No, you can’t keep a crested gecko and a giant day gecko in the same tank. Even if the enclosure is extremely large, it is not safe to house them together.
This is because:
- They have different habitat requirements.
- They have different dietary needs.
- They have different activity patterns.
In this article, I will explain why you can’t keep a crested gecko and a giant day gecko in the same enclosure.
Let’s move on…
Reasons Why You Should Not Keep Them Together
There are several reasons why you should not keep crested geckos and giant day geckos together, such as:
Reason 1: Different habitat requirements
Crested geckos and giant day geckos have different requirements for their homes, which can make it difficult to create the right conditions for both in one tank.
For example, crested geckos like it cooler, with temperatures between 72°F to 80°F and high humidity of 70% to 100%. On the other hand, giant day geckos prefer warmer temps, around 75°F to 85°F, and moderate humidity at 50% to 70%.
If the temperature and humidity are too high or too low for either species, they may suffer from stress, illness, or even death.
Here’s another thing: Crested geckos don’t need UVB lighting because they’re active at night and get their vitamin D3 from their food.
But giant day geckos are daytime creatures and require UVB lighting for calcium metabolism and healthy bones.
So, if there’s no UVB lighting in the tank, giant day geckos could develop metabolic bone disease.
On the flip side, if there’s too much UVB lighting, crested geckos might be exposed to too much light, which can harm their eyes and skin.
Reason 2: Different Dietary Needs
Just like their habitat needs, crested geckos and giant day geckos also have different diets.
Crested geckos are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. You can also give them a commercial crested gecko diet that contains fruits, insects, and vitamins.
On the other hand, giant day geckos are insectivores, so they mostly eat insects like crickets, roaches, or worms dusted with calcium and vitamin supplements.
If you try to feed them the same food, they might not get the right nutrients, or they could eat something harmful.
Another thing to keep in mind is their eating schedules. Crested geckos are active at night, so you should feed them in the evening when they’re awake and hungry.
Giant day geckos, on the other hand, are active during the day, so you should feed them in the morning when they’re awake and hungry.
If you feed them at the same time, they might not eat enough, or they could end up competing for food.
Reason 3: Risk of aggression and disease transmission
As I mentioned earlier, one of the main reasons you shouldn’t put both crested geckos and giant day geckos in the same tank is because they might fight.
The truth is, when they share a tank, they could argue over food, space, mates, or even mistake each other for enemies or prey.
This could lead to biting, scratching, or injuring each other with their teeth or claws.
Besides the fighting, they carry different kinds of parasites, bacteria, viruses, or fungi that can make each other sick. They also have different immune systems, so they might not respond the same way to the same germs.
Plus, they can spread diseases through their poop, saliva, blood, or skin.
So, keeping them apart is a smart move for their health and safety.
Alternatives to keeping them together
Instead of housing crested geckos and giant day geckos in the same tank, think about some other options that benefit both animals.
One option is to house crested geckos and giant day geckos in separate tanks tailored to their specific requirements.
By doing this, you can ensure that each species gets the ideal conditions they need in terms of temperature, humidity, lighting, food, feeding schedule, behavior, and time.
Plus, you’ll have a more enjoyable and secure experience watching them.
F.A.Q.s
Q: Can I keep a male crested gecko and a female giant day gecko in the same tank?
No, you should not keep a male crested gecko and a female giant day gecko in the same tank, as they may try to mate with each other and produce infertile or deformed offspring.
This can cause stress, injury, or death to both animals.
Q: What are the key differences between crested geckos and giant day geckos?
Crested geckos and giant day geckos differ in size, habitat preferences, and behavior.
Crested geckos are smaller, arboreal (tree-dwelling) reptiles from New Caledonia, while giant day geckos are larger, diurnal (day-active) geckos from Madagascar.
Understanding these differences is essential for providing appropriate care.