Crested Gecko Feeding Chart by Age
Last updated: · Reviewed against sources listed below
This crested gecko feeding chart shows what and how often to feed at every age. Juveniles are offered a complete powdered diet every day and adults every 2–3 days, with a few dusted insects as extras. Use the calculator above to mix the diet with the right amount of water.
Your mix
- Add water
- Ratio (powder : water)
- Makes about
- Feed
This is the same calculator as our crested gecko diet mix calculator.
Crested Gecko feeding chart
Powdered diet is the main food at every age. Insects are optional extras, dusted with calcium, and should be no wider than the space between your gecko’s eyes.
| Age | Powdered diet | Insects (dusted) |
|---|---|---|
| Juvenile (under 12 months) | every day | 1–2 times a week |
| Adult (12 months and older) | every 2–3 days | up to once a week (optional) |
What do crested geckos eat?
In the wild, crested geckos eat fruit, nectar, pollen and insects. In captivity the easiest and most reliable food is a complete powdered crested gecko diet, often called CGD. It contains fruit, insect protein, calcium and vitamins in the right balance, so a crested gecko can live on it alone. Mix it with water to a ketchup-like texture and serve it in a small dish on a feeding ledge high in the enclosure.
Most brands mix at 1 part powder to 2 parts water by volume; a few, such as growth formulas, need a little more water. The diet mix calculator gives the exact amount for your brand and batch size.
How often to feed a crested gecko
Juveniles under 12 months are growing fast and should be offered fresh diet every day. Adults do well with diet every 2–3 days; offering it daily is common too, but adult crested geckos gain weight easily, and obesity is one of the most common problems in pet crested geckos.
Feed in the evening, when your gecko wakes up, and remove anything left in the dish after 24 hours. Weigh your gecko every few weeks and compare it with the growth chart. A healthy adult has a rounded belly but no fat pads around the armpits or at the base of the tail.
Insects as extras
Insects are not required if you feed a complete diet, but many keepers offer them for exercise and variety. Juveniles can have insects once or twice a week; adults up to once a week. Good choices include crickets, dubia roaches, black soldier fly larvae and silkworms. Pick insects no wider than the space between your gecko’s eyes.
Dust insects with calcium before feeding: calcium with D3 if you do not use UVB lighting, or plain calcium if you do. The powdered diet already contains vitamins, so only the insects need dusting. Our calcium schedule generator marks the right powder for each insect day.
Why is my crested gecko not eating?
New crested geckos often eat very little for their first week or two while they settle in. Other common reasons are temperatures that are too high, a food dish placed on the floor, stale food, and the cooler months, when some geckos eat less. Check that the warmest area stays below about 80°F27°C, move the dish up to a ledge, mix fresh food each time, and try a different flavor.
Licked-clean dishes are hard to spot because crested geckos eat very small amounts. Look for small lick marks in the food or check the gecko’s weight.
See a reptile vet if your crested gecko loses more than about 10% of its body weight, has not eaten for several weeks, has a swollen or soft jaw, shakes or twitches, or has trouble climbing. These can be signs of metabolic bone disease or other illness.
What crested geckos can and can’t eat
Good foods
- Complete powdered crested gecko diet (main food)
- Crickets, dusted with calcium
- Dubia roaches and black soldier fly larvae
- Silkworms and small hornworms
Avoid
- Fruit or baby food as the main diet
- Insects wider than the space between the eyes
- Wild-caught insects (pesticides, parasites)
- Mixed diet left in the enclosure over 24 hours
- Undusted insects as a regular food
Frequently asked questions
Can crested geckos eat fruit?
In small amounts, as an occasional treat, soft fruits such as mashed banana, mango or papaya are fine. They should not replace a complete powdered diet, because fruit alone lacks calcium and protein. Avoid citrus, and wash any fruit well.
How much does a crested gecko eat?
Less than most owners expect: a gecko may only lick a small amount from its dish each night. What matters is steady weight. Offer a dish of fresh diet on the schedule for its age, remove leftovers after 24 hours, and weigh your gecko every few weeks.
Do crested geckos need live insects?
No. Crested geckos can live their whole lives on a complete powdered diet. Insects are an optional extra that some geckos enjoy. If you offer them, dust them with calcium and keep them no wider than the space between your gecko’s eyes.
Sources
- PetMD — Crested Gecko Care Sheet (written and reviewed by veterinarians)
- Long Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic — Crested Gecko Care Guide
- ReptiFiles — Crested Gecko Food
- Pangea Reptile — Crested Gecko Care
- Pangea Reptile — Gecko Diet with Insects (label mixing instructions)
- Repashy Ventures — Crested Gecko MRP (label mixing instructions)
- LafeberVet — Nutritional Support in Reptiles
Where sources disagree we show the range they share. See our sources and methodology for how every number is checked.