🦎 The Complete Crested Gecko Diet Guide [Foods, Schedule & Treats]

🦎 The Complete Crested Gecko Diet Guide (What to Feed Your Pet) 🦎

Crested geckos are wonderful and popular pets. They are known for their calm nature. Providing the right nutrition is the most important part of their care. A proper diet is the key to a long and healthy life.

In the wild, these geckos are omnivores. They eat a mix of fruit, nectar, and insects. In captivity, our goal is to replicate this variety. We must provide a balanced and complete diet.

This guide will cover everything you need to know. We will explore the best foods for your pet. Let's build the perfect crested gecko diet. This will help your little friend thrive. ✅

🤔 What is the Best Foundation for a Crested Gecko Diet?

The foundation of any healthy crested gecko diet is simple. You should use a high-quality commercial diet. This is often called Crested Gecko Diet, or CGD. It comes as a powder that you mix with water to form a paste.

Why is CGD Recommended?

CGD is professionally formulated to be complete nutrition. It contains all the protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals your gecko needs. Most importantly, it has the correct calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. This is vital for preventing bone disease.

Which are the Top CGD Brands?

There are many brands available. However, two are widely considered the gold standard. Pangea and Repashy are highly recommended by experienced breeders and keepers. They offer a variety of flavors to keep your gecko interested.

How Often Should You Feed CGD?

Adult geckos should be offered fresh CGD every other day. Young, growing geckos can be fed daily. Place a small amount in a dish in the evening. Remove any uneaten food the next morning.

🦗 Can Crested Geckos Eat Insects?

Yes, and they should! Insects are a very important part of a complete crested gecko diet. They provide essential protein and enrichment. Watching a gecko hunt is a fantastic experience.

What are the Best Feeder Insects?

The best staple insects are dubia roaches and crickets. They have a good nutritional profile. Worms like mealworms or waxworms are high in fat. They should only be offered as an occasional treat.

How Do You Prepare Feeder Insects?

This is a critical step. Never feed your gecko wild-caught insects. You must prepare feeder insects properly. First, "gut-load" them by feeding them a nutritious diet for 24 hours.

Right before feeding, you must dust the insects. Lightly coat them in a high-quality calcium and D3 supplement powder. This ensures your gecko gets the calcium it needs for strong bones.

How Often Should You Offer Insects?

A good schedule is to offer insects one to two times per week. Only offer a few insects at a time. The insects should be no larger than the space between your gecko's eyes.

🍓 Can You Feed Your Crested Gecko Fruits?

Many owners wonder about feeding fresh fruit. While geckos eat fruit in the wild, it should be limited in captivity. Think of fresh fruit as a dessert. It should be a rare treat, not a regular meal.

Your gecko's CGD is already balanced with fruit. Too much extra fruit can be high in sugar. It can disrupt the balanced nutrition of their main diet. Offer a tiny amount of mashed fruit once or twice a month at most.

Safe fruits include banana, mango, papaya, and figs. Never feed citrus fruits like oranges or lemons. They are too acidic and can cause digestive upset. A healthy crested gecko diet is low in extra sugar.

🚫 What Foods Should You Never Feed a Crested Gecko?

Some foods are dangerous for your gecko. It is vital to know what to avoid. A key part of a good crested gecko diet is knowing what is unsafe. Keep this list in mind for your pet's safety.

• Wild-Caught Insects: They can carry pesticides and parasites.
• Baby Food: This is an outdated practice. It is not nutritionally complete.
• Dairy or Bread: Geckos cannot digest these human foods.
• Processed Human Food: Never feed your gecko anything from your plate.

💧 What About Water and Hydration?

Proper hydration is essential for your gecko's health. You should always provide a shallow dish of fresh, clean water. Change it daily to prevent bacteria from growing.

Crested geckos also drink water droplets from surfaces. You must mist their enclosure with water regularly. Misting once or twice a day keeps the humidity up. It also allows your gecko to drink from leaves, just like in the wild.