Mealworms provide your crested gecko with both protein and calcium. However, their consumption must be done so with care as too many can pose a health risk.
Your crested gecko can eat many types of live insects safely, including mealworms and mealworms-derived food items such as nutrigrubs, superworms, waxworms and crickets. These should all be included as food sources in its diet plan.
Contents
Protein
Mealworms provide crested geckos with an excellent source of protein and essential minerals such as calcium and phosphorus for their diets.
Note that mealworms should only be given as treats, in order to prevent the gecko from becoming overweight and suffering from obesity.
Crickets, superworms and hornworms can also serve as staple or treat foods for gecko pets; all should be coated in calcium powder before feeding to them.
Feeding live feeder insects two or three times each week will give your lizards a balanced diet and ensure healthy digestion. As a precautionary measure, use calcium or vitamin D supplements alongside insects so your pet is receiving adequate levels of all essential minerals.
Calcium
Crested geckos are omnivorous animals and will consume various food items such as fruits, flowers, nectar, pollen, seeds and insects as well as occasionally smaller reptiles such as their unfertile eggs and young.
Captive cresties usually consume live prey such as crickets, mealworms and superworms to meet their nutritional requirements. Their keepers usually apply calcium powder before every feeding to ensure the animals receive enough of this essential mineral.
Mealworms provide crested geckos with ample calcium and are an ideal source of dietary protein, though it should be given in moderation as they contain more fat than other insects.
If you don’t wish to offer live prey, there are numerous premixed food products that provide all the essential nutrients your pet lizard requires – some options contain insects while others consist of fruits and vegetables.
Vitamins
Mealworms provide crested geckos with essential vitamins. Packed full of vitamin D and other essential nutrients, mealworms provide their healthiest solution yet!
Vegetables provide crested geckos with essential vitamins and minerals. For optimal nutrition, look for vegetables with high calcium content, low phosphorus levels and no antinutrients such as goitrogens.
Fruit can also provide essential vitamins for lizards. Crested geckos are active creatures and require various nutrients in their diet in order to remain healthy.
Mealworms should only be fed as occasional treats; no more than 10% of your gecko’s diet should consist of these insects due to their high fatty content which could potentially lead to obesity in your gecko.
Fat
Crested geckos are frugivores, meaning they eat fruits. You should try not to feed your gecko citrus fruits such as oranges and tangerines since these contain too much acidity for him/her to consume safely.
Feed your lizard a mix of fruit and vegetables instead, which will provide various essential vitamins without the high oxalic acid content found in citrus fruit.
Your gecko’s favorite vegetable to eat are fresh and unwaxed greens such as parsley, cilantro, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, broccoli or cabbage.
Mealworms make an excellent treat for your gecko. Packed full of proteins, these insects can provide your pet with energy-boosting protein intake that can boost its energy levels and give him a much-needed energy boost!
Mealworms provide your pet with an excellent source of calcium to strengthen his or her bones and digestive aid. Furthermore, mealworms contain chitin fiber which aids digestion.
