Crested geckos require fruits for proper diet and need to consume an assortment of vegetables in order to meet their nutritional requirements.
Fruits that contain moderate calcium-to-phosphorous ratios and are low in oxalic acid content such as pears should be offered occasionally as treats. They should be consumed about once every two weeks for optimal nutrition.
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Insects
Crested geckos are predominantly frugivorous but may also eat insects and flower nectar in their natural environments. While exact figures on their diet cannot be verified, it’s generally assumed that this makes up a larger part of their daily meals in nature.
Fruits provide essential vitamins and minerals, but their high phosphorus content requires caution when consumed regularly. This is particularly relevant to fresh fruits like guava and banana which have low calcium to phosphorus ratios.
Fresh blueberries provide a healthy alternative and have an excellent nutritional profile, while other fruits with an acceptable Ca:P ratio include figs and pears. Be wary when feeding your crested gecko any fruits high in oxalic acid levels as even small doses may be harmful or even deadly to reptiles.
Fruits
Crested geckos eat a wide range of fruit in the wild and will eat some in captivity too, though it should not form their primary diet. There are excellent meal replacement powders that provide all of their vitamin and mineral needs so feeding fruit should only ever be treated as a special treat!
Berries are excellent foods to feed your crested gecko, as they contain high amounts of vitamin C and E as well as being very low in oxalates, helping maintain their digestive health. Pears also make for great feeding options as they have an ideal Ca-to-P ratio and source of phosphorous; other natural fruits that make excellent feeding options include mango, bananas, strawberries and figs; however citrus fruits contain citric and oxalic acids which can be harmful for reptiles.
Veggies
As much as you might like to provide your crested gecko with healthy vegetables from pet stores, most contain too much sugar than their wild-type equivalents and do not provide optimal nutrition.
Vegetables can make an excellent addition to the crested gecko fruit diet, but shouldn’t exceed 10-20% of their overall diet. Most store bought veggies contain high levels of oxalic acid which has been known to cause kidney stones in humans as well as animals.
Blueberries make an excellent treat option for Cresties but should only be provided once or twice per week as treats. Although packed with antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals, their Ca:P ratio may not be ideal due to being highly sugary. Pears also make great treats but should only be offered every other week as treats.
Meal Replacement Powders
Crested geckos require an ideal balance of calcium and phosphorous in their diet, like that found in nectarines, to avoid Metabolic Bone Disease which leads to weak and broken bones. When exposed to too much phosphorous through nectarines however, too much will draw from their bone tissue leading to Metabolic Bone Disease resulting in weak or broken bones.
Many lizard keepers employ meal replacement powders to provide their pets with optimal levels of nutrients while preventing overfeeding. These pre-mixed foods typically include fruits, vegetables, and insects for protein supplementation purposes – perfect for crested geckos who have specific protein needs.
Most MRPs provide crested geckos with the ideal calcium/phosphorous ratio and may include kelp or algae to supply essential iodine and other minerals, while probiotics may aid digestion. Please make sure to read ingredients and reviews prior to buying an MRP as cheaper options may exist online or locally.
Pellets
Crested geckos feed on an aquatic-inspired diet consisting of insects, vegetables and fruit to replicate their natural habitat. While insects and vegetables should make up the bulk of their meals, adding fruit as an occasional treat adds vitamins and minerals.
Care must be taken when providing crested geckos with fruit to eat, as some fruits and plants contain inedible or toxic parts which could prove harmful, even fatal in small doses – for instance apple seeds contain cyanide which has the ability to be deadly when consumed in small quantities.
Ideal, pre-mixed crested gecko food should contain an ideal calcium/phosphorous ratio and is low in oxalates to prevent overfeeding and health problems in your crested gecko, while providing convenient assurance that they’re receiving an ideal diet.
