Best Crested Gecko Food: Pangea vs Repashy Compared (2026)

Crested geckos are famously easy to feed — until they are not. A gecko that ignores its food dish for two weeks sends new keepers into a spiral of worry, and many reach for whatever cheap powder is on the pet store shelf without realizing that the formulation gap between top-tier and budget CGD is enormous.

The wrong food does not just cause picky eating. Low-quality powders loaded with high-oxalate fillers actively block calcium absorption, setting the stage for metabolic bone disease (MBD) — one of the most preventable health crises in captive geckos.

Quick Comparison: Top 5 Crested Gecko Foods

Pangea vs Repashy: The Real Differences

The CGD market comes down to two dominant brands, and the debate between them has been running since Repashy created the category in the early 2000s.

What Repashy Gets Right

Repashy's protein numbers are hard to argue with. At 27% protein and 1.2% calcium, the Classic MRP formula meets the nutritional thresholds that matter most for breeding success and bone health. According to ReptiFiles' crested gecko food guide, a calcium content of at least 1% in the prepared diet is the baseline for MBD prevention.

Breeders who have run the same bloodlines for years consistently report steady weight gain and fewer reproductive complications on Repashy compared to cheaper alternatives.

Pro Tip: If you are running a breeding program and need to maximize egg output and hatchling health, Repashy Crested Gecko MRP is the evidence-backed choice. The high calcium content supports gravid females without requiring heavy supplemental dusting.

What Pangea Gets Right

Pangea's key innovation is the low-oxalate formula. Oxalates are naturally occurring compounds in many fruits that bind to calcium in the digestive tract and prevent absorption.

A diet can list adequate calcium on its label and still cause MBD if oxalate content is high enough to block that calcium from reaching the bones. Pangea specifically engineered their insect formulas around this problem.

The practical result is that Pangea Fruit Mix with Insects produces steady, consistent weight gain even without supplemental calcium dusting — a claim backed by Pangea's own multi-year testing on their large gecko collection, as detailed on their official product page.

Texture: The Overlooked Factor

Repashy has a slightly gritty, particulate texture from its whey protein isolate base. Pangea uses fruit puree as its foundation, producing a smoother, more homogeneous consistency.

For most geckos this is irrelevant — they eat whatever is offered. But for picky individuals, that texture difference is often the deciding factor.

Detailed Reviews

1. Pangea Fruit Mix with Insects — Best Overall

Pangea Fruit Mix with Insects is our top recommendation for most crested gecko keepers because it solves the two biggest feeding problems at once: palatability and calcium availability.

The farm-raised cricket and BSFL protein sources mimic the insect content of a wild crested gecko diet. The mixing ratio is simple: 1 part powder to 2 parts water by volume. The prepared diet should reach a smooth, ketchup-like consistency.

Serving schedule:

• Juveniles (under 12 months): Offer daily. Remove after 24 hours.
• Adults (12+ months): Offer 3–4 times per week. Remove after 24 hours.

Pro Tip: Never leave mixed CGD out longer than 24 hours. In warm vivarium conditions, prepared diet can grow bacterial cultures within hours. Discard uneaten food daily and wash the cup with hot water between servings.

2. Repashy Crested Gecko MRP — Best for Breeders

Repashy Crested Gecko MRP remains the industry benchmark for a reason. At 27% protein, it outperforms every other formula reviewed here for raw nutritional density.

The Classic formula uses banana, date, and fig as its fruit base, with whey protein isolate as the primary protein source. The brand also offers specialty blends giving breeders rotation options to prevent palate fatigue across large collections. Full product details are available at store.repashy.com.

Who should use Repashy MRP:

• Breeders managing multiple geckos and needing cost-effective high-protein nutrition
• Keepers wanting the formula with the longest proven track record
• Anyone whose geckos already accept it without hesitation

3. Pangea Fig & Insects — Best for Picky Eaters

If your crested gecko has been refusing food for more than two weeks, Pangea Fig & Insects should be your first intervention before calling the vet.

The formula replaces banana with fig as the dominant fruit flavor. This formula also contains more than double the insect content of the standard Pangea Insects formula, producing a stronger prey-scent signal that triggers feeding responses.

For more information on crested gecko care including diet rotation strategies, our Crested Gecko Species Guide covers feeding behavior in detail.

Pro Tip: When transitioning a picky gecko, offer Fig & Insects at dusk or just after lights go out. Crested geckos are crepuscular — their feeding drive peaks in the first hour after darkness.

4. Zoo Med Crested Gecko Food — Best Value

Zoo Med Crested Gecko Food is the only formula in this roundup formulated by a nutritionist holding an M.S. in animal nutrition.

The inclusion of probiotics at 1 million CFU per gram is a genuine differentiator. The BSFL-based protein at 22% and the organic fruit base put this formula on par with premium options in terms of ingredient quality. The main limitation is package size: the 4oz jar is smaller than competitors' 8oz options.

5. Repashy Grubs N' Fruit — Best High-Protein

Repashy Grubs N' Fruit centers BSFL as its primary protein source, delivering 24% protein with an inherently favorable calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.

This formula is particularly valuable during two life stages:

• Juveniles under 6 months — rapid skeletal development demands maximum calcium availability
• Gravid females — producing eggs while maintaining body weight requires the highest caloric and calcium input

For context on how diet supports full gecko health, see our Crested Gecko Humidity Guide.

Crested Gecko Diet Buying Guide

Protein Content: How Much Do You Actually Need?

The minimum threshold for a nutritionally complete CGD is roughly 18–20% protein.

Protein benchmarks by life stage:

• Hatchlings and juveniles (<12 months): 20–25%
• Non-breeding adults: 18–22%
• Breeding females: 24–27%
• Breeding males: 20–22%

The Oxalate Problem: Why Cheap Diets Backfire

Oxalic acid binds to calcium in the gut and forms insoluble crystals that cannot be absorbed. A gecko eating a high-oxalate diet can develop MBD even when the food label shows adequate calcium.

Warning signs of oxalate-related calcium deficiency:

• Soft, flexible jaw or limb bones
• Abnormal posture or reluctance to climb
• Tremors or muscle fasciculations after handling
• Poor egg shell quality in females

If you suspect MBD, consult a reptile veterinarian immediately. Our Crested Gecko Shedding Tips guide also covers the connection between nutrition and skin health.

How to Fix a Picky Crested Gecko

Solutions, in order of escalation:

1. Try a different flavor first — switch between fruit bases
2. Adjust water ratio — some geckos prefer thinner consistency
3. Switch to Fig & Insects formula — removes banana, adds stronger insect scent
4. Add a live insect — placing a single BSFL or small dubia roach in the cup triggers feeding responses
5. Offer at peak feeding time — dusk or early evening, never midday

According to ReptiFiles' feeding guide, a healthy crested gecko can safely fast for several weeks without harm.

Pro Tip: Never offer different foods in the same cup. If rotating between formulas, offer only one at a time and remove after 24 hours.

Feeding Schedule and Preparation

Mixing Ratio

The standard ratio is 1 part powder to 2 parts water by volume. Correct consistency = smooth, pourable, similar to ketchup.

Serving and Removal

• Offer in the evening (crested geckos are crepuscular)
• Mount the cup at mid-height or above on the vivarium wall
• Remove after 24 hours
• Wash cups with hot water between servings

Ready to Choose Your First CGD?

For new keepers, Pangea Fruit Mix with Insects gives you the smoothest onboarding experience. Want to build out the full setup? See how diet fits into a complete care plan in our Crested Gecko Species Guide.

How CGD Compares to Other Gecko Diets

Crested gecko diet (CGD) is unique in the reptile hobby. Leopard geckos are strict insectivores — no fruit-based CGD applies. Our Leopard Gecko Diet Guide covers the very different feeding protocol. For a broader comparison, see our Leopard Gecko vs Crested Gecko guide.

Final Verdict

For most crested gecko keepers, Pangea Fruit Mix with Insects is the right starting point. The low-oxalate formula, smooth texture, and high acceptance rate make it the most forgiving choice.

If you run a breeding program, switch to Repashy Crested Gecko MRP — the 27% protein and decades-long breeder track record justify the trade-off in texture.

For a picky gecko, go straight to Pangea Fig & Insects — the banana-free formula with double insect content is the most effective dietary intervention for food-refusing crested geckos.

And for raising juveniles or supporting gravid females, add Repashy Grubs N' Fruit to your rotation.