Now, theres a lot of variation when it comes to feeding...some keepers feed solely on CGD (Crested Gecko Diet) which is a complete diet that will fulfil all your cresties nutrition and dietary needs, some keepers like to jazz it up - both in frequency and types of various livefoods...roaches, crickets, locusts (all dusted with calcium..) or slices/mashed ripe fruit, mango appearing to be a favorite..and then you have the keepers that have their own special recipes of mashed fruits.
The important things from what i can gather is..
There are a few brands of CGD easily available at a reasonable price these days...not to mention a variety of flavours to try as well as plain for those that like to mix their own concoction in. The two most popular being Clarks and Repashy.
I've opted for Repashy as my first complete diet to try out...Tropical mix to be precise! Lillyexotics and sticky feet both get my vote on recommendations and personal experience for fast delivery at a fair price.
It comes foiled packed and is a powder that you mix with water till it makes a paste.
All my live food is gut loaded at least 24 hours prior feeding on either left over repashy (that the geckos hadn't eaten) and/or Pro-reps bug grub with a slice of apple of moisture. I feed crickets/roaches once or twice a week. Calcium is very important in crested geckos, conditions such as MBD (Metabolic bone disease) can occur when there isn't enough calcium being provided. It can kill if not noticed and calcium intake rectified. But be careful! they are also just as likely to Overdose! I dust live food if it has not been gut loaded on CGD, CGD already has everything my geckos need therefore extra dusting for use with live food is simply not needed. Did i know this straight away? nope! but i'm glad i do now! So i would like to thank Wohic from RFUK for giving me that nice bit of feeding advice! :)
A great page detailing MBD can be found here - Moon Valley Reptiles.
Infact, i recommend the site on a whole and is well worth a read.
The important things from what i can gather is..
- To always have a supply of CGD in the enclosure.
- Always have a small amount of powdered calcium in the enclosure.
- Avoid citrus fruits.
- Avoid baby food (due to sugars)
- You must Gut load your live food...which means to feed your bugs! apple, carrot and cucumber can all be used at little cost.
- Live food should be no bigger than the size of my cresties head.
There are a few brands of CGD easily available at a reasonable price these days...not to mention a variety of flavours to try as well as plain for those that like to mix their own concoction in. The two most popular being Clarks and Repashy.
I've opted for Repashy as my first complete diet to try out...Tropical mix to be precise! Lillyexotics and sticky feet both get my vote on recommendations and personal experience for fast delivery at a fair price.
It comes foiled packed and is a powder that you mix with water till it makes a paste.
All my live food is gut loaded at least 24 hours prior feeding on either left over repashy (that the geckos hadn't eaten) and/or Pro-reps bug grub with a slice of apple of moisture. I feed crickets/roaches once or twice a week. Calcium is very important in crested geckos, conditions such as MBD (Metabolic bone disease) can occur when there isn't enough calcium being provided. It can kill if not noticed and calcium intake rectified. But be careful! they are also just as likely to Overdose! I dust live food if it has not been gut loaded on CGD, CGD already has everything my geckos need therefore extra dusting for use with live food is simply not needed. Did i know this straight away? nope! but i'm glad i do now! So i would like to thank Wohic from RFUK for giving me that nice bit of feeding advice! :)
A great page detailing MBD can be found here - Moon Valley Reptiles.
Infact, i recommend the site on a whole and is well worth a read.
Again...bowls for you water, calcium and CGD needn't be expensive!
Sure you can spend the extra, and if you can do that then crack on! There are a wide variety available these days from magnetic ledges with bowls built in, to your standard exo terra small.
I'm doing nether *blows raspberry*.
I'm using Chunky glass tealight holders from....you guessed it!...Tesco.
At 65p each you really can't go wrong for these as food and water bowls. Cheap, easy to clean and IMO not that bad looking!
I've chosen chunky glass just to give it some weight.
For my calcium...the good old reliable Yazoo milkshake bottle top will do the treat!
I'll write more on feeding when i actually get the little blighters and have some experience to share!
Sure you can spend the extra, and if you can do that then crack on! There are a wide variety available these days from magnetic ledges with bowls built in, to your standard exo terra small.
I'm doing nether *blows raspberry*.
I'm using Chunky glass tealight holders from....you guessed it!...Tesco.
At 65p each you really can't go wrong for these as food and water bowls. Cheap, easy to clean and IMO not that bad looking!
I've chosen chunky glass just to give it some weight.
For my calcium...the good old reliable Yazoo milkshake bottle top will do the treat!
I'll write more on feeding when i actually get the little blighters and have some experience to share!