How Fast Crested Geckos Really Are

As you get used to being a proud crested gecko owner – or plan to become one soon, a question frequently on the minds of folks like you is “how fast is a typical crested gecko?” Does it sprint away or remain lethargic? How much space should be allocated for it so that it can move about freely?

Are crested geckos fast? Crested geckos are not very fast creatures yet they are quite good jumpers. So you would like to provide them with adequate space where they can jump about freely. Their movements – when you handle them would also depend on how comfortable they are with you.

In this post you will learn about the movements of crested geckos; you will also gather insights on how best to prepare for your crested gecko’s enclosure.

Ultimately, you will also have a good perspective on how best to handle your crested gecko so that it gets comfortable with you and moves about freely – around or even on you.

Table of Contents

Let your Cresty Get Used to You

Most crested gecko owners are keen to know about the agility of their pets since they would like to begin handling them as soon as possible. For this, we suggest starting out by letting your crestie get used to you first.

Your scent will play a key role – as your gecko gets used to your smell, it will be more comfortable moving around in your presence.

We highly recommend reading our Crested Gecko Bonding Guide here if you want to “tame” your Crested gecko!

It’s Habitat Matters!

The way you construct and set up your crested gecko’s habitat will have a huge say in the manner in which it moves about so make sure you keep that in mind. Some aspects you would especially like to consider on this decision include:

Give more importance to height than width. So if it is a fish tank in which you plan to house your crested gecko, make sure it is high enough for your crestie to leap around.
Provide branches within the habitat that your crestie can climb up or down on.
The habitat must have a secure cover so that your crestie cannot leap out and get hurt.

When it comes to a Crested Gecko’s habitat, we also recommend reading our articles below:

Keep its Crepusucular Nature in Mind!

Remember that crested geckos are crepuscular creatures, so a lack of movement during the day should not surprise you.

We say this because many new crested gecko owners make multiple failed attempts at arousing motion in their pet during the day…simply to no avail! Avoid making this mistake and try handling them in the evening as far as possible.

Besides that, you should not leave the lights on at night. This can be extremely stressful for your gecko. We explain why they need no light at night here!

Handle Gently

One of the most important aspects of handling your crested gecko is to do so ever so gently. If you take a contrarian, rough approach, there is every chance you will stress up your crested gecko.

This stress can, in turn, have negative repercussions including but not limited to losing its appetite as well as its tail (one which incidentally doesn’t grow back!). Holding it by its tail is also a no-no for the same reason.

One important tip we can give is that when you handle your crested gecko, do so on a flat surface like a table or on the floor. That way – since cresties love to jump, it won’t hurt itself should it decide to jump from your hand.

Also, adopt a “crescendo” approach to the time you spend handling your crested gecko; increasing it ever so gradually instead of spending a long while doing so from the get-go. We show you how much handling is okay here!

Finally, practice caution in the manner in which you “scoop” your crestie out of its habitat. Slow and gentle is just the right approach, especially if it is a fish tank.

Significant Individual Differences

Our experience over the years with crested geckos has seen significant individual differences in the way they move.

While broadly we affirm that their movements are limited, some crested geckos can be on the move for long durations. Also, while some will be comfortable moving on you, especially your arms, not all will be happy to do so.

Some Crested geckos might even get aggressive when picked up. If that’s the case for your Crested gecko, have a look at our articles:

As far as agility goes, again we have noted reasonable individual differences. While by and large they remain less agile creatures, some of them can actually move fairly fast, at least in comparison to others.

So do keep these individual differences in mind while judging the speed at which your crested gecko moves.

Stop n Go Movement

A peculiar habit of most crested geckos is that they tend to stop and go as they move. So you might notice your crested gecko getting into motion and then lying still in the position and spot that it has taken, for a long time.

This pattern of movement is repeated across multiple positions and spots that it chooses. While this may seem unusual, it is actually normal behavior for crested geckos.

We mention this so that you do not get freaked out when you notice your crested gecko in ‘Statue’ mode!

Red Flags to Watch Out For

While more likely than not it will simply be a case of innate instincts if your crested gecko does not show signs of movement, it may not always be the case. Specifically:

Does your crestie perpetually display lethargy?
Along with lack of movement, do you also notice a loss of appetite or perhaps weight loss?
Does your crestie have heavy breathing while in motion or worse, even when it is still?
Do you notice a complete lack of motion in any of your crestie’s limbs?

These are all red flags to watch out for and you must consult with your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Again we will repeat that a general tendency to be lethargic is common among crested geckos but to be perpetually so with threadbare movement may be a sign of something being wrong with your crested gecko, which would be best checked with the vet.

Conclusion

Crested geckos are clearly not fast movers. They tend to move slowly as and when they do. But they do jump fast and frequently.

It is tough to quantify jump lengths in crested geckos, especially given the individual differences among them but by and large, suffice it to say that they are really good jumpers.

Therefore, as a responsible owner of a crested gecko, you must ensure that the habitat you provide has ample space for it to jump about.

Give importance to height more than width and provide branches (or any similar structure) which your cresty can climb and jump from at will.