Feeding crested gecko?

Tristrumtune

New member
So I've had my harlequin crested gecko for about 2 weeks now. He's taking in fluids which is good but I found no indication of him eating. No poop, no marks in the food bowl that I don't know about (he likes to put his foot in it and then dab at the little log near it, I really only see it and find no evidence of him doing it without me checking it out.)

I thought maybe he was just not settled in fully yet, but just as a little watch I put in a couple slices of banana. He is finally eating and pooping but I heard that it's not good if I give him only that? So I thought, is it alright to give him bananas with cgd sprinkled on it? I know some people do it with crickets to get their gecko onto cgd (personally where I got Paarthurnax, they had him on a only cricket diet) but I was wondering if doing it with bananas and other fruit they can have would do the same
 

Yoshi'smom

New member
Welcome to GU! Glad to have you and little Paarthurnax aboard!
(Great name by the way! My leopard gecko's name is Numinex) :)
I would definitely allow your little one to continue to settle into his new home. I once had a new arrival refuse food for 4.5 weeks after arrival. It's stressful when they don't eat but they wont starve themselves.
I would continue to only offer fresh CGD until he's eating that steadily before you reintroduce insects into the diet.
A diet that consists of primarily insects is (usually) not a complete diet. They are missing lots of nutrition that way. Pangea and Repashy are specially formulated to be complete diets and will give your gecko all the nutrition that is essential for it to thrive.
Banana is also very high in Phosphorus which can cause issues with calcium absorption. I would only give overripe banana as an occasional treat.
Just keep offering the fresh CGD. Your little one will eat. It may take a bit but in the long run, it's the healthiest option for your little guy. :)
 

Tristrumtune

New member
Thank you! Paarthurnax and his siblings were on a cricket only diet (which I know is not recommended, best to give it to them once or twice a week than all week.) So I assumed he was more picky.

I'll continue adding cgd for him (haven't found repashy yet) but now I'm wondering what would be the best fruits to give him often. I read that papaya and raspberries do best with their calcium and phosphorus levels (low phosphorus high calcium) but I read elsewhere that raspberries and blackberries were considered a part of the citric fruits, which I completely avoid for Lil Paarthurnax.
 

Yoshi'smom

New member
I don't have any experience with fruits added to my geckos diets. They all eat all flavors of Pangea well so I don't want them to refuse something that's nutritionally sound for something that is very high in sugar. I just don't want to throw off the balance of the diet.
 

Aimless

Super Moderator
I sometimes give small amounts of diced or mushed fruit to my geckos. some eat it, some don't. I just don't do it on any kind of regular basis.
 

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Hi ~

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

To check calcium and phosphorus levels (et cetera) of many foods enter the particular food on this United States Department of Agriculture link: Foods List
 
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