Crested geckos in the wild are opportunistic feeders and will devour whatever insects are readily available to them. To provide your crestie with adequate nutrition, feed him live crickets or dubia roaches as an offering.
Although crested geckos can eat mealworms, it is advised that they be offered as treats rather than regular parts of their diet to prevent intestinal impaction.
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Diet
Crested geckos eat a wide range of food. Their diet typically consists of insects no larger than their eyes to avoid digestive issues or any potential choking hazards, but they also eat fruits, vegetables and other sources that provide essential nutrition.
Mealworms provide crested geckos with an excellent source of protein. Easy to access at both pet stores and fishing bait shops, these tasty treats can also provide essential omega 3s. However, mealworms should only be fed occasionally due to their high fat content and low calcium:phosphorous ratio; additionally they have a hard exoskeleton made of chitin that may lead to impaction issues for crested geckos.
Therefore, it is vitally important that mealworms be hydrated prior to feeding them to your crested gecko. Also, dust all insect protein sources with calcium supplement before offering them; this will provide your pet with all of the essential vitamins and minerals it requires for good health.
Life cycle
Crested geckos are opportunistic feeders in their native habitat and will consume any insects they come across, but supplementing with mealworms may improve overall health and accelerate muscle development. Not only are mealworms high in protein content; they’re also packed with essential vitamins and minerals! These convenient pet store offerings can be stored for weeks in your refrigerator.
Dried mealworms lack the nutritional value of live ones and should only be offered as treats. When feeding dried worms to your gecko, be sure to sprinkle on enough calcium and vitamin D dusting powder so he or she is receiving enough of this essential nutrient.
Another effective approach for feeding mealworms is offering them a mix of fruit and vegetables, though you should avoid citrus fruits which are rich in oxalic acid and vitamin C – these substances may lead to calcium deficiency in crested geckos. Vegetables like squash provide excellent food sources for mealworms while serving as healthy snacks for crested geckos!
Health
Crested geckos are opportunistic feeders in the wild and will eat any insect they come across – crickets, roaches, moths and more! But when kept captive you have full control of their diet; mealworms provide ample protein as a treat and can even be loaded up with essential vitamins prior to giving them to your crestie for added nutrition!
Mealworms contain very little moisture, so feeding them as the sole diet for your crestie could lead to dehydration and blockages in their digestive tract, potentially leading to life-threatening issues.
To prevent issues with mealworms and crested gecko feedings, ensure they are hydrated with water and dusted with calcium powder and vitamin D3 before offering them to them. Also make sure they are finely chopped or in smoothie-like consistency so your crested can easily consume them.
Feeding
Crested geckos are opportunistic feeders in their natural environments, nibbling on whatever insects and fruit they can find to eat. When kept as pets in captivity, however, their diet must be more strictly managed – feed your crested gecko high-quality foods that contain essential vitamins and minerals so it thrives properly!
Crested Geckos are insectivores, so feeding them mealworms as a protein supplement from time to time is wise. Feed them one at a time and discard any which aren’t eaten within 15 minutes; live mealworms provide maximum nutrition while freeze-dried or canned crickets can still provide value.
Make sure that your gecko is receiving adequate calcium and vitamin D by feeding them the appropriate foods, like sphagnum moss, coconut bedding, organic soil mix or cypress mulch. Be careful when handling mealworms – their tough exoskeletons may cause choking issues in reptiles so it’s best to use soft tongs or tweezers when feeding them to your pet.