Crested geckos are generally easy to care for when kept as pets; however, feeding this ectothermic species accurately requires more than simply dropping crickets in its habitat.
Keepers often supplement commercial crested gecko diets with calcium powder dusting their feeder insects on an ongoing basis; how frequently this occurs will depend on each keeper.
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How to feed
Crested geckos are omnivorous animals in the wild and will feed on insects, fruits and nectar sources. When kept captive they should be fed an appropriately designed crested gecko diet supplemented with occasional insects, worms or fruit as treats.
Cresteed geckos can be fed crickets, dubia roaches and mealworms as a food source. Before feeding these to the crested gecko, however, all insects must first be gutloaded and dusted thoroughly to reduce parasite infection risks and protein overload; mealworms should be avoided due to their hard exoskeletons that could potentially cause impaction issues.
Crestied geckos can benefit from having access to foods like papaya, figs, prickly pears and berries for food sources that are high in calcium content but low in phosphorus content.
Prior to the introduction of crested gecko meal replacement powders, owners would often combine homemade food with pieces of fresh fruit and insects. Any prepared food should be sifted to remove any extra sugar, additives or preservatives which could harm their pet.
Choosing the right food
Crested geckos require a nutritious diet in order to remain healthy. Avoid feeding them foods they wouldn’t usually consume in nature such as dairy products and meat; try offering fruits, vegetables and insects as alternatives for an ideal balanced meal plan.
Pet store crested gecko food brands may promise nutritious meals, yet often contain added sugars and preservatives with higher calcium/phosphorous ratios than what crested geckos need for proper development.
Zoo Med provides a crested gecko diet known as MRP that’s composed of organic fruits and black solider fly larvae. This nutritious food provides essential vitamins and minerals to your gecko and can be fed either wet or dry; you can even mix MRP with water to create a fruit smoothie for them!
Fluker’s Farms and Pangea are two other brands of MRP with diverse fruit flavors that have earned great praise from reptile owners, and offer multiple recipes to choose from.
Feeding time
Crested geckos can be seen opportunistically feeding in their natural environments and will consume items which may not be best for them, like raw meat or dairy products. As pet owners we can address this by offering quality prepared diets which provide adequate nourishment.
Pangea and Repashy MRPs are two of the most widely available MRPs, both featuring various flavors to provide your crested gecko with a complete diet or as supplements to other food sources.
Mix one part powder and two parts water by volume until you achieve the consistency of ketchup; add more powder or water as necessary for this purpose. Feed this mixture once daily at feeding time, removing any leftovers within 24 hours so as to prevent bacteria growth and providing them with fresh bowls of water every day; Cresties usually hydrate themselves by licking droplets off leaves, but providing daily access to an accessible water source is beneficial as well.
Feeding frequency
Crested geckos consume a wide range of fruits, so they need an ample supply of calcium. You should offer your pet a phosphate-free calcium with vitamin supplement with each fruit they are given; this will allow their bodies to better absorb phosphorus present and avoid potential calcification issues.
Your crested gecko should be fed 3-4 times each week with a small bowl of complete meal replacement powder (MRP) and live insects to provide it with a complete diet. This ensures that they will receive sufficient sustenance.
Some keepers prefer feeding young cresties more frequently than their adult lizards, as young ones will grow faster with an insect-based diet. Just be wary not to overfeed it though as too many insects could lead to nutritional deficiencies and health concerns for your crestie!
Keepers often mist the walls and decor of their terrarium before bedtime to hydrate cresties and increase humidity levels in their habitat. In addition, providing access to fresh water at all times is also ideal; keepers should ensure this dish of fresh water remains easily accessible for their fishies.
