Crested geckos can be fed a diet consisting of insects and various fruits; ideally, fruit should make up between 60%-70% of their food intake.
Geckos generally enjoy a variety of fruit, but be careful not to feed any citrus-citrus such as oranges, tangerines, lemons and limes as these can be too acidic for your crested gecko. Also be sure to remove the pits and large seeds before feeding these foods to your crested gecko.
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Crickets
Crickets are an essential insect diet for crested geckos. Not only do they provide high levels of protein and moisture, but also low fat content. Plus, crickets come in various sizes to suit your gecko’s needs.
Crickets make a nutritious addition to a mixed insect and fruit diet. Just be sure that you mix the crickets with water until they reach a baby food consistency, and only give your gecko as many as they can handle in one day.
In addition to insects, crested geckos can also eat fruits from trees in the wild. Before feeding any fruits you bring home from the grocery store, make sure they’ve been washed first as pesticides and wax coating most fruits may irritate their teeth and gums.
Crested geckos can safely consume Dubia roaches, calcium worms, mealworms and wax worms. Before each feeding session be sure to gut load and dust these insects with calcium and vitamin D3.
Dubia Roaches
Dubia roaches are an ideal alternative to crickets, which can be hard to come by and costly. Furthermore, these insects provide five times the nutrition of other insects so they’re an ideal food choice for crested geckos.
Dubia cockroaches are high in protein (up to 54%!), which is great for your crested gecko as it helps them build strong bones and muscles. Furthermore, their low fat content is beneficial to their overall health and development.
Young Cresties make excellent pets as they have less chitin inside their exoskeleton and may be easier to digest than crickets.
As with all store-bought feeder insects, it’s wise to gut load them by offering them either a nutritious diet or formal gut load before offering them to your crested gecko. If you choose this route, be sure to dust them with calcium and vitamin powder prior to feeding them.
Mealworms
Mealworms are a popular food choice among pet parents for their crested geckos. Not only do they provide essential protein, but they can also serve as an extra snack or treat.
However, mealworms should not be the primary source of food for your gecko. Their hard exoskeleton can lead to impaction and constipation in certain species.
If you decide to feed mealworms to your gecko, make sure they only come as a treat once or twice a month. Doing this will prevent them from becoming an unhealthy staple of their diet.
Other insects beneficial to crested geckos include Dubia roaches, small nightcrawlers and crickets. Be sure to release only a few crickets at a time into their enclosure; this will enable your gecko to determine how many they can eat within an acceptable amount of time.
Apples
Apples make for an excellent natural treat for crested geckos. Not only are they high in fiber, but they can help regulate their gut bacteria and reduce obesity risks.
Apples also contain pectin, a type of fiber which helps lower blood sugar levels and promote healthy cholesterol. Furthermore, apples contain polyphenols–protective plant compounds that may help prevent certain chronic illnesses.
Feed your crested gecko two medium apples per week. Make sure not to leave any uneaten food in its terrarium for longer than 48 hours.
You can give your gecko fresh fruit or apple products such as juices and ciders, but they should only be given in moderation. Particularly, citrus fruits should not be given due to their high acid content. As a special treat, offer them some unsweetened applesauce; just make sure it’s free from added sugar!
