Best Fruit Flavors for Crested Geckos (with Examples from Popular Diets)
Crested geckos are fruit-eating insectivores (or insect-eating frugivores depending on who you ask!); enjoying overripe fruits, nectar, and the occasional insect in the wild. In captivity, commercially available powdered diets make it easy to give your crestie balanced nutrition.
Below are the flavors that crested geckos seem to gravitate to!
🥭 Mango
Why geckos like it: Mango is sweet, aromatic, and naturally soft, which makes it very appealing to most cresties.
Nutrition note: Rich in beta-carotene, which supports skin and eye health.
Example blend: Mango appears in several diets, such as Blue River's “Mango Madness,”.
🍌 Banana
Why geckos like it: A smooth, creamy flavor that’s easy to accept. Banana is used in many diets since it acts as a thickener so your crestie's food turns out more like a smoothie and less like pressed juice!
Nutrition note: Provides potassium and natural sugars for quick energy.
Example blend: Banana on its own isn't a show stealing flavor, so it's often paired with other more boldly flavored tropical fruits like fig, papaya, mango, and apricot.
🍓 Strawberry
Why geckos like it: Bright, juicy, and fragrant, strawberry is one of the easier flavors to introduce to a picky crestie.
Nutrition note: High in vitamin C and antioxidants.
Example blend: Surprisingly not a very common flavor in crested gecko diets! Can be found in Blue River Diets' "Strawberry Swirl"
🍑 Peach
Why geckos like it: Sweet and fragrant! Who doesn't love the taste of a ripe peach!
Nutrition note: Great source of fiber, plus vitamins A and C!
Example blend: Juicy peach can be found in Blue River Diets' "Peach Paradise" blend!
🍍 Papaya
Why geckos like it: Mellow and smooth, papaya is one of the most common fruit bases in gecko diets.
Nutrition note: Contains natural enzymes that support healthy digestion.
Example blend: Used in tropical mixes that balance sweetness with good calcium ratios.
Offering Variety for Better Feeding Response
Crested geckos can get bored with the same flavor over and over, on the flip side, some geckos become so used to one flavor that they will refuse other flavors! Rotating between two or three blends each week keeps them interested, encourages natural foraging behavior, and ensures your gecko is getting well rounded nutrition!
Don't rely on just one flavor, brand, or formula to give your gecko everything they need! Switch it up often and offer gut loaded calcium-dusted live insects 1-2x per week for the best variety!
Conclusion:
The best fruit flavors for crested geckos are those that balance palatability with complete nutrition. Diets like Blue River Diets offer these flavors in combinations designed to mimic what geckos would encounter in nature—while ensuring the right balance of vitamins, minerals, and protein. Whatever flavor your gecko loves best, offering variety is the key to keeping them healthy and happy!
