Crested geckos are omnivorous reptiles, feeding on insects, flowers, tropical fruits and small bugs/worms in the wild and feeding on combinations of these items in captivity as well.
Crickets and dubia roaches are among the most preferred feeder insects for crested geckos. To prevent blockages in its eyes, keep insects within an ideal size range for feeding purposes.
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Fruits and Vegetables
Crestened geckos are frugivores, but they still need access to other foods in order to obtain all of the nutrition they require. While some keepers opt for using commercial crested gecko diets such as Repashy or Pangea Gecko Diet as part of their crested gecko’s diet plan, most keepers advocate including insects in its daily regiment.
Mangoes, bananas and pears (but no citrus fruits) make great options to provide as fruits your lizard can enjoy snacking on. Chopped up or blended together they can create a nutritious smoothie-style treat they’ll relish licking off of.
Vegetables should be introduced gradually. Some good options for your crestie include acorn squash, butternut squash, bell peppers, carrot, broccoli, bok choy, kale, okra radish and Swiss chard. You should avoid feeding cruciferous vegetables as these contain antinutrients like oxalic acid which could reduce calcium absorption by the body.
Some crested geckos may enjoy snacking on cucumbers, though their high water content and lack of nutritional benefits make their consumption unwise.
Insects
Crested gecko diets should largely consist of insects. Insects provide their pets with essential protein sources, and many keepers enjoy providing live feeder insects as treats to add variety and fun into their reptile’s meals. Live crickets are among the most affordable and convenient feeder insects available at pet stores, while they’re also an excellent source of Vitamin D.
Cockroaches, flies, and beetle larva (hornworms) can also make great choices of prey for crested geckos; just ensure all insects have been gut-loaded beforehand to ensure their safety.
Mangoes and overripe peaches make good foods for crested gecko diets, as these contain moderate levels of calcium. Strawberries and blueberries also provide good calcium sources. Any citrus fruit should be avoided as these contain too much acidity that could contain harmful oxalic acids that could harm crested geckos.
Meal Powder
If you cannot offer live insects to your crested gecko, there are premixed foods designed specifically for crested geckos available from Zoo Med and Pangea that meet its specific dietary requirements.
Both mixes combine dried fruits, crushed bugs, vitamins and minerals in powder form that you mix with water to form a paste or smoothie-like consistency for your crested. You can incorporate this food as the main part of his or her diet or add fresh fruits or live feeder insects as supplements.
Feeding your crestie insects regularly is an effective way to enrich their lives and provide them with essential protein sources they wouldn’t find naturally in their habitats. Make sure the insect you offer fits within their space between their eyes – dubia roaches and crickets are great choices, while you could also opt for black soldier fly larvae (also known as calciworms), earthworms cut up, locusts, nightcrawlers or mealworms (but ensure they have been gutloaded before feeding them!).
Supplements
Crested geckos are frugivores in their natural environments and will supplement their diet with insects, seeds, flowers nectar and pollen. When kept as captive pets however they will likely consume both fruits and vegetables in equal measure.
Fruits like berries and mangoes are extremely popular crested gecko foods, offering low calories while packed with antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C and potassium-rich carbohydrates that provide energy-rich fuel sources. You can offer whole, sliced or mashed versions.
Other favorite fruits for geckos include pears and bananas. Bananas are sweet and soft, making them easy for even small and weak geckos to digest and chew, while pears provide high fiber and protein levels while serving whole or chopped into a smoothie-type mixture.
Vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals, so make sure to offer some to your crested gecko occasionally. Find varieties high in calcium content while low in phosphorus levels as well as antinutrients like oxalates or goitrogens.
