Complete Guide to Black Panther Zoological Crested Gecko Food

By: Jason

Last Updated: March 9, 2023

Black Panther Zoological, or BPZ, started making its crested gecko food in 2012, but there is a good chance you haven’t heard of them. Despite several healthy versions of complete crested gecko food on the market, BPZ found room to innovate. What makes the BPZ crested gecko diet unique?

Black Panther Zoological gecko diet uses insects, not vegetables, as its protein source and has the highest percentage of protein of the top brands. It is reasonably priced but more challenging to locate.  

Are you interested in learning more? Let’s look!

Ingredients

BPZ shines with what it includes in its complete gecko diet.

According to their website, BPZ was the “first complete diet to use insect protein as the main source of protein instead of whey, soy, or pea.” We love when companies offer something new and better instead of doing what everyone else does. 

But why this? We know wild crested geckos get their protein from insects. By matching the source, we can be confident that their bodies can digest it. We always want to recreate as much of the natural experience as possible, and this is one more way to do that.

 

A crested gecko lips its eye, mouth open, excited to try his new black panther zoological formula.
"That's a lot of insects in my CGD!"

It’s not just the insects. The rest of their formula has high-quality, natural ingredients. Their fruits are wild-harvested and pesticide-free. They get their hibiscus, beets, and carrots from all-natural sellers. The vitamins are for reptiles and amphibians. Nearly everything on the list comes from the healthiest “whole food” option.

Almost every ingredient plays more than one role. The honey adds flavor and has antimicrobial agents. The beets give the food color and vitamins. Even the thickening agent of choice, brown rice flour, provides minerals. 

BPZ uses calcium citrate instead of calcium carbonate as it has a better absorption rate and is easier to digest. Again, they are the only one of our top four brands to make this choice. 

All our top sellers of crested gecko diet use stellar ingredients, but BPZ stands out in this crowd.

Guaranteed Analysis

BPZ has more of a range of nutrients across its products than most other top-tier brands.

Their original formula has the most protein and fat of any gecko diet in our recommended categories. Crested geckos eating this mix will likely grow larger and faster than their peers.

As mentioned above, the protein comes from insects in all three mixes – no whey, milk, egg, or pea. BPZ is the only brand on our short list doing this.

BPZ reports the calcium min is 1.0% and the phosphorous min is 0.4%, so we know the Ca-to-P ratio is 2.5:1. We can’t compare this to the other top brands because they don’t publish their amounts.

The fat content is much higher than everyone else- between 11.6% and 14.6%. The next highest crude fat min is 6%. While the sources are healthy, I would want to know if anyone using this mix has had their pets become overweight.

Overall, BPZ Original Gecko Diet goes beyond the other leading brands.

Sizes & Price

A close-up of a grumpy-looking an eyelash gecko waiting for his BPZ crested gecko diet.
"I'll take one of each, please!"

Each formula of this gecko diet comes in five sizes – 1.8 oz (50 g), 3.5 oz (100 g), 8.8 oz (250 g), 1.1 lb (500 g), and 2.2 lb (1 kg).  

BPZ Original

  • 1.8 oz (50 g) – $8.00 – $4.44/oz
  • 3.5 oz (100 g) – $12.00 – $3.42/oz
  • 8.8 oz (250 g) – $22.00 – $2.50/oz
  • 1.1 lb (500 g) – $38.00 – $2.16/oz
  • 2.2 lbs (1 kg) – $65.00 – $1.85/oz

BPZ Colorbomb

  • 1.8 oz (50 g) – $5.50 – $3.05/oz
  • 3.5 oz (100 g) – $11.00 – $3.14/oz
  • 8.8 oz (250 g) – $15.50 – $1.76/oz
  • 1.1 lb (500 g) – $31.00 – $1.76/oz
  • 2.2 lbs (1 kg) – $53.00 – $1.50/oz

BPZ Melonistic

  • 1.8 oz (50 g) – $6.50 – $3.61/oz
  • 3.5 oz (100 g) – $11.50 – $3.83/oz
  • 8.8 oz (250 g) – $18.00 – $2.05/oz
  • 1.1 lb (500 g) – $31.00 – $1.76/oz
  • 2.2 lbs (1 kg) – $61.00 – $1.73/oz

BPZ’s prices are a bit all over the place. Some larger bags save a lot of money (per oz), while others cost the same (per oz). The 3.5 oz Colorbomb and Melonistic lines cost more per oz than the 1.8 oz bags!

When buying BPZ, pay close attention to the chart above to buy the size that works for you. 

Palatability

We haven’t had a chance to feed our crested geckos BPZ yet. A few of our younger cresties don’t eat live insects and shun blends with stronger insect smells. Predictably, they are growing more slowly. I’m hoping they like the taste of the Original or Colorbomb flavors.

There are some but not lots of online reviews. Most are very positive. Some note how their pets clean up every bite, which is a good sign. One breeder we found mixes BPZ Colorbomb with Pangea’s Papaya flavor, and her cresties love it!

Feeding Instructions

Add one part diet formula with two parts water and stir. Add more water or powder as needed to get the desired consistency.

When ready, add the mix to a small bowl and place it inside the habitat.

Additional Info

How long does the food last?

BPZ Gecko Diet last six months after opened when stored in the fridge.

Where can I buy it?

BPZ’s products are sold by only a few retailers online and in select stores with a storefront.

A smiling crested gecko looks up at the camera, listening intently to learn about the ingredients in BPZ Colorbomb formula.

Conclusion

A crestie sticks his tongue out a little, eyes wide open.
"I can't wait to try this!"

Many gecko keepers are excited to discover BPZ. They provide a thoughtful product that commits to ingredients that most closely mirror the wild gecko diet.

BPZ’s prices are inconsistent and require buyers to pay close attention to get good deals. BPZ is less expensive (per ounce) than Pangea in every size bag.

Compared to all three other top brands, BPZ is not easy to purchase.

We hope your pet lizard family considers giving their complete gecko diet a try!

How does BPZ compare to other gecko diets? Learn All About Pangea Crested Gecko Food