Crested geckos are omnivorous in the wild and consume insects, fruits, and vegetables in addition to dubia roaches for food. When feeding insects to crested geckos to avoid impaction.
Some keepers feed their crested geckos insects at first before moving them onto fruit as adults. Fruit should only be given occasionally due to being high-fat food source.
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Insects
Cresties geckos’ natural diet includes insects, and it’s vital they get enough protein in captivity. Banded crickets are a popular feeder insect available at most pet stores; these high in calcium and phosphorous crickets digest easily and can even aid with small gecko care. Superworms with poor calcium/phosphorous ratios may prove more difficult for smaller cresties to consume.
Dubia roaches have grown increasingly popular as an economical, nutritious alternative to crickets in pet stores. Be wary of feeding any insects larger than the width of your crestedie’s eyes as this may result in choking.
Cresteed geckos can enjoy eating many different kinds of fruits that contain low levels of oxalic acid and copper, such as berries, cantelope and papaya. These include strawberries, cantelope and papaya.
Fruit
Crested geckos are omnivorous animals, so fruit plays an integral part of their diet. While certain fruits like figs and strawberries should be staples in captive crested gecko food, others like watermelons and papaya may provide occasional treats. Most fruit should be fed carefully as some varieties such as citrus contain inedible seeds and pits as well as high concentrations of vitamin C or oxalic acid which could harm bones.
An appropriate diet for crested geckos kept as pets includes commercial diet powder, fresh fruits and live insects like dubia roaches as well as calcium supplements to lower metabolic bone disease risk in your reptile. Gut loading these insects 12-24 hours prior to feeding them should help ensure maximum benefit from feeding your crested gecko’s food source.
Vegetables
Crested geckos tend to be excellent eaters and rarely refuse food unless in the early stages of reproduction (males may stop eating as their sperm develop) or females are laying eggs; for this reason it’s always wise to have some extra pre-mixed diet ready for them at these crucial moments.
Vegetables are an integral component of a crested gecko’s diet, providing many different forms of nutrients as well as plenty of beta-carotene. Some of the best vegetables to provide include prickly pear leaves, hibiscus flowers and common button mushrooms.
As an added treat, consider giving some superworms or mealworms as treats for your crested pet. Make sure all insects have been gut loaded first and use mineral/vitamin supplements generously as Cresties don’t receive enough vitamin D from their natural food sources.
Greens
Crested geckos found in the wild tend to feed on small invertebrates (nestling birds and even their own young), pollen, soft seeds and decayed fruit like figs; as well as eating fresh and dried greens to ensure an appropriate calcium/phosphorus ratio.
Captive crested geckos require a combination of pre mixed food and live feeder insects in order to receive their essential protein, vitamins, minerals and nutritional needs. For optimal health and welfare, use food that contains all of these elements; simply rehydrate with water as needed in order to prevent digestive upset.
Insects can provide an excellent source of protein. Before feeding them to your pet, dust the insects with calcium plus vitamin D3 powder for maximum nutrition. Also use salad or commercial preparation designed for gut loading to provide enough nourishment to your insects.
Baby Food
Crested geckos often become stressed and will refuse food when this occurs, so if this seems like the case with your pet, provide it with more space and ensure the temperature gradient in their tank is correct. Any fluctuations may cause dehydration which could eventually kill off their life!
Crested geckos rely heavily on insects as a protein source in their diet, with dubia roaches being preferred feeder insects but other varieties such as crickets or black soldier fly larva (reptiworms) also being effective. Before offering insects to your crested gecko, make sure they have been gut loaded sufficiently so they contain adequate calcium, thiamin and vitamin A levels; feeder insect sizes should not exceed the space between their eyes to prevent choking incidents.
