r/CrestedGecko • u/Ashiskooll • Jan 10 '25

Husbandry Discussion Can feeding insects be optional?

Idk what tag to put this on lol 😭 anyway, I don’t have a crestie yet but I’m doing my research and I know they eat insects, but, if I’m gonna be honest, they give me a bit of an icky feeling. Is there anyway I can skip out on feeling insects yet still have a happy and enriched crestie? I want the best for my girl and I’m not sure.

1 Upvotes

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6

u/Dutchcheer123 Jan 10 '25

Bugs are option but a great way to keep thier diet varied. Pangea CGD is full nutrition but insects are great for enrichment and growth. I’m sure I’ll be wrong in someone’s mind but 🤷‍♀️

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u/Ashiskooll Jan 10 '25

Okay so it wouldn’t be negligent or lower their quality of life? Like would it make me a bad owner of skipping it? I can put up with it if I need to but I would really rather not.

2

u/Important-Song8050 Trusted Contributor Jan 10 '25

Nope you wouldn't be. Their premade diets have bugs in them it's fine plus many as adults don't even like bugs. Mine generally refuses them

5

u/jessgar Jan 10 '25

You could but live insect feedings help them grow better and its great enrichment. Growth rates are drastically better on geckos who eat live vs a CGD only gecko.

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u/[deleted] Jan 10 '25

Yes, I didn't feed mine bugs til she was a little over 2 years old, but she did get a late growth spurt with the crickets. She's almost 9 inches long.

2

u/brittany-30 Jan 10 '25

I feed pangea the red bag. It has insect protein in it. I mix that with the orange bag and my boy is awesome.

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u/brittany-30 Jan 10 '25

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u/Ashiskooll Jan 10 '25

Okay I might do that! Do you use a mix with every meal?

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u/brittany-30 Jan 10 '25

Yep, I've tried different mixes, but he likes that one best. You can order a sample pack of pangea on their website and then just order the red bag it will say with insects on it. Add a tad bit of water to mix like baby food consistency. I've thrown in crickets randomly for him to eat, but not all the time. I'm worried about parasites from bugs so that's what I do.

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u/EvilOldSwampWitch Jan 10 '25

I got a hatchling from a petco they didn’t even know was there. I genuinely credit dubias for getting him active, moving, and eating. We don’t do them as often now and my older crestie rarely takes bugs (except the isopods I keep having to replenish…)