Crested geckos are omnivorous animals, meaning they require a varied diet to thrive. Many keepers utilize commercial crested gecko diet powders such as Repashy or Pangea as a starting point, supplementing with fresh fruits, vegetables and insects as needed.
Crickets are an ideal feeder insect, but you could also feed dubia roaches, black soldier fly larvae (also referred to as Phoenix Worms), waxworms or mealworms as feeders. Just remember to dust any feeder insects prior to feeding!
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Vegetables
Crested geckos feed on various vegetables. You can mash, blend or slice them up fine for their consumption; or chop up fine pieces and offer as snacks to them as part of their daily routine. Broccoli can also be fed occasionally but in moderation due to goitrogenic compounds which affect their thyroids.
Kale, spinach and carrots are excellent ways to provide low calorie nutrition without added fats or calories. Simply steam or boil before feeding them to your crested gecko!
Some owners opt for commercial crested gecko food that contains all of the nutrients their pet requires, including insects, fruit and veggies. You can easily find this kind of food at pet stores or online. When purchasing commercial crested gecko food it is essential that it contains no preservatives and features an assortment of different fruits and vegetables as it should also provide essential hydration and immunity support.
Greens
Crested geckos are frugivores, or herbivores who feed on fruits and vegetables. When out in nature, cresties supplement their diets with insects; otherwise they’ll consume most fresh vegetables that are non-citrus fruits like kale, collard greens, romaine lettuce and turnip greens which contain high levels of calcium with minimal levels of phosphorus oxalates or goitrogenic compounds as well as being an excellent source of dietary fiber.
Mangoes are another favorite fruit of crested geckos, being sweet yet low in calorie count. Provide whole or mashed up mango slices once or twice every week as food offerings.
Sprouts make an excellent food source for crested gecko fish, though they must first be thoroughly rinsed to be safe for consumption. Packed with fiber and vitamin C, sprouts can either be blended into smoothies or cut up and fed directly.
Fruit
Crested geckos in New Caledonia’s native habitat are frugivores, with most of their diet consisting of fruit. They also eat flowers and insects such as leafy greens or dubia roaches for protein sources.
Mealworms should not be fed as food as they have hard exoskeletons that may become impaction hazards for crested geckos. As an alternative, waxworms have softer exoskeletons and should only be given occasionally since copper inhibits zinc uptake and could potentially harm crested geckos.
If your crested gecko has difficulty accepting live insects, consider switching over to Pangea’s Repashy diet designed by herpetologists and providing all of the essential nutrients for optimal growth. It includes proper temperature gradients for digestion as well as gut-loading and dusting insects for extra vitamins. Plus it features fruit, vegetables, probiotics, kelp and algae to promote overall wellness!
Insects
Crested geckos should be fed insects as part of a well-rounded diet. Crested geckos eat a wide range of feeder insects in nature, such as crickets, dubia roaches, hornworms and waxworms – it is best to gut load all feeder insects prior to offering them to your crested gecko; this will prevent excess amounts of chitin which could be toxic if consumed in excess.
Avoid feeding ants to your crested gecko as they can be fatal if eaten in large numbers. Also avoid citrus fruit as this contains citric acid which could harm their health.
Exo Terra offers frozen and pre-mixed insect food designed for crested geckos that makes their diet simple. Containing various feeder insects as well as fruits and vegetables, this pre-made food takes the guesswork out of providing your pet with a nutritious diet.
