Can Crested Geckos Eat Crickets? Safety, Prep & Frequency

Crickets are a safe, nutritious protein boost for crested geckos when properly gut-loaded and calcium-dusted before feeding. They should supplement — not replace — a complete crested gecko diet (CGD) and be offered no more than 1–2 times per week.

How to Prepare

1. Size-match the cricket to the gecko: choose feeders no wider than the space between the gecko's eyes to prevent choking and impaction.
2. Gut-load crickets for 24–48 hours before feeding using leafy greens, sweet potato, or a commercial gut-load formula to maximize nutritional value passed to the gecko.
3. Dust crickets lightly with a 50/50 calcium-with-D3 and multivitamin powder immediately before offering — no more than 30 minutes prior, as the powder falls off quickly.
4. Place crickets in the enclosure at dusk when the gecko is active, and remove any uneaten crickets within 2 hours to prevent stress-biting and disturbance during sleep.
5. Never leave live crickets unattended overnight — they can nibble on the gecko's delicate skin and toes.

Warnings

• Crickets have an inverted calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (~1:9), so calcium dusting at every feeding is non-negotiable to prevent metabolic bone disease.
• Oversized crickets can cause gut impaction, especially in juveniles under 10 g body weight.
• Live crickets left in the enclosure overnight can injure the gecko by biting its eyes, toes, or crest.
• Crickets should never exceed 30–40% of total weekly feedings; CGD (commercial crested gecko diet) must remain the dietary foundation.
• Wild-caught crickets carry pesticide and parasite risks — always source from reputable feeder insect suppliers.

Nutrition Facts

FAQ

How many crickets should I feed my crested gecko per session?

Offer 2–5 appropriately sized crickets per feeding session for juveniles, and up to 8–10 for adults. Watch the gecko eat and remove any survivors within 2 hours. Portion size matters less than ensuring uneaten insects never stay overnight.

Can baby crested geckos eat crickets?

Yes, but only pinhead or 1/4-inch (week-old) crickets for hatchlings under 5 g. Juveniles under 10 g are at higher impaction risk from oversized prey, so match feeder size carefully to the gecko's head width at every stage.

Do I need to dust crickets if I already gut-load them?

Yes. Gut-loading improves overall nutrition but cannot correct the raw cricket's extreme phosphorus imbalance. Calcium-with-D3 dusting at every insect feeding is still required, as confirmed by reptile veterinary nutritionists including those cited in the Reptile Medicine and Husbandry guidelines (Divers & Stahl, 2019).

What if my crested gecko refuses crickets?

Refusal is common — many crested geckos are neophobic about live prey or simply prefer CGD. Try offering crickets in a separate feeding cup so movement is contained, or switch to slower-moving dubia roach nymphs as an alternative protein source. Crickets are beneficial but not mandatory if the gecko eats a complete CGD.

Are there better insects than crickets for crested geckos?

Dubia roaches are often considered superior: higher protein, softer exoskeleton (lower impaction risk), can't escape or bite, and are easier to gut-load. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) offer a naturally balanced calcium ratio. Crickets remain popular due to availability and cost, but rotating feeder types provides broader nutritional coverage.

More Crested Geckos Foods

• Can crested geckos eat grapes?
• Can crested geckos eat strawberries?
• Can crested geckos eat blueberries?
• Can crested geckos eat apples?

Other Reptiles & Crickets

• Can leopard geckos eat crickets?
• Can veiled chameleons eat crickets?

Sources

• Divers & Stahl — Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed. (2019) — nutritional requirements of Correlophus ciliatus
• ReptiFiles Crested Gecko Diet Guide — gut-loading and supplementation protocol