# Incubation

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

Most breeders incubate at room temperature, 72 to 75°F (22 to 24°C), where eggs hatch in about 70 to 90 days. Cooler eggs take longer and warmer eggs hatch sooner. Keep incubation below about 80°F (27°C): breeders report more deformed and weak hatchlings from hot incubation. Some breeders also report more males from warm incubation and more females from cool incubation, but that has not been shown in controlled studies of crested geckos, so do not count on temperature to choose the sex.

*Days are counted from the lay date. Geck Inspect uses these same windows for hatch estimates and hatch alerts.*

| Temperature | Incubation time | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 68 to 71°F (20 to 22°C) | 90 to 120 days | Slow. Many breeders report strong, vigorous hatchlings. |
| 72 to 75°F (22 to 24°C) | 70 to 90 days | The hobby default. A predictable hatch window. |
| 76 to 78°F (24 to 26°C) | 60 to 75 days | Faster. Hold it steady; a spike past 80°F (27°C) is the risk. |

- Substrate: 1:1 (by weight) vermiculite and water, or perlite at the same ratio. Some breeders use SuperHatch (baked clay).
- Container: deli cup with a small cross-slit in the lid. No standing water, too wet is the most common killer.
- Open and check weekly. Spot-mist the container walls if the substrate dries. Do not mist the eggs directly.
- Turn nothing. Mark the top of each egg when collected and keep that orientation.

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