Crested geckos require a variety of foods in order to remain happy and healthy. Some of their preferred fruits include mango, kiwi, papaya and raspberries – as well as cactus fruit and strawberries!
Many owners of crested geckos choose commercial crested gecko diets to ensure their pet receives all necessary nutrients. If your crestie appears overweight or is experiencing poor shedding patterns, these could be telltale signs that their nutrition needs improving.
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Feeding
Crested geckos are opportunistic feeders and will readily take to eating various insects such as crickets, dubia roaches and waxworms. Insects provide excellent sources of protein as well as calcium phosphorus and vitamin D which provide great benefits.
Fresh fruits should form the basis of a crested gecko’s diet. All pits and large seeds must be removed prior to feeding the fruit to your crested. Bananas, berries, mango, and figs all make great treats for these creatures!
Many keepers opt for commercial crested gecko food to supplement their pet’s diet, such as Zoo Med’s crested gecko food. One of the best available is created and tested by animal nutritionists; this diet features probiotics for digestive health as well as paprika for coloring your skin!
Crested gecko diets should be varied as much as possible to maximize health. Some lizards may refuse to eat occasionally; in such instances it is crucial that you closely observe and determine why this may be happening.
Substrate
Crested geckos in the wild are omnivorous creatures, eating both plants and animal proteins for sustenance. Insects make up most of their protein consumption while fallen fruit nectar provides plant sources.
Captive crested geckos must resemble their natural diet in every way possible; one effective approach is by mixing commercial crested gecko food with live insects as a meal source.
Crested geckos should eat primarily fruits for their diet, including papaya, figs, raspberries, prickly pear pears and bananas – soft fruits are best as these provide more opportunities for chewing! Large seeds or pits should also be removed as these could contain compounds like oxalic acid that could harm them.
Other foods to include in a lizard’s diet may include dubia roaches and other feeder insects, mealworms and superworms – though please use caution when feeding these to your pet as they could contain chemicals which are potentially toxic to them.
Misting
Crested geckos typically lick drops of water off of their habitats to hydrate. But for optimal care and optimal hydration, misting their environments daily using either a hand-held spray bottle or the type used by gardeners and landscapers may also help. Some keepers add dechlorinating agents before misting gecko homes.
Crested geckos typically hunt by biting and squishing prey that is smaller than their eyes. Many owners opt to feed crickets or dubia roaches to their crested gecko as food sources; before offering these animals for consumption it is necessary to gut-load and dust these insects accordingly.
As part of an overall healthy diet for reptiles, it’s advisable to offer an assortment of fruits and vegetables. However, it’s essential to limit foods high in phosphorus but low in calcium content that could potentially contribute to metabolic bone disease. Furthermore, certain vegetables such as okra and squash contain oxalic acid which is toxic to reptiles.
Exercise
Crested geckos are fascinating reptiles that make excellent pets. By providing them with an appropriate habitat, with plenty of climbing opportunities and clean substrate and adequate humidity levels you can ensure their happiness and well-being. Although crested geckos may initially seem shy or disinterested in being handled directly, it is possible to form strong bonds with these little lizards who become affectionate and loving companions.
Crested geckos are typically nocturnal creatures and should be fed during the evening hours. A commercial crested gecko diet should be supplemented with insects (preferably crickets, but cockroaches or waxworms can also be used) for variety and nutrition, and any leftover food should be removed within 24 hours so as to prevent bacteria growth and bad smells from developing.
Male and female crested geckos can temporarily forgo food during breeding seasons as their reproductive organs fill with developing eggs that require their internal space for proper development. Once their eggs hatch out and their internal organs return to normal size, however, they usually resume eating normally and continue their breeding cycle normally.
