’t forget to remove any excess food after a few hours.

Provide Numerous Hiding Spots & Basking Areas

Having tons of space won’t do your geckos any good if none of it is usable. A well-designed crested gecko enclosure will have a basking spot and plenty of hiding spaces. When you house multiple geckos together, you must multiply those amenities to ensure every lizard can stay comfortable.

Create at least three basking spots. Then, install the same amount of hide boxes and shedding caves.

Install plenty of faux plants for coverage, and include rocks your geckos can climb over.

Having several hiding spots and basking areas eliminates the need to fight others for comfort. Plus, it gives your geckos room to hide if things get heated.

Weigh Everyone On A Consistent Basis

Our last tip for having crested geckos live together is to make a habit of weighing them regularly. Learn to identify every lizard in the enclosure and consider keeping a log to track weight changes.

Regular weigh-ins allow you to monitor the health of your crested geckos. You can observe changes and spot potential issues before they become a problem, ensuring every lizard gets the care it deserves.            

Closing Thoughts

Crested geckos can live together, but you need to have the correct setup in order to make it work.

If you have any thoughts or questions about keeping multiple crested geckos together, you’re more than welcome to send us a message!