# Humidity and misting

_Permalink: https://geckinspect.com/CareGuide/humidity_

Crested geckos need a humidity cycle: high at night (80 to 100%) when they are active, dropping back to 50 to 70% during the day. A flatline at 90% breeds mold and respiratory infections; a flatline at 40% causes stuck sheds.

1. Heavy mist 30 minutes before lights-out. The cage should be visibly wet and fogged.
2. Allow humidity to drop back to 50 to 70% within a few hours. Cross-ventilation matters here.
3. Light mist or none in the morning if the cage is still damp. Over-misting is a common mistake.
4. Provide a shallow water dish, not because they drink from it often, but because it buffers humidity and some animals do use it.

**Hand sprayer:** Works fine for 1 to 2 animals. Cheap, reliable, and forces daily eyes-on inspection.
**Automatic mister (MistKing, Exo-Terra Monsoon):** Best for collections of 3+ or for keepers who travel. Must be combined with a hygrometer and a dry-down period.
**Cool-mist fogger:** Used supplementally in very dry climates. Do not replace misting, fog wets surfaces differently than droplets.

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