There are a number of different types of food that can be fed to crested geckos. These foods range from Crickets to fruit mash. Commercially produced crested gecko meals are also available. In addition, you can buy meal replacement powders. However, these are not always as healthy as homemade food.
Contents
Crickets
Before feeding crickets to your crested gecko, you should ensure that they are gut-loaded and have been given a nutritious diet for 24 hours. Crickets that have not been gut-loaded have very little nutritional value and should not be given to your gecko if you want them to thrive. It is also important to supplement your gecko’s diet with other foods, such as pureed fruits with meat added to them.
You can feed your gecko crickets in a terrarium or use a feeding tong. You can also blend them into a smoothie and introduce them to it at an early age. It is best to introduce them to crickets before they are exposed to commercial diets, however.
Fruit mash
Using fresh fruit mash for your pet’s food is an excellent way to provide them with a variety of fruits. While it isn’t a perfect replacement for a crested gecko staple food like insects, it does provide them with a variety of healthy vitamins and minerals. When preparing a fruit mash, make sure to remove the skin first. Also, keep in mind that fruits change in season and have varying nutritional value.
Adding spinach to your crested gecko food will provide it with a high-calorie source of vitamin A and C. However, spinach may cause a negative impact on your pet’s thyroid, so only feed it occasionally. It is also high in oxalates, which block calcium absorption.
Commercially produced crested gecko meal
Commercially produced crested gecko meal is made from high-quality ingredients, and is ready-to-feed after you add water. The ingredients vary, but most include crushed or powdered feeder insects, as well as vitamins, calcium, and vitamin D. These are essential nutrients for crested geckos. While some commercial foods may contain fillers and other ingredients not good for crested geckos, others are free of these substances.
Although commercially produced crested gecko meal contains crickets, some pet owners prefer not to handle them. Crickets have a life span of only seven days and may start to smell when fed in large quantities. Luckily, crickets do not create too much of a mess when fed in small amounts.
Meal replacement powders
Meal replacement powders for crested geckos are an excellent supplement to your pet’s diet. This type of diet is rich in a variety of tropical fruits and provides your gecko with a balanced diet. This type of diet is also beneficial for other species of geckos, including anoles, skinks, and iguanas.
Meal replacement powders for crested geckos can be purchased from specialty stores or online. Ensure that the meal replacement powders you choose are made from natural ingredients. Some contain large amounts of phosphorus, which can prevent absorption of other nutrients. To avoid this problem, make sure you choose foods that have a low calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.
Insects
One of the easiest ways to feed your crested geckos is to supplement their diet with insects. The easiest way to do this is to buy commercial cricket dust. In addition to bugs, you can also give your geckos fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in calcium. In New Caledonia, crested geckos often eat fig-like fruit.
Another option is to make smoothies for your gecko. You can mix yogurt and fruits together and feed it to your gecko once or twice a month, or when the commercial diet runs out. If you don’t want to use yogurt, you can also mix in meat or freeze-dried insects. Just be sure to avoid offering live insects, as they can be toxic for your pet.
Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins and minerals are vital to the health of your gecko, but it is difficult to determine the right diet for your pet. Crested geckos prefer greens blended with fruit. Try feeding them escarole, alfalfa, or endive.
Commercial gecko food is the best option, but homemade food is also available. Try to find a good quality product that contains no added sugar or preservatives. Check the label for the vitamin and mineral content. Also, avoid high-phosphorus foods. Choose organic varieties whenever possible.
