The crested gecko is cute little pets that are low in maintenance and are good friends of children. They are amazing pets that love to eat fruits. The crested gecko is very easy to handle and also easy to feed so that is why they are preferred as pets.
The crested gecko enjoys eating their food and that is why they are also too fond of fruits and today we will discuss various fruits that are safe and edible for the crested gecko.
The crested gecko eats a variety of fruits so we should be aware to feed them with what types of fruits as some fruits can be poisonous for them or they are not good for the crested gecko.
Contents
Safe Fruits For Crested Gecko
The safe fruits for crested gecko depend upon the following 2 factors that are given below:
1. Calcium To Phosphorous Ratio
The safe fruits for the crested gecko are the ones that do not have a high level of phosphorous but are rich in calcium. This creates an imbalance in Calcium: Phosphorous ratio which is not good for the crested gecko. So you need a fruit that has a good balance of Calcium to Phosphorous ratio.
The fruits which have a high or moderate Ca:P ratio should be fed to the crested gecko and the fruits that have low Ca:P ratio should also be fed to the crested gecko but in lesser quantities. It should be fed as treats mixed with the ones that have high to moderate Ca:P ratio.
2. Oxalic Acid
The oxalic acid is not good for the crested gecko and it is found naturally inside the fruits. You can even taste it in food when the amount of oxalic acid is too high in food. The oxalic acid is not good for the crested gecko because it inhibits the calcium for the crested gecko and also due to the oxalic acid kidney stone formation also occurs. So it is recommended to avoid fruits that have high oxalic acid content in it.
The oxalic acid will combine itself with the minerals such as calcium and even magnesium and will form oxalates. This causes inhibition of minerals like calcium and we know that calcium is very important for the crested gecko. That is why the fruits which have a high to moderate level of oxalic acid in them should be avoided as it is too harmful to the crested gecko.
So we should be aware that what types of fruits we should feed the crested gecko with so that they live a healthy life and no adverse impact is there on their body because of fruits that they will eat. So be careful while selecting the fruits for your crested gecko as they need to be safe for them.
3. Fruits having high Ca:P ratio
The fruits that have a high ratio of Ca:P are the best for the crested gecko as they have lots of nutritional value and we know Calcium is very important for the growth of the crested gecko. The fruits that have a Ca:P ratio as high as 2:1 are as follows:
- Orange
- Papaya
- Fig
- Raspberries
- Prickly pear
These fruits are the one that is best and the safest for the crested gecko. The fruits that have a high ratio of Ca:P are not many and an only a small amount of fruits consist of such a high ratio of Ca:P. So these fruits should be the most preferred ones in order to feed the crested gecko as these fruits contains a good amount of nutrition for the crested gecko and which would help them to stay healthy.
4. Fruits having moderate Ca:P ratio
You can find lots of fruits falling under this category of the moderate ratio of Ca:P and having the ration between 1.5:1 to 1:2. These fruits are also considered good for the crested gecko as they also have a good amount of nutrition in them which they can provide to the crested gecko. The Ca:P ratio is appropriate for the crested gecko in these fruits and has lots of health benefits for them. They are also a good source of food for the crested gecko. The fruits that come under moderate Ca:P ratio are as follows:-
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Melons
- Pears
- Apples
- Cherries
- Watermelons
There is a large variety of fruits that fall under moderate Ca:P ratio and you can choose any fruit that is loved by the crested gecko and feed them so that they get good nutrition and Ca:P ratio to stay healthy.
4. Fruits with moderate Ca:P ratio
The fruits that have low Ca:P ratio and the ratio starts from 1:2 are not usually preferred for the crested gecko because of low nutritional value that it contains. Also, these fruits are not completely avoided, they are given as treats to the crested gecko and are mixed with other highly nutritive fruits that are healthy for the crested gecko. The fruits having low Ca:P ratio are listed as below:-
- Plums
- Pumpkins
- Bananas
- Peaches
- Starfruits
- Cantaloupes
- Passion fruits
- Pomegranates
These are the fruits that have low Ca:P ratio and you can feed them as a treat to the crested gecko once or twice a week so that there is a change of taste and the crested gecko is not bored from the regular food.
6. Fruits to avoid
You should avoid the fruits that contain high levels of oxalic acid as those fruits are highly toxic for the crested gecko. Also, the fruits have a high level of Vitamin C in them are not good for the crested gecko as high doses of Vitamin C in fruits leads to diarrhoea in the crested gecko. We know oxalic acid is not at all god for the crested gecko because it inhibits calcium, that is very important for the crested gecko and also it can cause kidney stone in the crested gecko. So the fruit that contains high levels of oxalic acid and also Vitamin C in high concentration should be avoided. The fruits that are highly recommended to avoid are as follows:-
- Avocado
- Star fruit
- Rhubarb
- Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, kiwis, pineapple and grapefruits
These fruits should be avoided though star fruit comes in low Ca:P ratio category it has high levels of oxalic acid that is why it is recommended to avoid them. So do choose the fruits carefully for your crested gecko.
Conclusion:
The crested gecko loves fruits and is fond of them, so it is the duty of the owner of the crested gecko to choose the best of the fruits for them. They should go for the fruits that are healthy and are non-toxic for them. They should also understand what is best for their crested gecko and what will make them happy and healthy.
You should know everything about the fruit before feeding it to the crested gecko because your carelessness can be fatal for your crested gecko.
You can enjoy the site of the crested gecko eating their favourite food and also it will help in improving the bonding of the crested gecko with you. The crested gecko is easy to handle and also easy to feed, so you have to take care of them and make them feel happy and comfortable by providing them with the best and the safe fruits which will help them to stay healthy.
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