New Geckos, Old Friends
How a Trip to 401 Reptiles Turned Into a Crested Gecko Adventure
Just a week after redoing Grogu’s setup, we packed up our baby Uromastyx Geyri lizards and made the trip to 401 Reptiles—where their story began just a year ago. Ray and his crew run a top-notch reptile shop. The second you walk in, you can tell they care. Almost every enclosure is set up bioactive, the animals are bright-eyed and alert, and the whole place just feels alive.
It was a full-circle kind of moment. Ray had sold us the parent pair, Pikachu and Eevee, and now we were returning with their offspring—our first successful Uromastyx clutch. Apparently, that’s no small feat here in the U.S. There aren’t many people producing Geyri babies, and our success likely had something to do with their setup: a big enclosure, natural decor, and lots of love. Ray was thrilled to see the results—and proud of what we’d accomplished.
Unfortunately, Jason wasn’t there to share in the full-circle moment—he was the one holding down the shop last year while Ray was away at a show. He gave us all the info we needed to get started, and we definitely thought of him while handing off those baby Geyri. Much appreciation Jason - thank you for being very helpful that day! Dad recalls Jason just putting one of the Uromastyx in his hand and it just sat there like a little potato - he was hooked! Jason knew what he was doing!
We kept back two: Sweetie (aka “Little Petey” according to Dad), and one other for some close friends. One baby’s already off to Florida, and the rest will find great homes through 401’s network. Fingers crossed for another clutch this fall or winter.
But Wait—What’s That Over There?
You know us. No visit to a reptile shop ends with “just looking.” We browsed the aisles like seasoned pros—admiring a clutch of baby Tegus (tempting, but no way with four dogs - and that’s for the dog’s safety!), a gorgeous Panther Chameleon (beautiful, but not much for handling), and a stunner of an Axanthic Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink. If we didn’t already have Pumpkin, that one might’ve come home with us.
Then Ray showed us his new Crested Gecko pairs.
We’ve never been all that into Cresteds. They’re common, like Ball Pythons and Bearded Dragons, and we’ve always leaned toward the less obvious choices—Potato the Gargoyle Gecko, Grogu and Dairy Queen the Leachianus Geckos, all from New Caledonia. Cresteds never clicked. Until now.
A while back, Dad chatted with another local reptile enthusiast and breeder, Mendez Reptiles, who made some good points—Crested Geckos have such expressive little faces and are fun to watch leap and pounce! Thier spiderman like abilities to cling to flat surfaces - another superhero like pro! Those eyelashes and goofy smiles are perfect for a storybook character. Still, that wasn’t enough - the entire family needed to embrace the idea of these silly little creatures joining the growing mini dinosaur army.
Then Mom and Kiley saw them: a Pink Confetti female and a white male with ink blot–style markings. It was over. There were a few different pair to choose from with similar markings, but the Pink Confetti princess stole the show - just look at that little face and those eyelashes! We couldn’t resist.
Ray offered the pair as part of an exchange for the Geyri babies. They were adults, already paired, and clearly something special. A male and female—both on the rare side in terms of pattern/traits.
Oh, and here’s a fun fact: once a female Crested Gecko mates, she can lay several clutches without needing to pair again. That means eggs might already be on the way.
Kiley’s eyes lit up. She begged. She pleaded. And of course—we caved. To all the Dads out there with little girls - how don’t we go broke?! Also serious, the INN IS FULL!
The Great Gecko Setup Weekend
Saturday night, Dad found a deal on two Thrive 18x18x24 enclosures at PetSmart—half off. Sunday morning, we hit Home Depot for bioactive goodies, picked up the tanks, and even scored a pair of $10 end tables at Goodwill to hold them. A quick celebratory stop at Dairy Queen for Blizzards, and we were back home, building new homes.
Kiley named them Inky (the male) and Pinky (the female). Perfect, right?
We set them up in the upstairs living room—away from the main reptile den. That way, they can enjoy some TV time with the family. Their enclosures got the full Kritter treatment:
Drainage layer with hydroballs
Soil mix with sphagnum moss, charcoal, and leaf litter
Real plants and cork bark
Plenty of climbing branches
Cleanup crew of springtails and isopods
Temperature and humidity monitored with digital gauges
UVB provided for natural lighting rhythm (even if optional)
Once everything was just right, we introduced Inky and Pinky to their new “his and hers” enclosures. They stuck to the glass instantly—Cresteds have those sticky toe pads and a tail that helps them cling to just about anything. It’s like they were made to defy gravity.
We don’t know for sure if they mated before the move, but it’s possible—especially since they spent a night in a tub together. Time will tell if any tiny gecko eggs show up. But for now we thought they would do better with some time alone to adjust to their new surroundings.
As pictured his and hers enclosures above. Hers is on the left, we left some floor space for a specific egg laying reasons, will probably add an egg laying hide. His is on the right and he already gets lost in the greenery! She prefers that cork bark tube in her enclosure on the left - its funny to see her peak the little eyelashes out in the evening before emerging. They are creatures of the night after all!
Quick Crested Gecko Care Tips
Thinking about a Crested Gecko of your own? Here’s a starter cheat sheet:
Enclosure Size: Minimum 18x18x24 for adults
Temps: 72–78°F (avoid going over 80°F)
Humidity: 50–70% with daily misting
Substrate: Bioactive or coconut fiber mix
Diet: Commercial Crested Gecko diet (Pangea, Repashy) + occasional insects
Lighting: Optional UVB, but helpful
Handling: Gentle and occasional—watch out, they jump!
Climbing Space: Essential—fill with cork, vines, and branches
Egg Laying: Females can store sperm—prepare for surprise eggs!
Night Owls: Crested Geckos are nocturnal—most active after dark
Big thanks again to Ray, Jason, and the whole 401 Reptiles crew. A year ago, we brought home Pikachu and Eevee. This year, we brought back their babies and left with Inky and Pinky. That’s how it goes around here—never a dull moment, and always another Kritter (or two) to care for. I wonder what we will come up with for their adventure storybook? Drop us a line if you have any ideas! Be sure to check out our children’s books and songs available on Amazon and music streaming services! Thanks for dropping by!
Stay tuned. 🦎✨
