Crested gecko and leopard gecko are reptiles that make excellent pets. Its maintenance is low as compared to other pets. They all live for a long time. They are popular among reptile enthusiastic. Both are large.
So, what is the difference between a crested gecko and a leopard gecko? A leopard gecko has the coloration and the spots of a leopard that is yellow with brown spots.
Comparison Table (Crested Gecko vs Leopard Gecko)
| Characteristics | Crested gecko | Leopard gecko |
| Appearance | They have wedge-shaped heads with huge eyes, they have a crest on each eye that runs up to tail, beautiful eyelashes but no eyelids. | They have small heads and spots on their body, they have eyelids and a thick fatty tail. |
| Tail | It has a prehensile tail. | It has a thick fatty tail. |
| What they feed on | It is an omnivore; it feeds on fruits, flower nectar, and insects. | It is a carnivore; it feeds on insects. |
| Enclosure requirements | They require high humidity, lower temperatures, and enough light. | They require low humidity, a little bit of high temperature, and enough light. |
| Activity | They are most active during the darker hours. | They are active during dawn and dusk. |
| Temperament | It does not mind being handled. | It does not mind being handled. |
| Lifespan | It can live between 10 to 15 years. | It can live up to 27 years. |
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What Is a Crested Gecko?
Crested gecko grows up to 8 inches. They have wedge-shaped heads with huge eyes. They have a crest on each eye that runs up to the tail. They have eyelashes but do not have eyelids. They also have small spikes on the body which are not rough.
They weigh between 55 and 65 grams. However, weight varies according to gender, male can grow up to 100 grams and females up to 65 grams.
Crested geckos are omnivores. They feed on both plant matter and animals. They feed on fruits, flower nectar, and insects. Insects like roaches, worms, and crickets are best for eyelashes. Insects are highly recommended in their diet as they are healthy for them.
What Is a Leopard Gecko?
Leopard gecko has a darker color than other geckos and has spots on its skin. They have smaller heads and clear eyelids. This distinguishes them from other geckos as the other geckos only have transparent membranes. It also has a thick fatty tail.
It grows up to 9 inches in length. It weighs between 55 and 65 grams but it depends on the gender. Male geckos can grow up to 100 grams while female geckos can grow up to 65 grams. The young ones have the same weight and size as the crested gecko young ones.
Leopard geckos are completely carnivores. They only feed on insects. Live insects are highly recommended for them other than the grounded ones sold in the market. The insects are good for their health.
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Main Differences between Crested and Leopard Gecko
- Crested geckos do not have spots on their bodies and their color is light while leopard geckos have spots on their bodies and their color is darker.
- Crested geckos have prehensile tails that enable them to climb trees while leopard geckos have thick fatty tails.
- Crested geckos have beautiful eyelashes with no eyelids while leopard geckos have eyelids.
- Crested geckos have wedge-shaped heads while leopard geckos have small heads.
- Crested geckos feed on fruits, flower nectar, and insects while leopard geckos feed on entire insects.
Similarities between Crested and Leopard Gecko
- They are both kept as pets and their maintenance is low.
- They both live long.
- Both are mostly active during darker hours.
- Both do not mind being handled.
- Both have the same body length and weight.
In Conclusion
Crested geckos and leopard geckos are both kept by human beings as pets. When in captivity, they require different climatic conditions. Crested geckos require high humidity, low temperatures, and enough light. Leopard geckos require low humidity, a little bit of high temperature, and enough light. The main feature that makes crested gecko appear different from leopard gecko is the coloration.
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