Crested Geckos have a varied diet in the wilderness that consists of about 50% insects and the rest include fruits, some vegetables, nectar, etc. They need the same varied diet in captivity to be able to lead a happy and healthy life. And if this is a bit too difficult for you, there’s always commercial food available.
In this article, we’ll talk about what vegetables you can feed to your Crested Gecko and what other foods you can include in their diet.
Can Crested Geckos Eat Vegetables? What Types of Veggies Are Fine?
There is a bit of a misconception between beginners that Crested Geckos are 100% insectivore creatures and that they don’t eat vegetables or fruits. In fact, their diet in the wilderness contains a lot more than just prey insects. This includes nectar, various fruits, and different vegetables. And in captivity, they can benefit a lot from different types of veggies.
Most veggies that grow in your garden should be OK as long as you don’t spray them with pesticides and other toxins. If you do, try getting your veggies from a reptile food supplier as they should have food ready for omnivore geckos as well. But if they don’t, they will point you in the right direction on where to find them. Be careful with the vegetables from supermarkets as they tend to have pesticides as well.
However, you should be able to wash them very well and feed them to your gecko anyway. But if you want to be 100% safe, then look for safe veggies.
Should Crested Geckos Eat Carrots?
Carrots are actually ideal for Crested Geckos as staple vegetable food as it’s low in phosphorous and goitrogenic compounds. They’re also quite delicious and even the most stubborn crestie will love them. The only thing you should be careful about is the way you’re preparing the carrot.
You can cut a few slices of carrot into extremely tiny cubes or pass them through a small grater. Another option is to place them into a smoothie maker and make sure it’s all a paste before giving it to your gecko. You can also boil the carrot and mash it properly. Just make sure you’re serving it cold.
Potatoes?
Normal potatoes should be avoided when it comes to feeding your gecko. They’re just not ideal for these pets at all. There are other veggies that are a lot better for them than potatoes. And avoid fries or anything you’re eating, even if it’s mashed potatoes.
On the other hand, sweet potatoes are more than welcome. Crested Geckos love them and they’re easy to prepare.
Broccoli
Crested Geckos love eating their vegetables in a smoothie form. And if you can blend it with the fruits at the same time, it’s even better. You can add a very wide range of veggies to the smoothie, and this includes broccoli. But chopping it up very well can also work.
Cabbage
You can feed your Crested Gecko a bit of cabbage, but you should add it to a smoothie maker to turn it into a paste. Cabbage works a lot better as gut-loading food for the insects you’ll feed your gecko. This means placing a few leaves of cabbage into the enclosure that has all the insects that will be used for the next meal. The crickets will eat lots of cabbage, which then will make it to your pet during feeding time.
Beans
Cooked beans are not a good idea and most of the time Crested Gecko won’t even eat them. You should only offer green beans that are either well chopped or turned into a paste. While green beans are not very big, you should still avoid giving them whole to your gecko. Your pet might still have trouble eating them.
Salad
Lettuce is easily one of the best veggies for your Crested Gecko. It’s highly recommended to make it the staple vegetable as it’s low in water content and has lots of vitamin A and good fiber. Every time you need to feed them their fruits and veggies, you can use lettuce as the base and then add a few pieces of different vegetables and fruits.
One thing you should avoid is iceberg lettuce. This is because it has no nutritional value and it would be pointless to feed it to your gecko instead of giving it something good for its health.
Onions
Onions should always be avoided no matter what animal you’re trying to feed. It doesn’t matter if the onion is raw or cooked. It can be toxic and cause very bad digestion and other health issues. Crested Geckos acts slightly different from onions and some might get over it faster while others might require a vet visit.
Garlic, avocado, and other similar veggies should be avoided as well.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are great veggies for Crested Geckos and they love them in smoothie form. And since they are a bit high in water content, you can just use them as the base when you want to add some very dry veggies and fruits. But you can always add water to achieve the paste you’re looking for.
What should you give a Crested Gecko instead? Insects and Worms
Besides fruits and vegetables, Crested Geckos still thrive on a good diet of insects and worms. This includes crickets, dubia roaches, butterworms, and even waxworms from time to time. Avoid insects that are bigger than the gecko’s head and mealworms that are hard to chew. These can hurt your gecko and create some bad digestive problems.
But if you’re a beginner and you find dealing with insects very hard. Then you’re in luck as Crested Geckos have a very special commercial food that has been developed specifically for them. And in the last years, this food has been perfected, which will allow you to avoid insects altogether.
All you have to do is mix a bit of water with a bit of the powder-based commercial food and feed it to your Crested Gecko instead of insects three times a week. You have all the instructions on the package.
