Some species of geckos, like leopard geckos, can have a limited range of food, whereas crested geckos can be fed varieties of vegetables and fruits mixed in the diet. But, this raises an interesting question: can Crested Geckos eat vegetables? if yes, What vegetables can crested geckos eat
Although they can be fed some veggies, due to the need for specific sets of nutrients, you should keep their diet calcium to Phosphorus ratio in 2:1.
We all know that vegetables offer many beneficial nutrients to human beings but, does the same applies to crested geckos? Being an omnivorous reptile, you can feed them 2 different types of diet.
It is one of the most accessible options that most beginner owners go for. Many companies offer specially formulated food to provide your gecko with all nutrients they need to grow and be healthy.
If you are considering feeding your crested gecko commercial, then there is no need to go on a homemade diet or any vegetables. Crested geckos fed with a commercial diet don’t need any extra vegetable or fruit nutrients added.
- Homemade Diet.
Some owners want to go on this route because they want complete control over the nutrients they give to their pets. If you are one of those owners, you are in the right part because, in this way, you will make your crested gecko lifespan longer.
However, giving a well-balanced homemade diet is not an easy task. Plus, it is not recommended for beginners in the first place. You will have to do proper extensive research before hand-feeding any vegetables.
Fortunately, I have done all the research for you and prepared this article, where you can learn all the vegetables that are safe to feed crested geckos and the vegetables that need to be avoided.
Here, first, we will know what vegetables can crested geckos eat. After that, we will tell you what other vegetables are that are safe and bad for their health.
Can Crested Geckos Eat Vegetables?
Yes, You can offer vegetables like lettuce, pumpkin, and others. Crested geckos can eat vegetables and plant matter in captivity. However, the number of vegetables per serving should be equivalent to other food content like insects or commercial food.
You can either go with the commercial food or give them a mix of live insects, vegetables, and fruits. Some vegetables can only be fed as an occasional treat to crested geckos.
We’ll now discuss what vegetables are safe to include in the regular diet and whatnot. Most of the vegetables are safe for crested geckos but only as an occasional treat. Let’s learn about the pros and cons of feeding vegetables to your crested geckos.
Pros
Vegetables contain iron, calcium, fiber, vitamin A and many other essential nutrients.
Fibre helps your crested gecko maintain bowel health and helps maintain a healthy function of their skin, reproductive system, immune system, muscle, mucous membranes, retina, and more.
Vegetables are also a good source of iron that helps preserve many vital functions of your crested gecko’s body, including energy and the temperature regulation capability of their body.
On the other hand, calcium from vegetables adds health guard to their heart, nerves, and muscles. Calcium also helps their bones to be stronger.
It is necessary to feed calcium and protein-dense food to the baby and Juvenile geckos. Calcium is also essential for pregnant female Geckos.
Cons
Feeding vegetables bought from the local store can have insecticides and pesticides toxic for crested geckos. Plus, most of the domesticated vegetables available in local stores tend to have more minor minerals and vitamins.
Crested geckos can also be at risk of developing hypothyroidism because vegetables can also give goitrogen, and absorption of goitrogen over time gradually leads to such issues.
Plus, excessive oxalic acid is not suitable for your crested geckos. Vegetables also contain oxalic acid.
How To Feed Vegetables To Crested Gecko
You can feed vegetables using your hand to your crested geckos as they can’t bite hard with their tiny teeth. Chop the vegetables in a size that fits their mouth and in an accessible form for them to bite on.
The vegetables should be chopped or smashed, making them easy to digest for your crested geckos. Here are methods on how you can feed vegetables to your crested gecko.
3 Methods To Feed Vegetables To Crested Geckos
- Finely Chopped Vegetables.
- Vegetable Smoothie.
- Mashed Vegetables.
How Many Vegetables Can I Feed My Crested Gecko?
Only half of crested geckos diet should have vegetables in it. The number of vegetables per serving must be equal to the other food like insects or commercial food. Many Meal Replacement Powders are available that can be fed with vegetables to crested geckos.
How Often Should I Feed Vegetables To My Crested Gecko?
The eating frequency of crested geckos varies from gecko to gecko, depending upon their activity level, housing, and habits. The frequency of giving vegetables to crested geckos also depends on the nutritional value and the calcium to Phosphorus ratio.
Make sure to maintain good calcium to Phosphorus ratio in your crested gecko staple diet whenever you offer them vegetables.
Vegetables that imbalances its diet calcium to Phosphorus ratio should only be given once a month as an occasional treat.
What Vegetables Can Crested Geckos Eat?
Can Crested Geckos Eat Pumpkin?
Yes, crested geckos can eat pumpkin occasionally as a treat You can prepare a mini homemade sweet recipe using pumpkin for your geckos. However, you should avoid feeding them pumpkin daily or frequently because it tends to have very poor calcium to Phosphorus ratio for your geckos. Pumpkin Ca:P Ratio is 1:2.1.
Pumpkins have some excellent properties that can help your geckos deworming. However, it should be offered moderately as it is nutritionally poor. Avoid feeding pumpkin seeds to your crested geckos as it contains high protein.
Can Crested Geckos Eat Applesauce?
As you know, crested geckos can eat fruits. You can feed unsweetened applesauce to your crested geckos as well. While preparing a homemade sweet recipe for your crested geckos, you can use applesauce.
Make sure to add some calcium supplements and maintain its Ca:P Ratio. It has been debated in many forms and is not an essential fruit to feed to your crested geckos. Here you can learn what fruits can crested geckos eat.
Can Crested Geckos Eat Tomatoes?
No, crested gecko should never be offered tomatoes as they are slightly related to citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, lines, and more. Many other vegetables like lettuce can be fed to crested geckos, but tomato is not one of them.
Can Crested Geckos Eat Cucumber?
It’s not essential. Crested geckos don’t need to eat cucumbers as they don’t have much nutritional value in them. Plus, cucumber tends to be higher in water which can give diarrhea to your crested gecko.
Cucumbers and vegetables like iceberg lettuce are poor in nutritional value, which can result in diarrhea.
Can Crested Geckos Eat Lettuce?
Yes, crested geckos can eat lettuce and enjoy its nutritional value. Lettuce contains Vitamin A, which helps in maintaining body function efficiently. Plus, it will also offer your reptile an immense amount of water.
Avoid offering frozen or iceberg lettuce as it contains a terrible nutritional value and can also result in diarrhea. It is recommended to provide fresh lettuce to crested geckos as fresher include denser nutrient portfolio.
Any lettuce variant or species that contain higher water content should never be offered to crested geckos as it can result in diarrhoea. Lettuce leaves tend to have less water content and higher nutrient composition.
5 Other Vegetables That Crested Geckos Can Eat
- Butternut Squash
- Bell Peppers
- Common Button Mushroom
- Corn Squash
- Okra
Final Thoughts
Wrapping Up: from my research and writing, I have learnt that their diet should mainly consist of live insects. You can offer them vegetables like lettuce and pumpkin but only as an occasional treat.
Most of the commercial foods like meal replacement powders are good for them. Avoid feeding them frozen insects. Here you can learn what insects can crested geckos eat.
Plus, you can also feed them fruits or mix their diet with fruits. I’ve also written another article on what fruits can crested geckos eat to check out.
I hope I managed to give you all the information needed on what vegetables can crested geckos eat. If you find this post helpful, share it with others so that they can benefit their reptile health with these vegetables and avoid feeding the harmful/toxic ones. I hope I will get another chance to help you out through another article as well, till then take care and goodbye.
94% of pet owners say their animal pal makes them smile more than once a day. In 2007, I realized that I was made for saving Animals. My father is a Vet, and I think every pet deserves one. I started this blog, “InPetCare”, in 2019 with my father to enlighten a wider audience.
