# Enclosure size by life stage

_Permalink: https://geckinspect.com/CareGuide/enclosure-size_

Crested geckos are arboreal, they use vertical height far more than floor space. Size the enclosure to the animal, not to a fixed minimum. Hatchlings in an oversized setup get lost, stop eating, and lose weight.

| Life stage | Weight | Enclosure | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hatchling | under 3 g | 6-qt tub or small Kritter Keeper | Deli cup of CGD + moss + small branches. Easy to monitor feeding. |
| Juvenile | 3 to 15 g | Tub until about 10 g, then a 12×12×18 in glass terrarium | Introduce height. Fake or live plants for cover. |
| Sub-adult | 15 to 35 g | 18×18×18 in, or the adult enclosure from about 25 g | Optional intermediate step, or skip straight to adult sizing. |
| Adult | 35 g+ | 18×18×24 in minimum | Larger (24×18×36 in) is always better. Do not house adults together. |

**One gecko per enclosure**

- Do not cohabitate males, they will fight, sometimes to the death, once sexually mature.
- Do not house males and females together outside of a controlled breeding project. Females can be bred to exhaustion.
- Female-only pairs are possible but often still result in stress, tail drops, and uneven feeding. Most experienced keepers house solo.

_Source: Geck Inspect Care Guide. Updated 2026-10-18. Cite https://geckinspect.com/CareGuide/enclosure-size_