Eyelash geckos, with their charmingly expressive faces framed by distinctive, fringe-like scales above their eyes, have captured the hearts of reptile enthusiasts worldwide. These captivating creatures, native to the lush islands of New Caledonia, boast a gentle temperament and relatively easy care requirements, making them a popular choice for both novice and seasoned reptile keepers. However, ensuring the health and longevity of your eyelash gecko hinges on one crucial element: providing a proper and balanced diet. Neglecting their nutritional needs can lead to a host of health problems, impacting their vitality and even shortening their lifespan.
This comprehensive guide aims to equip you with the knowledge and understanding necessary to provide your eyelash gecko with the optimal diet. We’ll delve into the best food options, discuss the importance of supplementation, explore appropriate feeding schedules, and offer practical tips for addressing common feeding challenges. By understanding the dietary needs of these fascinating reptiles, you can ensure a long, healthy, and vibrant life for your eyelash gecko companion.
Crested Gecko Diet Basics
To understand the ideal captive diet for an eyelash gecko, it’s helpful to consider what they consume in their natural habitat. In the wild, eyelash geckos are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they eat a variety of foods based on availability. Their diet typically consists of ripe fruits, insects, flower nectar, and the occasional small vertebrate. This varied diet provides them with the essential nutrients they need to thrive.
The understanding of their natural diet is crucial to appreciate their omnivorous nature. This emphasizes the need to incorporate both fruity elements and protein sources into their diets. The balance of these components plays a key role in their overall health and well-being.
Best Food Options for Eyelash Geckos
Choosing the right food for your eyelash gecko involves several considerations. The modern, practical approach relies heavily on commercial crested gecko diets to ensure consistent nutrition. This approach, supplemented with occasional treats, gives the best outcome.
Commercial Crested Gecko Diets
Crested Gecko Diet (CGD) represents a significant advancement in reptile keeping. It’s a specially formulated powdered food designed to meet the complete nutritional needs of crested geckos, and, by extension, eyelash geckos, when mixed with water.
The primary benefit of CGD lies in its convenience and balanced nutrition. These diets are formulated by experts to provide the correct ratios of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals essential for healthy growth and development. This eliminates the guesswork and potential imbalances associated with creating your own gecko food. Furthermore, CGD is readily available from most pet stores and online retailers.
Several reputable brands offer high-quality CGD formulas. Popular options include Pangea, Repashy, and Zoo Med. Each brand offers a variety of flavors and formulations, often incorporating real fruits and insects. Some formulas are specifically designed to promote growth in juvenile geckos, while others are optimized for breeding adults. When choosing a CGD, consider factors such as flavor variety to appeal to your gecko’s preferences, protein content for optimal growth, and the inclusion of beneficial ingredients like prebiotics and probiotics.
Preparing CGD is a simple process. Typically, you mix the powdered food with water to create a smooth, yogurt-like consistency. Follow the instructions on the product packaging for the correct ratio. It’s important to mix a fresh batch of CGD every one to two days, as it can spoil quickly. Any uneaten CGD should be removed from the enclosure after twenty-four hours to prevent bacterial growth. Store the dry CGD powder in a cool, dry place to maintain its freshness and nutritional value.
Insects
While CGD provides a solid nutritional foundation, insects play a vital role in enriching your eyelash gecko’s diet. Insects offer a crucial source of animal protein, which is essential for muscle development, tissue repair, and overall health. More than that, offering insects encourages natural hunting behaviors, providing mental stimulation and preventing boredom.
Several insect species are suitable for feeding eyelash geckos. Crickets are a popular and readily available option. They are relatively inexpensive and provide a good source of protein. However, it’s important to gut-load crickets before feeding them to your gecko. Gut-loading involves feeding the crickets a nutritious diet for twenty-four to forty-eight hours before offering them to your gecko, effectively turning the crickets into a nutrient-rich meal.
Dubia roaches are another excellent choice. They are more nutritious than crickets, offering a higher protein content and a softer exoskeleton, making them easier for geckos to digest. Dubia roaches also have a longer lifespan than crickets, reducing the frequency of purchases.
Other insects, such as mealworms and waxworms, can be offered as occasional treats. However, these insects are high in fat and should not be a staple of the diet. Too much fat can lead to obesity and other health problems.
Regardless of the insect you choose, it’s crucial to select appropriately sized insects for your gecko. The insect should be no larger than the space between your gecko’s eyes. This prevents choking and ensures that your gecko can easily consume and digest the insect.
You can purchase insects from most pet stores or online suppliers. Ensure that you are purchasing insects from a reputable source to avoid exposure to pesticides or other harmful substances.
Fruits
Offering fruits as occasional treats can add variety to your eyelash gecko’s diet and provide additional vitamins and minerals. However, it’s essential to choose safe fruits and offer them in moderation.
Safe fruits for eyelash geckos include mashed banana, mango, and papaya. These fruits are soft, easy to digest, and contain essential vitamins and minerals. Pureed baby food made from safe fruits is also an option, but be sure to avoid brands with added sugars or preservatives.
Fruits should only be offered as occasional treats, supplementing the main diet of CGD and insects. Too much fruit can upset the nutritional balance provided by CGD and lead to digestive problems.
Citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons, should be avoided altogether. Citrus fruits are highly acidic and can irritate your gecko’s digestive system.
Supplementation
Even with a varied diet of CGD, insects, and occasional fruits, supplementation may be necessary to ensure your eyelash gecko receives all the essential nutrients it needs.
Calcium
Calcium is particularly important for eyelash geckos, as it plays a crucial role in bone health and prevents Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). MBD is a debilitating condition that can cause bone deformities, muscle weakness, and even death.
Calcium supplements are available in powder form and can be dusted onto insects before feeding them to your gecko. Choose a calcium supplement that contains Vitamin D3, as D3 is essential for calcium absorption. Without sufficient D3, your gecko will be unable to absorb calcium properly, even if it’s consuming a calcium-rich diet.
While some CGDs already contain added calcium and D3, it’s still beneficial to supplement with calcium, especially for growing juveniles and breeding females.
Multivitamins
Multivitamin supplements can also be beneficial, particularly for breeding geckos or geckos that are not eating a varied diet. Multivitamins provide a wide range of essential vitamins and minerals that can help support overall health and immune function.
Feeding Schedule and Amounts
Establishing a consistent feeding schedule is essential for maintaining your eyelash gecko’s health and well-being. The frequency and amount of food you offer will vary depending on your gecko’s age and size.
Baby geckos require more frequent feedings than adults, as they are growing rapidly. Offer them a small amount of CGD every day or every other day, supplemented with small insects dusted with calcium.
Juvenile geckos can be fed every other day with CGD and insects.
Adult geckos can be fed two to three times per week with CGD and insects.
Breeding females have increased nutritional needs and should be fed more frequently to support egg production. Offer them a small amount of CGD and insects every day or every other day.
It’s essential to observe your gecko’s eating habits and adjust the feeding schedule accordingly. If your gecko is consistently leaving food uneaten, reduce the amount you offer. If your gecko is always hungry and eager for more food, you may need to increase the amount you offer.
Water
Providing fresh, clean water is just as important as providing the right food. Eyelash geckos need access to water at all times to stay hydrated.
You can provide water in a shallow dish or by misting the enclosure. Misting also helps to maintain humidity levels, which are essential for eyelash geckos.
Troubleshooting Common Feeding Problems
Even with the best intentions, you may encounter feeding problems with your eyelash gecko.
Some geckos can be picky eaters and may refuse to eat certain foods. Try offering different flavors of CGD or different types of insects to see if you can find something your gecko prefers.
If your gecko refuses to eat insects, try adjusting the feeding schedule or offering smaller insects.
Regurgitation can be a sign of stress, improper temperature, or underlying health problems. If your gecko is regurgitating its food, consult with a veterinarian.
Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is a serious condition that can be caused by calcium deficiency. Symptoms of MBD include bone deformities, muscle weakness, and lethargy. If you suspect your gecko has MBD, seek veterinary care immediately.
Hygiene and Sanitation
Maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation is essential for preventing bacterial growth and disease.
Clean food bowls regularly with soap and water.
Remove uneaten food from the enclosure every day to avoid attracting pests.
Conclusion
Providing your eyelash gecko with the proper food is a fundamental aspect of responsible pet ownership. By offering a balanced diet consisting of high-quality Crested Gecko Diet, nutritious insects, and occasional fruit treats, you can ensure your gecko thrives and enjoys a long, healthy life. Remember the importance of supplementation, particularly with calcium, and closely observe your gecko’s eating habits to adjust feeding accordingly.
Taking the time to understand the dietary needs of your eyelash gecko and implementing these recommendations will not only benefit your pet’s physical health but also strengthen the bond you share. Don’t hesitate to consult with a reptile veterinarian or experienced breeder if you have any questions or concerns about your gecko’s diet. By prioritizing their nutritional well-being, you are setting the stage for a long and fulfilling companionship with these charming and captivating reptiles. It’s a responsibility that brings immense rewards, both for you and your beloved pet.
