Feeding Crested Geckos
Crested geckos can live on a quality prepared diet alone — but insects make a real difference to breeding condition, growth rate, and how animated your gecko is.
How often
Offer live feeders alongside their usual prepared diet. Insects are a supplement here, not the foundation, which is what separates crested geckos from leopard geckos and chameleons. Growing geckos eat more often than adults; judge by body condition rather than by a schedule.
What to feed
Small crickets and small discoid roaches are the practical choices. Crested geckos are arboreal and respond to movement above them, so feeders that climb tend to get taken more readily than ones that hide in the substrate.
Mealworms are fine once in a while, but not as a regular feeder. They are higher in chitin than crickets or roaches, and because they do not climb they tend to sit in the dish rather than draw a gecko down to them.
Keep feeders small
A crested gecko's head is narrower than a similarly sized leopard gecko's, and they are more easily put off by prey that looks like a fight. When in doubt, drop a size.
See the Feeder Size Guide.
Which size to buy
| Stage | Crickets | Discoid roaches | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juvenile | Pinhead 1/16" → Small 1/8" | Pinhead under 1/8" → XS 1/8-1/4" | — |
| Adult | Small 1/8" → Small/Medium 1/4" | XS 1/8-1/4" → Small 1/4-1/2" | Small mealworms, occasional |
Insects supplement a prepared diet here rather than replace it. Keep them small; drop a size when in doubt.
Feeding at night
Crested geckos are nocturnal, so offer insects in the evening when the animal is active. Remove anything uneaten rather than leaving crickets loose overnight — they will bite a sleeping gecko.
Supplements
If your gecko is eating a complete prepared diet, heavy supplementation of the insects is usually unnecessary.
Feeder insects are commonly dusted with a calcium or vitamin supplement before feeding. Follow the manufacturer's directions for the specific supplement you use.
What to buy
Feeders for crested geckos · Crickets · Discoid roaches · Mealworms
Keeping feeders between deliveries
See our Care & Storage guides for housing and holding each species after delivery.
Feeding & care note: The information provided here is general feeder-insect care guidance. Reptile dietary needs vary by species, age, size and health. Follow husbandry and feeding recommendations appropriate for your individual animal.