Is It Safe to Feed Your Crested Geckos Apple?
Last Updated: January 25, 2023
Being a good Pet Lizard Parent includes feeding your pet a nutritious diet, including fresh fruit. There are a lot of fruits crested geckos can eat, but some are dangerous. What about apples? Can crested geckos eat apples? Are they a good choice, or should you avoid them?
Yes, crested geckos can eat apples occasionally. Apples are healthy but can disrupt their calcium levels. They can be a safe part of a balanced diet.
You probably have other questions. How much is too much? Do I need to peel the skin off? Should I mix it with something else?
These are vital questions to ask before feeding your pet something new.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know before serving apples to your pet lizard!
Do Crested Geckos Eat Apples in The Wild?
Many people want to know what an animal eats in their natural habitat so they can copy it.
The first apple trees came from Asia, where they grew for thousands of years before colonists brought them to North America.
Early people loved them for more than just the taste. Apples picked in late autumn could be stored in cellars during the winter. In that way, they were one of the few ways to get vital nutrients in the cold months before spring.
But apples are more than just food. Many cultures and religions reference apples in central stories. Apples symbolize health, knowledge, temptation, and immortality.
Today, there are over 7,000 different varieties of apples. Cooked, dried, baked, and stewed, apples are a versatile food. Humans love them.
But what about cresties?
Crested geckos live on the Isle of Pines and Grand Terre, the principal island of New Caledonia. These tropical isles are in the southwest Pacific Ocean. While there are many native fruits on these islands, the apples we eat are not among them.
Even though it is unlikely that a wild crested gecko has ever tasted our apples, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are not safe for it to eat.
Let’s look at the good and bad of apples to learn more.
Nutritional Value
Apples have many helpful nutrients that may benefit health.
The nutrients in raw apples with their skin, calculated by a standard serving of 3.5 ounces (or 100 grams), are:
- Calories: 52
- Water: 86%
- Protein: 0.26 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.8 g
- Sugar: 10.4 g
- Fat: 0.17 g
- Calcium (Ca): 6 mg
- Phosphorous (P): 11 mg
- Iron (Fe): 0.12 mg
- Magnesium (Mg): 5 mg
- Potassium (K): 107 mg
- Sodium (Na): 1 mg
- Zinc (Zn): 0.04 mg
- Copper (Cu): 0.027 mg
- Manganese (Mn): 0.035 mg
- Vitamin C (total ascorbic acid): 4.6 mg
Apples are a good source of fiber and vitamin C. They are also known for their polyphenols, a chemical with many health benefits.
Apples are high in fiber and water, which is why you feel full after eating them. Foods that fill you up often help with weight loss because you are hungry less often.
Research into the health benefits of eating apples shows many promising signs. Apples may reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
In moderation, apples are a healthy addition to a diet.
Are Apples Good or Bad for Crested Geckos?
Unfortunately, there aren’t lots of studies on the health impact of feeding apples to crested geckos.
So how do we answer the question? First, we need to look at the amount of calcium and phosphorous in the fruit.
What Is the Calcium-Phosphorous Ratio?
All reptiles, including crested geckos, need calcium (Ca).
Calcium is critical for healthy bones and helps the heart, nerves, and blood function.
A body gets calcium either from its food or by removing it from its bones. In this way, bones serve as a “savings account.” Frequent withdrawals will leave the body without enough calcium to function.
Many pet reptiles do not get enough calcium from their diet, which can cause Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD).
Another factor for MBD is phosphorous. Phosphorous (P) stops the body from absorbing calcium. When the body can’t get all the calcium in the food, it only has one other source.
Unfortunately, both Ca and P are present in many fruits and vegetables. Getting the right amounts of each isn’t easy.
The ideal calcium-to-phosphorous ratio for reptiles is 2:1. This means there should be twice as much Ca as P in every bite.
Apples have 6 milligrams of calcium and 11 milligrams of phosphorous.
Based on this, apples are not healthy for crested geckos. They might be harmful in large quantities.
Usually, this would be the end of the story with the Ca-to-P ratio. In the case of an apple, we need to look more closely.
Notice the total amounts of each nutrient are low. If a crestie only eats a little, it won’t have much of an impact.
Calcium-to-Phosphorous Ratio in Apple
Apple has a 0.5:1 Ca:P ratio, which is poor. It helps that the amount of each is low.
Oxalic Acid in Apples
Oxalic acid is another compound that also interferes with calcium. Unfortunately, there is no ideal ratio for oxalic acid. We want to keep the oxalic acid content as low as possible.
Good news! Apples are very low in oxalate, with only 1 milligram per piece of fruit.
So, Are They Good or Bad?
Apples are fine for cresties as an every-once-in-a-while treat.
While they have a poor Ca-to-P ratio, they have other nutrients and are low in oxalates. We can consider apples a monthly treat.
For many keepers, it is helpful to compare this to ‘desserts’ for humans. If desserts made up a large portion of what you ate instead of a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins, it would make you ill. An every-once-in-a-while treat isn’t a problem.
Feeding Instructions
What Is the right portion size?
The amount of food to give to a crested gecko is relative to the size of the lizard.
Compare a 1/8 teaspoon, 1/4 teaspoon, and a 1/2 teaspoon to the space between the crested geckos’ eyes. Notice which teaspoon is the same size or a bit smaller. That teaspoon is one serving of fruit for that animal.
How often can I serve apples?
Apples are a treat.
Ideally, your pet should primarily eat powdered gecko food with some live feeder insects and occasional fruit. This mixture will provide them with the vitamins and minerals they need. It also won’t disrupt their calcium levels.
Following this approach, you can feed your crested gecko apples once a month.
Remember that apples shouldn’t be the only fresh fruit you feed your pet. Variety is essential to supply all the nutrients your crested gecko needs. Fruits are always a treat!
How do I prepare and offer an apple?
Crested geckos don’t use their teeth to bite and chew their food. Their tongues do most of the work!
Any solid food provided to a crestie should be small enough pieces to be easily swallowed and digested.
Softer, overripe – even slightly spoiled – is ok. In the wild, crested geckos eat fruit that has fallen to the ground once it ripened. Even if it isn’t our preference, this is natural for them.
Apples can be crunchy and firm, which is difficult for animals that don’t have strong jaws. Also, their skins can be tough to chew. More than some other fruit, properly preparing apples makes a difference.
Preparation
First, wash the apple to remove any pesticides or bacteria. You can use a fruit and vegetable wash to break down the chemicals, wax, and residue covering it. Rub it with the produce cleaner under cold water and then pat it dry.
Peel the apple, cut it in half, and then cut each section in half again. Use a paring knife to remove the hard core from each piece. Check the usable part for seeds and remove them.
After that, the best way to prepare an apple is to cook it. Add the apple pieces and a little water to a medium-sized pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. You don’t need to cook. Test it with a fork and remove it from the heat once it is tender. Let it cool before serving. If you want it to be smoother, use a potato masher or hand-held blender.
The other option is to grate the apple. The pulp will be soft and mushy, which is easy enough for a crestie to eat.
Should you serve apples with or without the skin?
Remove the peel from an apple before serving it to a crested gecko.
Peeling the apple is necessary for a couple of reasons. First, the outer layer can be hard to swallow. We don’t want to create a choking hazard for your crestie. Second, the peels absorb the chemical sprays that keep insects and fungi from ruining the apple. Those same chemicals can be dangerous to pet lizards.
Can I mix the apple with something else?
Yes! Apples are healthy but aren’t a ‘perfect food’ for crested geckos. Mixing them with something else can offset the problems. Both preparation methods – cooking and grating – make mixing apples easy.
CRG and papaya are solid choices because they are higher in calcium than phosphorous, which helps balance out the downside of apples.
You can blend apples with insects, like crickets or dubia roaches, or another fruit, like strawberries, but these mixtures will continue to have high phosphorous content. Only do this once a month and not multiple months in a row.
Buying and Storing Apples
What type of apples should I buy?
While there is a wide range of tastes, there are few nutritional differences among apple varieties.
Flavors range from sweet to tart, from intense to mellow. Crested geckos are more likely to want something sweet than tart.
If you have a personal favorite apple, start there. Since your crestie’s portion will be small, it helps for the two of you to share!
What is the best month to buy them?
The best time to buy apples is when they are in season. In the US, that is in late July until early November, depending on the variety.
In-season apples travel shorter distances than their off-season equivalents, so they are fresher when they get to you. As with all produce, the less time between harvest and purchase, the better the taste.
While many stores will carry apples year-round, they cost more and don’t taste as good in the off-season.
How do I pick a good one?
Ripe apples have smooth skin and are firm to the touch. If they are soft or squishy, avoid them.
Look for apples that don’t have any nicks or bruises. Flaws like this speed up how quickly the fruit will spoil.
Color, size, and shape are not good indicators for all apples. Each type of apple has distinct characteristics. Knowing what colors to look for in each will help you tell the difference between good apples and bad apples.
How long do they keep?
Apples last for about a week on the counter or three weeks in a pantry. Keeping an apple cool can dramatically extend its lifespan.
Growers use special freezers to control the oxygen level and preserve fresh fruit for much longer. For the rest of us, apples last 4-6 weeks (uncut) in the refrigerator.
Should I buy organic or conventionally grown apples?
Conventionally-grown apples are the fifth most pesticide-contaminated fruit or vegetable in the US. Based on an analysis by the Environmental Working Group of USDA data, more than 90% of apples tested positive for residue of two or more pesticides.
Lizards are sensitive to chemicals and pesticides. Eating contaminated fruits can make them sick.
Offering organic apples to your crested gecko reduces its exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, which is a safe choice.
Do All Crested Geckos Like Apple?
Just like with humans, each crested gecko has preferences. Not every person likes the taste of apples, nor does every crestie.
Can you think back to a time you tried a new food? Maybe you took only a little taste and then stopped and tried again later. Just like humans, crested geckos need to warm up to new things.
If you’ve offered apples to your pet and they didn’t devour every bite the first time, don’t worry. Try offering them a few times, maybe blended with other fruits your pet regularly eats to help them adjust to the taste.
Conclusion
Crested geckos can eat apples periodically, up to once a month.
While they have a less-than-ideal Ca-to-P ratio, they have a lot of fiber and antioxidants.
Many crested geckos like the sweet taste and will be thrilled for their treat!
If they are something your crested gecko enjoys, apples can be part of a diet that helps them live a long, healthy life.
What about other fruits? Can Crested Geckos Eat Bananas?