Do crested geckos need insects?

No — a complete crested gecko diet (CGD) powder covers their nutrition. But live insects once or twice a week add protein, enrichment, and the mental stimulation of hunting.

What insects can crested geckos eat?

Small silkworms, BSFL, small discoid roach nymphs, and small hornworms are the best options. Avoid mealworms, superworms, and waxworms — too tough, too big, or too fatty.

Why won't my crested gecko eat bugs?

Some cresties raised on CGD simply ignore insects, and that's fine. Try tong-feeding a single soft feeder at night when they're active; if there's no interest, don't force it.

How often should I feed insects to a crested gecko?

Once or twice a week is plenty. CGD is the foundation; insects are the supplement.

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Best Feeder Insects for Crested Geckos, Ranked

By Matt Goren · Updated June 26, 2026

I've kept crested geckos alongside my leopard geckos for a long time, and the biggest mental shift between them is this: a crestie doesn't need bugs the way a leo does. A good crested gecko diet (CGD) — the powdered food you mix with water — is nutritionally complete on its own. So why feed insects at all? Enrichment. Watching a crestie stalk and snap a live feeder is good for the animal and, honestly, good for me. Here's how I rank the options for these small, soft-jawed, arboreal geckos.

#1: Small silkworms

~1% fat · zero chitin · ~83% moisture

Silkworms are the ideal crestie insect, full stop. Their ultra-low fat won't pile calories onto an already calorie-dense CGD diet. Their completely soft body suits a crested gecko's relatively weak jaws — there's no hard shell to wrestle. And their slow, deliberate wriggle is easy for a small arboreal gecko to track and grab. I offer two to three small silkworms in a ledge dish once or twice a week, dusted with calcium plus D3. If you only ever buy one feeder for a crestie, make it small silkworms.

#2: Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL)

~9,340 mg/kg calcium · no dusting needed

BSFL bring concentrated natural calcium on top of whatever's in your CGD. They're sedentary, which actually helps in a ledge dish — they pile up and wriggle in one spot, and the concentrated movement catches a crestie's eye. Three to five per feeding, once a week, in a mounted dish at climbing height.

#3: Small discoid roach nymphs

~20% protein · ~7% fat

The smallest discoid nymphs add protein for cresties that take them. Not every crested gecko will eat roaches — many are strict CGD eaters — so test interest with a single tong-fed nymph before committing. Discoids don't climb smooth walls, so a stray one won't scale your enclosure glass.

#4: Small hornworms

~85% moisture

An occasional hydration treat. Use only the smallest hornworms you can get — crested geckos have small mouths, and a hornworm that's grown out is far too big. One small worm, once a week at most.

Insects I skip for crested geckos

Mealworms — tough chitin and a poor mineral ratio; hard for weak crestie jaws.
Superworms — too large, too tough, and they bite.
Crickets — they escape into the foliage of an arboreal setup, chirp all night, and nip a sleeping gecko. Roaches do the same job without the chaos.
Waxworms — ~25% fat is pointless on top of calorie-dense CGD.

The principles that keep it simple

CGD is the foundation. Insects supplement; they never replace.
Once or twice a week is enough live food.
Small sizes only. A crestie's mouth is smaller than a leopard gecko's — when in doubt, go smaller.
Ledge-dish feeding works best. Mount a shallow dish at climbing height so your arboreal gecko can hunt where it's comfortable, and so feeders can't vanish into the substrate.

The mistake I see new crestie keepers make is treating insects like a leopard gecko's diet — daily, varied, the main event. For a crested gecko that's backwards. Keep the CGD consistent, drop in a few soft feeders for fun and a protein boost, and you've got a thriving, well-rounded animal.

Compare notes with my leopard gecko diet guide and the broader how to choose the right feeder insect.

Sources: Finke, M.D. (2013). "Complete nutrient content of four species of feeder insects." Zoo Biology 32:27-36. doi:10.1002/zoo.21012 · MSD Veterinary Manual — Nutrition in Reptiles

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