Crested geckos are omnivorous animals, eating both insects (such as crickets and dubia roaches ) and fruits to balance out their diets. Some fruits may be harmful as they contain too much oxalic acid or have too little calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.
Pre-mixed fruit food that meets crested gecko needs and includes vital nutrients is ideal. Fresh fruits may also make tasty treats!
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Blueberries
Blueberries are packed with antioxidants and an excellent source of vitamin C. Furthermore, they’re low in oxalates and an excellent dietary source of copper (which aids mineral absorption).
Crestered geckos may enjoy blueberries as a tasty treat, though whole blueberries should only be provided occasionally to reduce any risk of choking. Instead, it’s best to mash or slice them before offering.
Pears make an enjoyable treat for your crested friend, but their calcium to phosphorous ratio falls short of ideal. However, they’re low in oxalates and an excellent source of vitamins C and K1. Pears should be fed every other week as part of his or her food program.
Pears
Pears make an ideal food choice for crested geckos because they contain little to no oxalic acid, which can be toxic in larger doses and damage their bones. Furthermore, pears boast an ideal calcium/phosphorous ratio and rich antioxidant levels; making them a healthy treat to feed at least once every 1-3 weeks as adults; however servings may also benefit juvenile geckos as well as babies and juveniles.
Fruit can provide your pet with vital vitamins and minerals often lacking in captive environments. However, beware that overfeeding most fruits could deplete calcium stores from your crested gecko. Therefore, it’s best to select only fruits with an ideal Ca:P ratio and low oxalic acid content when selecting their diet.
Peaches
Contrary to what many home keepers may believe, fruits aren’t necessary in crested geckos’ diets and giving too many may actually damage them by creating nutritional deficiencies and increasing risk of MBD.
Crested geckos should only consume fruits as treats or enrichment food once or twice every month as treats or enrichment food, considering their calcium-to-phosphorus ratio and oxalic acid level when selecting which fruits to give.
Peaches are delicious stone fruit with fuzzy skin that should occasionally be offered to crested geckos as treats, although their low Ca:P ratio and oxalic acid content make them less of a priority than other fruits.
Bananas
Crested geckos are frugivores, and in the wild they supplement their diets with insects, fruit and vegetables for maximum vitamins, minerals and protein intake. If food remains fresh they are also able to obtain all these benefits directly.
Avoid feeding your crested gecko citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, kiwis and pineapple) that contain too much oxalic acid; these could lead to metabolic bone disease in their crested gecko. Metabolic bone disease causes calcium loss from their bones too quickly, potentially leading to metabolic bone disease in your crested gecko.
Mangoes should also be avoided since their ratio of calcium to phosphorous is incongruent, plus they’re high in sugar content that could contribute to obesity in your pet.
Strawberries
Crested geckos enjoy consuming various fruits, but certain fruits contain high oxalic acid content or an inadequate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio – these include oranges, grapefruits, kiwis and pineapples.
Mango can make for an irresistibly tasty treat for crested geckos, though its high sugar content could lead to obesity in their pets. Furthermore, its imbalanced Ca:P ratio and abundance of oxalic acid is another drawback to its consumption.
When offering fruits to your Crestie reptile, be mindful not to overripe or underripe them as this may contain tannins that could contain toxins that could harm them. Organic food should also be preferred over non-organic as the latter could contain pesticides which could harm its health. Papaya, watermelons and figs are good examples of fruits you could try giving to them.
