Crested geckos are arboreal, which means that they spend most of their time climbing higher branches and foliage. But however, sometimes crested geckos decide to stay on the bottom of the tank. In this post, we will discuss the question of ‘why is my crested gecko staying on the floor’, if it’s normal and if you need to do anything about it.
Reason #1: It’s normal
Your crested gecko might normally decide to stay on the floor and explore the ground. Most crested geckos decide to look around the bottom of the cage, too. Your crested gecko might also be sleeping on the bottom during the day and climb around the tank at night, when you don’t see it.
Many crested geckos prefer hiding on the bottom of the cage under the foliage, substrate and accessories. If your crested gecko feels safe there, then it’s all fine.
Reason #2: There is no enough foliage in the cage
Your crested gecko will tend to stay more on the ground if there is less climbing than floor space. Crested geckos are mainly arboreal, and need climbing spots to get up in the tank. You will notice how crested geckos enjoy climbing the glass, foliage and even the cage screen!
Make sure to fill around 65% of the crested gecko’s cage with foliage, branches, hides and other accessories. It will help your crested gecko feel safe and not exposed.
Include darker spots where your crested gecko can hide, on the bottom as well.
Reason #3: Your crested gecko can’t climb
If your crested gecko is not properly sticking and cannot climb, it can cause it to stay on the bottom of the cage more. And if you are not sure whether your crested gecko can climb properly, try handling it and seeing if it sticks to your clothing and fingers. Also check if it can stick to the glass and plastic, too.
There can be different reasons why a crested gecko can’t climb. These can be shedding or stuck shed, wrong humidity levels in the cage, dirty surfaces or feet, illness and more. All of this can hinder the ability to climb.
You can read a full post on reasons why a crested gecko is not sticking here.
Reason #4: Your crested gecko is gravid
If your crested gecko stays on the bottom more rather than climbs, she could be gravid. Gravid crested geckos tend to search for an egg-laying spot, dig and go around the tank. If your crested gecko is gravid, you will need to prepare an egg-laying box for her so that she can lay all the eggs.
Crested geckos can lay eggs even without mating with a male. A female crested gecko will lay eggs through the period of March to end of October. When it gets colder and the light cycle changes, crested geckos are not breeding or laying eggs.
You can tell if your crested gecko is gravid by looking at the belly and watching her behaviors. If she is gravid, her belly will be round, she will gain weight and refuse food towards the end of gravidity.
You can read all about crested gecko breeding and egg laying in this post.
Reason #5: Low humidity/shedding
If the humidity in the terrarium is too low, your crested gecko might tend to stay on the bottom more, looking for more moisture. This is especially true if you have loose substrate.
If your crested gecko is shedding, it might spend more time on the bottom trying to get as much moisture as possible. Mist your crested gecko 1-2 times a day, especially when shedding.
Aim to keep the humidity at 60-65%, with few hours a day of up to 80-95%. Aim to increase the humidity towards the evening, and let the tank dry for some time in the morning/afternoon.
Summary:
If your crested gecko does not look sick, then laying on the bottom is normal. Your crested gecko should not be losing weight, dragging its limbs, be lethargic (don’t confuse with daytime resting), refuse food and etc.
If your crested gecko seems healthy, then being on the ground is very normal. Crested geckos tend to sleep on the bottom of the cage, in various spots where they feel safe. This can be under the paper towels, near the water dish, in a small corner. Some even tend to hide in the loose substrate to rest!
Some crested geckos just love sleeping on the floor, and will prefer hiding under the foliage or in the hideouts rather than being on walls or high up. Crested geckos often choose a sleeping spot, but can change it from time to time.
You can learn more about setting up hides and foliage for your crested gecko in this post.