Mealworms provide crested geckos with an ideal source of protein. Mealworms are readily available both live and dry forms, making them easily available when supplementing their diet with other food sources.
However, mealworms can sometimes cause gastrointestinal impaction in some geckos due to their hard exoskeletons. To mitigate this risk, gut-loading, dusting with calcium and vitamin supplements and providing only small servings may help.
Contents
Commercial Foods
Crested geckos require a varied diet of fruits, vegetables, insects and worms for proper nourishment. While some keepers opt for commercial diets as an economical solution, homemade meals of fresh fruits and vegetables provide better nourishment – providing healthy choices at an economical cost!
As citrus fruits can lead to diarrhea and metabolic bone disease in crested geckos, opt for fruits such as mango, bananas (low calcium but easy for crested geckos to consume), apples, strawberries and watermelons as alternatives.
As another source of protein, try feeding live insects as protein sources – just make sure they are coated with calcium supplement before feeding! Crickets and Dubia roaches are great choices, just be mindful that they don’t become too large as this could cause choking hazards. Phoenix worms, which are small fat grubs that boast high levels of protein but low phosphorus levels can also be an option.
Live Foods
Some keepers feed their crested geckos live feeder insects such as crickets and mealworms as part of a healthy diet, however if this option is chosen it’s essential that all insects be gut-loaded with calcium and vitamin supplements before offering to your pet.
Mealworms are a favorite choice among cresteds because they’re readily available at most pet stores and easy for cresties to digest. Unfortunately, however, these treats contain excessive fat and phosphorus levels while often lacking other essential nutrients; so it is wise only to offer them as part of a balanced diet.
Keepers often discover that their cresties enjoy eating freshly-fed worms. Feeding your pet directly instead of tossing them into its cage can also foster great bonding experiences and strengthen relationships between owner and animal. When offering fresh worms to your crestie, always use an enclosed container tall enough to prevent escape, and store in an inaccessible spot so they cannot be stolen by other pets or birds.
Dried Foods
Crested geckos in the wild are opportunistic feeders and will eat any insect they find, such as crickets, cockroaches or moths. If you want to reduce the discomfort associated with feeding live prey to your gecko or don’t have time to raise their own insects there are various canned, freeze-dried and powdered food products available online or pet stores which contain high calcium diets making digestion simpler for your gecko.
Some food options for crested geckos contain both insect and vegetable matter with added calcium, while others focus solely on fruits or vegetables. You may want to purchase a complete crested gecko diet (CGD), which will meet all their dietary requirements without needing supplements. When giving these foods to your gecko, divide into small, easy-to-chew portions that should cover at most or slightly less than the distance between their eyes for easy chewing. Dispose of uneaten food responsibly as throwing it away can attract surprise beetles that might contaminate its habitat.
Supplements
Crested geckos require a wide range of nutrients in order to thrive, and feeding on only worms won’t provide them with all of what they require.
Commercial crested gecko diets typically provide plenty of protein through vegetables, eggs, soy and whey products as well as calcium through compounds such as calcium carbonate, calcium propionate and calcium phosphate – providing your crestie with these foods is an effective way to ensure it gets all of its essential vitamins and minerals.
Add variety to your crested gecko’s diet by offering live foods from time to time; just avoid feeding any that they wouldn’t find in nature, such as dairy products, meats or pinkies. In case of emergencies it would also be useful to have some freeze-dried meals readily available which can be stored in an airtight container and easily rehydrated when necessary.
