Is It Safe to Feed Your Crested Gecko Kiwi?
Last Updated: January 25, 2023
Taking good care of your pet requires feeding them a nutritious diet, which may include fresh fruit. There are a lot of good fruits crested geckos can eat, but some are dangerous.
What about kiwi? Can crested geckos eat kiwi? Are they a good choice, or should you avoid them?
Crested geckos should not eat kiwi fruit. Kiwi contains a compound that makes them dangerous for crested geckos. They are not a safe part of their diet.
But what makes kiwi different from other fruits? Keep reading to learn more!
Do Crested Geckos Eat Kiwi in The Wild?
We study what an animal eats in their natural habitat so we can better give them a healthy, proper diet in captivity.
The kiwi fruit is not native to the tropical rainforests of New Caledonia, where crested geckos call home.
However, kiwi fruit is grown in New Zealand, which is relatively close to New Caledonia. Surprisingly, this fuzzy green fruit isn’t native to New Zealand. Its roots go back to China.
Since it is not naturally occurring here, chances are a wild crested gecko has never tasted a kiwi.
That by itself does not make the fruit unsafe for crested geckos.
Nutritional Value
Kiwi fruit is full of nutrients.
The nutrients in green raw kiwifruit, calculated by a standard serving of 3.5 ounces (or 100 grams), are:
- Calories: 61
- Water: 83%
- Protein: 1.14 g
- Carbohydrates: 14.7 g
- Sugar: 8.99 g
- Fat: 0.52 g
- Calcium (Ca): 34 mg
- Phosphorous (P): 34 mg
- Iron (Fe): 0.31 mg
- Magnesium (Mg): 17 mg
- Potassium (K): 312 mg
- Sodium (Na): 3 mg
- Zinc (Zn): 0.14 mg
- Copper (Cu): 0.13 mg
- Vitamin C (total ascorbic acid): 92.7 mg
Kiwi fruits are high in vitamins C, K, and E. They are also rich in potassium and copper.
Kiwis are an excellent source of plant compounds that may benefit heart health and the digestive system. Research is ongoing but shows promise.
In moderation, this tasty fruit is a healthy addition to a human diet.
So Why Are Kiwi Bad for Crested Geckos?
Unfortunately, there aren’t lots of studies on the health impact of feeding kiwi to crested geckos.
So how do we know they are unhealthy for cresties?
To figure it out we look at some specific nutritional information, including calcium, phosphorous, and oxalic acid.
What Is the Calcium-Phosphorous Ratio?
All reptiles, including crested geckos, need calcium (Ca).
Calcium is essential for healthy bones and helps the heart, nerves, and blood function.
A body tries to get calcium from food but will take it from its bones if it doesn’t have enough. Doing this too often will leave the body without enough calcium to function.
Phosphorous (P) stops the body from using calcium, which makes matters worse.
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.
Kiwis have 34 milligrams of calcium and 34 milligrams of phosphorous. Based on this, they are not the best but not the worst for crested geckos.
Calcium-to-Phosphorous Ratio
Kiwi have a 1:1 Ca:P ratio, which is not great but better than most fruits. This isn’t the problem.
Oxalic Acid Content
Oxalic acid is another compound that also interferes with calcium. Unlike above, there is no ideal ratio for oxalic acid. We want to keep the oxalic acid content as low as possible.
Kiwis are very high in oxalates.
What does this mean?
Eating kiwi makes it harder for the body to absorb calcium from food. To get enough, it has to pull it from the bones.
Crested geckos already have a difficult time getting enough calcium. Most foods we feed cresties are low in calcium. Giving them kiwi only makes that worse.
So, Are They Good or Bad?
Kiwi is bad for crested geckos.
What Would Happen If You Fed a Crested Gecko Kiwi?
Kiwi fruits are not toxic. They don’t have a poison that will make you sick right away.
The problem is slower and can create long-term problems.
If a keeper were feeding a crested gecko this fruit often, we wouldn’t expect to see anything right away. Their pet would probably look happy and healthy for a while. They might even love the taste and want more!
Over time, signs of calcium deficiency would develop. Early indicators include low energy level, lack of appetite, and not being to lift themselves. Their bones would weaken, and other symptoms of Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) would develop. MBD can cause death in pet reptiles.
When caught early, treatment for MBD is possible.
Reptiles are very good at hiding signs of illness. Contact your veterinarian right away if you notice changes in behavior.
Why Do Some People Feed Their Crested Geckos Kiwi?
There are several possible answers.
First, kiwis are a sweet, tasty berry. Most other berries are safe. The most common food warnings for pet lizard owners focus on citrus fruits, not berries.
Next, oxalic acid is not a nutritional concern for most healthy people. Many of us have never even heard of it. The bigger problem is that oxalate values can be hard to find and are often different for the same foods. Some tables even show kiwi as having a much lower oxalic acid value.
Another reason is that feeding a crested gecko kiwi shouldn’t cause an immediate problem. Why is this an issue? The delay would make it harder for people to see the connection. And most geckos probably love the sweet, juicy taste. A keeper could feed their pet this fuzzy fruit for months and likely not realize they were doing any harm.
Finally, many of us learn pet care from watching others and reading posts by well-intentioned hobbyists. If you saw someone else who cared deeply for their pet making a choice, it would be easy to make the same choice yourself.
With all this, it makes sense why it happens.
We all want the same thing- for our pets to live long, happy lives.
Given the potential harm that could come from feeding crested gecko kiwi, the risk doesn’t seem worth it. There are many better options out there.
Conclusion
Crested geckos should not eat kiwi fruit.
Kiwis are very high in oxalates. This compound blocks the absorption of calcium. Pet lizards already have trouble getting enough calcium. Eating kiwi makes that worse.
A crested gecko would likely not have an immediate bad reaction to eating kiwi. Over time, the odds of getting MBD would go up.
There are lots of much healthier fruits to offer to your crested gecko instead. Read about blueberries, papaya, and watermelon to get started.
What about other fruits? Can Crested Geckos Eat Mangos?