23/06/2026
🦎 “I want a crested gecko because they don’t eat bugs.”
This is probably one of the biggest myths we hear about crested geckos.
The truth is that crested geckos do eat insects, and they should be offered them as part of a varied diet.
We understand where the confusion comes from. Unlike many reptiles, crested geckos can eat a commercially prepared complete diet, which is fantastic for keepers. Unfortunately, over time this has been simplified into “crested geckos don’t eat bugs” or “crested geckos don’t need insects”, which isn’t the same thing at all.
In the wild, crested geckos naturally eat a mixture of fruit, nectar and invertebrates. While modern powdered diets are excellent, “complete diet” does not, and should not mean “only diet.”
In this video, you can see one of our crested geckos happily taking live food. Not bad for an animal that supposedly doesn’t eat bugs! 😅
Live insects aren’t just food. They encourage activity, exercise and natural hunting behaviours that simply can’t be replicated by licking food from a bowl. We believe good reptile keeping should provide opportunities for animals to behave as naturally as possible.
Does every crested gecko love insects? No. Some are fussier than others, and some may refuse certain feeders. That doesn’t mean insects should never be offered. Different insects, sizes and feeding methods can all make a difference.
We try to look beyond what an animal can survive on and focus on what helps it thrive. Our priority is always finding homes that can meet all of an animal’s needs, not just the convenient ones. For that reason, if somebody is unwilling to provide live insects at all, we let them know that a crested gecko may not be the right pet for them.
Keeping reptiles isn’t about doing the bare minimum. It’s about giving them the opportunity to thrive. 🦎
