Feeding schedule
By life stage
A complete CGD (Crested Gecko Diet) mixed fresh forms the backbone of feeding at every age — frequency and portion size scale with age, while live insects stay optional enrichment throughout.
| Life stage | Frequency | Amount | Feeder sizing | Calcium | Multivitamin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hatchling 0 – 3 months | Fresh CGD offered every night | A dime-sized amount, replaced nightly whether eaten or not | N/A — CGD paste; any live insects offered must be pinhead/small size | Included in CGD formula | Included in CGD formula |
Juvenile 3 – 12 months | Fresh CGD every other night; live insects 1–2x weekly if offered | A dime-to-nickel-sized amount of CGD | Insects no wider than the space between the eyes | Included in CGD; dust any live insects offered | Included in CGD formula |
Sub-adult 12 – 18 months | Fresh CGD 3–4 nights per week; live insects 1x weekly if offered | A nickel-sized amount of CGD | Insects no wider than the space between the eyes | Included in CGD; dust any live insects offered | Included in CGD formula |
Adult 18+ months | Fresh CGD 3x per week; live insects optional, 1x weekly or less | A quarter-sized amount of CGD, adjusted to appetite and weight | Insects no wider than the space between the eyes | Included in CGD; dust any live insects offered | Included in CGD formula |
Body condition check: A healthy crested gecko has a full, rounded body and tail base without looking overly padded. A visibly pinched tail base or protruding hip bones suggest underweight; an excessively rounded, bulging body suggests overfeeding — most often from too much fatty optional insect feeding rather than CGD itself, which is portion-controlled by design.
Removal timing: Fresh CGD should be removed and replaced within 24 hours whether eaten or not, to prevent mould in a humid enclosure. If offering optional live insects, remove anything uneaten within 15 minutes — loose crickets left overnight will bite a sleeping gecko.
Water: Fresh water must be available at all times in a shallow dish. Shallow enough that your gecko cannot drown — no deeper than their belly. Change it whenever it is soiled, which may be daily.
Bathing: Crested geckos do not need regular baths and should not be bathed as a routine — it stresses them. The exception is retained shed: a 10–15 minute warm shallow soak helps loosen stuck skin. Never use soap, and never leave a gecko unattended in water. For a fuller guide on shedding and retained shed, see the shedding page →