Fruit can make an excellent addition to a crested gecko’s diet, provided you select only appropriate varieties. Some foods can contain high concentrations of oxalic acid which could potentially harm their health.
Pineapple can be harmful to crested geckos as a citrus fruit; feeding too often could lead to metabolic bone disease and should only be given occasionally as treats. Therefore, pineapple should only be fed occasionally.
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Bananas
Bananas contain plenty of nutrients, making them easy for crested geckos to digest. But bananas should only be provided as treats rather than as part of a regular diet; otherwise they could lead to obesity. Furthermore, their calcium-to-phosphorus ratio falls short when feeding these creatures; for optimal health they require foods with higher ratios instead.
Bananas contain high concentrations of oxalic acid, which binds with calcium to block its absorption and cause health issues such as MBD in crested geckos. To avoid this from happening, ensure any fruit offered to your pet has been thoroughly washed first and that bananas have been mashed to an easily digestible consistency before feeding them to them; offering one small serving every week should suffice.
Mangoes
Mangoes are packed with minerals, vitamins and antioxidants – offering great immunity-boosting and skin care benefits as well. Plus they contain an ideal calcium/phosphorous ratio with minimal oxalic acid levels!
Before feeding fruits and vegetables to crested geckos, it is essential that they be thoroughly washed to remove bacteria or pesticides that may remain on peels or inedible parts. Some fruits may also contain too much sugar for crested geckos or have an unfavorable calcium-to-phosphorous ratio.
Mangoes are another excellent fruit choice for crested geckos, boasting lower calcium-to-phosphorous ratios than bananas and lower amounts of fat and sugar than its banana counterpart. You can serve it on its own, mixed with other fruits or veggies, or used as a replacement meal of crickets which contain high levels of protein but have hard exoskeletons which may make digesting them difficult for crested geckos – this way avoiding any nutritional imbalance while giving your gecko all they require!
Strawberries
Crested geckos adore strawberries, as they provide an excellent source of Vitamin C as well as being packed with potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron. Strawberries can be fed sliced or mashed to your pet to provide essential nutrition while boasting low oxalic acid content, unlike citric fruits like limes and lemons which shouldn’t be fed to crested geckos.
Peaches are another delicious fruit to offer your crested gecko. Packed full of potassium, vitamin A and C; low in oxalates which is important for their digestive health; rich in calcium for bone strength – but only when eaten sparingly as too many can lead to obesity in crested geckos.
Pears
Crested geckos can safely enjoy strawberries, which are full of vitamin C and antioxidants and contain potassium, helping regulate their blood pressure. When offering strawberries to crested gecko pets it should always be combined with other fruit, as your crested may develop an affinity for one type over others and refuse other meals altogether.
Pears are an excellent source of nutrients, such as copper and vitamin K, with low oxalates levels and high fiber levels. Serve pears every other week as a treat!
Vegetables should form an essential component of the diet of any crested gecko, but it’s essential that they’re abundant in calcium while having minimal amounts of phosphorus or antinutrients like oxalates. Good choices for your crested gecko are escarole, endive and alfalfa greens – these can be served up either alone, blended into smoothies or mixed with fruits and insects for variety. It would also be wise to provide additional mineral supplements like calcium or vitamin D3 powders as supplements can also benefit your crested gecko.
