Gresham Pet Supply Pet Care Guide
Gargoyle Gecko
Rhacodactylus auriculatus
Why We Love Them: Gargoyle Geckos are the "cool, edgy cousin" of the Crested Gecko. They get their name from the bony cranial bumps on their head that look like horns or ears. They come in incredible marble, reticulated, and striped patterns, often with bright flashes of red or orange. Best of all, they thrive at room temperature!
Lifespan
Many years
Adult Size
Heavier build than a crested gecko
Enclosure
Tall front-opening terrarium
Warm / Basking
Room temperature (no basking)
Cool Side
Room temperature, out of sun
Humidity / Water
Mist each evening, then dry out
Species Profile & Temperament
| Trait | Overview |
|---|---|
| Origin | Southern end of New Caledonia (an island near Australia) |
| Diet Type | Omnivore (Fruit powder diet + insects) |
| Activity | Crepuscular / Nocturnal |
| Temperament | Calm, but more likely to nip than a Crested Gecko. They are slightly more terrestrial than Crested Geckos and prefer thick branches. |
| Handleability | Good with calm, low handling, but they may nip. They are "jumpers," so let them walk from hand to hand (the "treadmill" method). Their toe pads are slightly less sticky than a Crested Gecko's, so they cannot climb perfectly clean glass. |
| Difficulty | 2/5 — Easy |
| Hardiness | 4/5 — Hardy |
The Tail Drop (Regeneration)
TAIL DROPPING: Like many geckos, if a Gargoyle Gecko is terrified or grabbed by the tail, it will detach its tail to distract a predator (autotomy). Unlike Crested Geckos, a Gargoyle Gecko may grow a new tail, but it won't look like the original. Treat every tail as one your gecko can't get back, and never grab or pinch it.
Housing & Enclosure
Enclosure Type & Size
- Type: Arboreal (Tree-dwelling). They require tall, vertical enclosures.
- Size: A tall glass front-opening terrarium. A young gecko starts smaller and moves up as it grows. Ask our reptile staff to help you pick a size.
- Solitary: Must be housed completely alone. Males will fight to the death, and males will overbreed/harass females to death.
Substrate & Bioactive Setup
- Recommended: Paper towels while the gecko is small, for easy cleaning and checking droppings. For older geckos, coconut fiber, orchid bark, or a bioactive soil mix (such as ABG mix over a drainage layer).
- Clean-up Crew: Seed the soil with springtails and tropical isopods to eat mold and gecko waste.
Décor & Enrichment
- Vines & Branches: They are heavier than Crested Geckos and prefer thick, sturdy branches, cork bark tubes, and bamboo.
- Foliage: Provide dense artificial or live plants (Pothos, Sansevieria) for them to hide in during the day.
Heating & Lighting
Temperature Requirements
Gargoyle Geckos are room-temperature animals. Keep a thermometer in the enclosure from day one.
- No Heat Needed: They thrive at standard room temperature.
- Heat Stress (CRITICAL): Overheating is a real risk. Keep the tank out of direct sun, away from sunny windows and off the top of the fridge. If your house gets very hot in the summer, move the gecko to a cooler room. If your house is very cold in the winter, use a low-wattage heat mat on the side of the tank, connected to a thermostat.
Lighting & UVB
- UVB: Not strictly required, as they process synthetic Vitamin D3 from their powdered diet. A low-output UVB bulb made for shade-dwelling geckos (such as Arcadia ShadeDweller Arboreal) is an optional upgrade. It must not warm the enclosure. Date the bulb and replace it when its label says.
Humidity & Water
- Target Range: Humid after misting, then drier. Use a hygrometer to watch it rise and fall. Ask our reptile staff for the range to aim for.
- Misting: Mist the enclosure thoroughly every evening.
- Dry-Out Period: The enclosure must dry out between mistings. If the tank is constantly soaking wet, the gecko will develop respiratory infections and scale rot.
- Drinking: They primarily drink water droplets off leaves after you mist, but you should still provide a small, shallow water dish.
Diet & Nutrition
Unlike Crested Geckos, which can live almost exclusively on powdered fruit diets, Gargoyle Geckos have a much higher protein requirement and need regular insect feedings.
The Staple Diet (Fruit Powder)
- What to Feed: High-quality, complete powdered gecko diets (Pangea or Repashy). A with-insects formula suits gargoyles.
- How to Feed: Mix the powder with water to the label on the tub in hand (brands use different ratios). Place it in a small feeding ledge cup.
- Schedule: Follow the diet's label. Take out uneaten diet within 24 hours (Repashy) or as the label says.
Live Insects
- Prey: Gut-loaded crickets or small Dubia roaches.
- Frequency: Regular insect feedings are part of the diet. Ask our reptile staff how often for your gecko.
- Size: No insect longer than the space between the gecko's eyes.
- Gut-load: Gut-load insects 24 to 48 hours before feeding. Follow the label.
- Supplements: Dust insects with calcium every time. Use calcium with D3 at most feedings, plus a multivitamin about once a week. Follow the label on the powder.
What We Stock & Use in Our Stores
These are products we carry and recommend for this species. Ask any associate for help finding them in-store.
| Category | Product | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Exo Terra Tall Front-Opening Terrarium | Tall, front-opening. Ask our staff to help you pick a size |
| Diet | Pangea Fig & Insect Gecko Diet | A complete powdered diet with insects. Follow the label |
| Enrichment | Zoo Med Cork Bark Tubes | Thick, sturdy climbing surfaces |
| Feeder | Magnetic Feeding Ledge | Keeps their food elevated where they naturally eat |
Last updated: 2026-08-04
How We Keep Them at Critter Cabana & Gresham Pet Supply
- Beating Dry Oregon Furnace Air (and Summer Heat Spikes): Across the Willamette Valley and Portland Metro, running the house furnace all winter drops indoor humidity to 25–35%, which quickly causes stuck sheds and dehydration in screen-top tanks. To keep humidity right for Gargoyle Gecko, our crew mists every evening, lets the enclosure dry out between mistings, and uses a moisture-holding substrate, with partial screen cover when needed.
- Thermostat & Linear UVB Standard: Every heating element in our Newberg and Gresham reptile rooms runs on a thermostat. Our Gargoyle Geckos get no basking bulb. They live at room temperature, out of direct sun.
- Shopping at Newberg & Gresham: For enclosures, thermostats, UVB lighting, bioactive supplies, springtails, isopods and feeders at Critter Cabana (Newberg) and Gresham Pet Supply, ask us what we have in store today.
Common Questions (FAQ)
What size tank does an adult Gargoyle Gecko actually need?
An adult Gargoyle Gecko needs a tall front-opening terrarium with thick branches and lots of cover. Height matters more than floor space. They live at room temperature and don't need a basking spot. Our reptile staff can help you pick a size.
How do I keep Gargoyle Gecko humidity up during dry Oregon winters?
Oregon winter furnace heat dries the air out fast. Mist thoroughly every evening, let the enclosure dry out between mistings, and cover part of an open screen top if it dries out too quickly.
What is the best bioactive clean-up crew for a Gargoyle Gecko?
Pair springtails with one isopod kind matched to your tank's humidity in a 3–5 inch bioactive soil and leaf-litter bed. We'll help you pick an isopod kind that suits your tank's climate, and pick one isopod kind per build. Our 1-Page or Tri-Fold Bioactive Substrate Recipe Guide covers the rest.
Where can I get Gargoyle Gecko setup supplies, live feeders, and thermostats in Oregon?
Ask us what we have in store today at Critter Cabana in Newberg (514 E First St, 503-537-2887) and Gresham Pet Supply (2185 NW Burnside Rd, 503-665-7606).
Shop supplies for this animal
Everything for your Gargoyle Gecko setup, ready for pickup in store or shipped to you.
