Most crested gecko food comes in powder form that you combine with water to form a paste or smoothie for feeding your pet, with some recipes being thicker or thinner depending on its species.
Many crested geckos enjoy eating fresh fruit and an assortment of vegetables; any citrus fruits should be avoided for best results.
Repashy or Pangea complete gecko diet should form the bulk of your pet’s food supply; both contain all necessary vitamins and minerals balanced to promote optimal health in their animal.
Contents
Fruit
Although fruit provides enrichment to a crested gecko’s diet and promotes natural hunting behavior, its consistent inclusion is no longer considered essential as there are plenty of manufactured CGD gecko food products on the market that contain insects for closer diet resembling that found in nature without increasing health risks like FTS or MBD.
Pangea CGD Gecko Food has quickly become one of the most acclaimed products on the market since their introduction in 2001. Their products feature an exceptionally high insect content and pleasant aroma and smooth texture; unlike large chain pet stores, you’ll only be able to find them online or specialty local pet shops. There are six varieties to choose from plus one treat and for maximum success it is suggested using a ratio of one part diet:two parts water by volume as a starting point when mixing these products together.
Vegetables
Crested geckos are omnivorous animals and must source protein through both insects and softened fruit from fallen trees in the forest floor. To make sure your pet gecko gets all of the essential vitamins and minerals, provide him with nutritious vegetables as an additional food source.
These foods can be served whole, mashed together or blended into a smoothie-like consistency for your pet’s meal. Harder vegetables like kale, carrots and winter squash should first be steamed or boiled prior to feeding them to your cresties meal; adding cooked oats as part of his food plan will increase fiber consumption and be beneficial.
There is an assortment of crested gecko diet mixes available both online and at pet stores. Most are designed to provide your pet with a comprehensive, balanced diet in powder form that’s easy to mix with water; many contain insects as well as fruits or veggies – the Exo Terra brand of crested gecko food can easily be found at many pet stores.
Bugs
Crested geckos in the wild eat an array of insects that provide essential nutrition, which is why many manufacturers now provide diets designed to simulate this food source for crested geckos.
However, if your crestie stops eating altogether it could indicate something is amiss. Try offering live feeder insects such as dubia roaches, superworms, hornworms or waxworms to stimulate their appetite and restore it.
Before feeding insects to your crestie, it is a wise idea to gut load them with vitamins and minerals for optimal nutrition. A quality calcium supplement should also be dusted on every time the insects are fed; you can do this by placing the insects into a bowl with some powder in it, swirling around, and then releasing them as food after they have been coated in powder. Clean the container after each feeding so as not to expose bugs to bacteria or harmful substances that may contaminate their bodies.
Insects
Crestie geckos require a diet rich in a range of essential nutrients to remain healthy, and various complete gecko diets (CGD) are available to give their diet some variety and increase nutritional value. They often come as powders which should be mixed with water before feeding to their pet. Some keepers opt to supplement these CGD diets with live insects and worms, providing their pet with additional nutritional benefit and diversity.
As with any food, it is crucial that these treats be supplemented with high-quality calcium supplements in order to provide your pet with proper nutrition. You can find these at most local pet stores or online.
Pangea offers three distinct varieties of crested gecko foods; their Fig & Insects, Growth & Breeding, and Insect formulas all use similar protein sources (whey, milk, egg), but Fig & Insects contains additional sources like mealworms, crickets or black soldier fly larvae for an added boost in nutrition.
