Crested geckos can be quick feeders, so it is crucial that they receive appropriate foods tailored specifically for their habitat. Keep away from wild insects as these may contain parasites which could harm their health.
Keepers often opt for a crested gecko diet (CGD) mix consisting of fruit, vegetables and crushed bugs as food for their geckos, typically provided three to four times each week with additional live insect offerings in between.
Contents
Vegetables
Crested geckos are omnivorous creatures and their home diet should include fruits, vegetables, insects and flowers of various species. Select colorful veggies low in oxalates and phosphorus such as kale, squash and carrots which contain colorful hues for best results. Also supplement their meal with vitamins to ensure all necessary essential nutrients such as magnesium, iron and iodine are met.
Insects provide an abundant source of protein and are frequently fed gut-loaded or dust-dusted for added nutrition. Crickets are the go-to feeder insect for crested geckos; however, dubia roaches have quickly become popular with reptile enthusiasts due to their higher nutritional value.
Fruit is an enjoyable treat and provides vital vitamins and minerals, but to get maximum benefit it should be eaten when it is soft and ripe. Citrus fruit should be avoided, as this interferes with their ability to properly absorb calcium.
Greens
Crested Geckoes require more greens in their diet than just fruit alone. Dark leafy vegetables such as dandelion greens, escarole and alfalfa should also be provided to meet this need; all should be low in phosphorus yet high in calcium, vitamins and minerals for maximum effectiveness.
Cresteed geckos should be offered fruits rich in soluble fiber to promote digestive health. Berries, cantelope, papaya, figs and raspberries make an excellent selection.
The food pyramid serves as an important guideline for how often to feed your crested gecko each day and week, taking into account macronutrient and calcium needs as well as studies conducted on wild crested gecko diets.
Before offering Crestie bugs to your pets, ensure they have been gut-loaded with nutrients by mixing your insects with some dark leafy vegetable or whole grains and then leaving for 12-24 hours to ensure maximum nutrition intake. This will ensure they receive full value from every bite!
Insects
Crested geckos are predominantly frugivores; however, in captivity they supplement their diet with insects and worms. A commercial crested gecko diet or meal replacement powder (MRP) may be recommended to ensure your crestedie receives a balanced and nutritional diet.
Although crested geckos can be fed commercial diets, those that feed live insects such as dubia roaches, super worms, nutrigrubs and wax worms to their crested geckos can still provide live insects as variety and exercise their hunting instincts. When offering live food always gut-load and dust feeder insects before placing them into your cage; this way they’ll transfer those essential vitamins directly into their bodies when consumed by your crested.
Overfeeding your crested gecko is crucial, as obese reptiles are more prone to health issues and shorter lifespans than underfed captive cresties – these will not receive proper nutrition, leading them down a path towards decompensation and disease.
Meal Powder
Cresteed geckos will often benefit from being fed a complete Gecko diet which contains all of their necessary vitamins and minerals. This should form their main staple food. If live insects (recommended for entertainment and exercise, juvenile development and fattening thin adults) are to be fed (recommended as entertainment or exercise, juvenile growth and fattening thin adults), ensure that these are gut loaded before offering. Finally, avoid citrus fruits which may be harmful to reptiles as well as potentially interfering with calcium absorption processes.
Crickets are among the most commonly fed live feeders for crested geckos and are easily found at pet stores. Dubia roaches can also make for excellent feedings as they’re easier to care for and contain more essential nutrition than crickets. You could also feed silkworms, hornworms, mealworms or wax worms as alternatives; all should be gut loaded prior to feeding in order to ensure they contain healthy nutrition without becoming too large for your crested gecko.
