Is It Safe to Feed Your Crested Geckos Mango?

Last Updated: January 25, 2023

Taking care of your pet requires feeding them a nutritious diet, which may include fresh fruit. There are a lot of fruits that are good for crested geckos to eat, but some are dangerous. What about mangoes? Can crested geckos eat mango? Are they a good choice or something you should avoid?

Yes, crested geckos can eat fresh mango occasionally. Mangoes are nutritious but can disrupt their calcium levels. They are a main ingredient in many CGDs and can be a safe part of a balanced diet.

You might have other questions. Do I need to do anything special to prepare the mango? Do I need to peel the skin off? Should I mix it with something else?

It is vital to ask questions like these before feeding your pet something new.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know before serving mangoes to your beloved pet!

Do Crested Geckos Eat Mangos in The Wild?

We study what an animal eats in the wild so we can give them a healthy, proper diet in captivity.

Mangoes are native to the same part of the world as New Caledonia, the island home of crested geckos. This fruit is grown in most tropical climates today.

Did you know that there are over 1,000 different types of mangoes? Each variety has a distinct shape, color, and texture.

The varieties we are most familiar with are products of careful cultivation. Years of research and breeding have produced mangoes with the most desirable traits.

While there are many native fruits on these islands, the mangos we are most familiar with are not among them.

But just because a wild crested gecko would never taste the mango we might buy locally doesn’t mean they are not safe.

Let’s look at the good and bad of mangos to learn more.

A harlequin New Caledonian gecko sits atop of red-green mango looking curious- like he is wondering "can crested geckos eat mangos?"

Nutritional Value

Mangoes contain several helpful nutrients that may benefit health.

The nutrients in raw mangos, calculated by a standard serving of 3.5 ounces (or 100 grams), are:

  • Calories: 60
  • Water: 84%
  • Protein: 0.82 g
  • Carbohydrates: 15 g
  • Sugar: 13.7 g
  • Fat: 0.38 g
  • Calcium (Ca): 11 mg
  • Phosphorous (P): 14 mg
  • Iron (Fe): 0.16 mg
  • Magnesium (Mg): 10 mg
  • Potassium (K): 168 mg
  • Sodium (Na): 1 mg
  • Zinc (Zn): 0.09 mg
  • Copper (Cu): 0.111 mg
  • Manganese (Mn): 0.063 mg
  • Vitamin C (total ascorbic acid): 36.4 mg

Mangoes are a good source of Vitamin C and folate. Vitamin C aids the immune system, helps the body absorb iron, and promotes cell growth and repair.

Mangos are low in calories. That makes it a wholesome choice for normal-weight and overweight crested geckos alike.

They are also a good source of antioxidants, which help repair your cells. One of these plant compounds is called mangiferin. All antioxidants are good for you, but this one is even more so.

Many of the other nutrients found in mangos help boost the immune system and may keep hearts healthy.

In moderation, mangoes are a healthy addition to a diet.

A young, light brown crested gecko clings to the side of a much larger red and green mango.

Are Mangos Good or Bad for Crested Geckos?

Unfortunately, there aren’t extensive published studies on the health impact of feeding mango 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 for regulating heart, nerve, and blood functions.

A body gets calcium either from 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 of this essential mineral to function.

Many pet reptiles do not get enough calcium from their diet, which leads to a common condition called Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD).

Another factor for MBD is phosphorous. Phosphorous (P) inhibits calcium absorption. When the body can’t use all of 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.

Mangoes have 11 milligrams of calcium and 14 milligrams of phosphorous. Based on this, mangoes are not healthy for crested geckos.

Calcium-to-Phosphorous Ratio in Mango

Mango has a 0.7:1 Ca:P ratio, which is moderate.

Even better, it has so little of each nutrient that it has less impact than another fruit with the same proportions (like strawberries).

Oxalic Acid Content

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! Mangos are very low in oxalate, with only 1 milligram per half cup.

So, Are They Good or Bad?

Mango is pretty good for cresties.

It has a moderate calcium-to-phosphorous ratio and is low in oxalates. We can consider it slightly better than a treat for cresties. Feeding it to them more than once a month shouldn’t be problematic.

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.

Mango In Crested Gecko Diet

Many commercially prepared crested gecko diet blends use mangos.

Some, like Pangea’s CGD Fig and Insect or Repashy’s Mango Superblend, list dried mango as the first ingredient. Plenty of others include mango in the mixture.

What does that tell us?

First, we can say confidently that crested geckos can safely eat mango.

Second, it may help you guess whether your crested gecko will like fresh mango. Check the ingredient list for your current CGD. Is dried mango on there? If so, the taste may be familiar to your pet.

A little juvenile crested gecko looks over the top of a ripe mango. It has an annoyed expression on its face, like it just woke up from a nap.

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. Whichever spoon is about the same size or a bit smaller than the width is the proper amount of fruit as a serving.

How often can I serve mango?

Fresh mangoes are a treat.

Ideally, your pet should primarily eat powdered gecko food with some live feeder insects and occasional fruit. This mix 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 this tasty treat up to twice per month.

Remember that mango shouldn’t be the only fruit your offer to your pet. Variety is essential to supply all the nutrients your crested gecko needs. Fruit is always a treat!

A lavender crested gecko sits atop a whole mango.

How do I prepare and offer a mango?

Crested geckos don’t use their teeth to bite and chew their food- they use their tongues!

Any solid food provided to a crestie should be offered in 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 after ripening. Overripe fruit is natural for them.

Preparation

A pale adult crested gecko sits on a green, uncut mango. Its head is lowered and looks straight at the camera as if to say "don't mess with me or my treat."

First, wash the mango to remove any pesticides or bacteria. You can use a fruit and vegetable wash to break down the chemicals, wax, and residue covering them. Rub it with the produce cleaner under cold water and then pat it dry.

Cutting a mango can be tricky. Hold the fruit on its side and slice it downward with a serrated knife, slightly off-center. Repeat on the other side.

Next, you’ll want to remove the flesh from the peel. Hold one piece of fruit and score the flesh diagonally. Turn 90 degrees and cut again to make a crisscross pattern. Then, turn it over and push on the skin to get the cut pieces to pop out. Now you can cut the cubes of flesh away from the skin with a knife.

Repeat the process above for the other removed section. Discard the middle, which contains the stone.

Cut the pieces into small slices. Each chunk should be smaller than the space between the crested gecko’s eyes.

The other option is to puree the mango. Pureed fruit is easy to mix with commercial gecko diet powder, which combines the sweetness of the fruit with a better calcium-to-phosphorous ratio.

Can I mix the mango with something else?

Yes! Mangos contain healthy nutrients but aren’t a ‘perfect food’ for crested geckos. Mixing them with something else can offset the problems.

CRG and papaya are solid choices because they are higher in calcium than phosphorous, which helps balance out the downside of mangos.

You can blend mangos 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 Mangos

What is the best month to buy them?

The best time to buy mangos is when they are in season. In the US, the peak season is from May through September.

Imported mangoes are available year-round.

How do I pick a good one?

Choosing a good mango depends on how soon you hope to offer it to your pet. Mangoes continue to ripen after being picked. Keep them at room temperature or place them in a paper bag to speed up the process.

To check for ripeness, focus on the feel of a mango. Mangoes come in many shades, so the color doesn’t always indicate if it is ready to eat. If you squeeze a ripe mango, it will give slightly.

How long do they keep?

Whole, ripe mangoes can be stored in the refrigerator for five days. Once peeled and cubed, refrigerate it in an airtight container for several days.

You can keep cut mango in the freezer for up to six months.

Do All Crested Geckos Like Fresh Mango?

Just like with humans, individual crested geckos have dietary preferences. Not every person likes the taste or texture of mangos, nor does every crestie.

Do you remember 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 a mango to your pet and they didn’t devour every bite the first time, don’t worry. Try offering the fruit mixed with another food they already know to help them adjust to the taste.

A close-up smiling face of a crested gecko sitting on the crest of a green mango.
"Doesn't everyone love mango as much as I do?"

Conclusion

Crested geckos can eat fresh mangoes periodically, up to once a month.

While they have a less-than-ideal calcium-to-phosphorous ratio, their vitamin C and folate content are good.

Many crested geckos like the taste and will be excited about their treat!

Mango is a staple ingredient in many crested gecko meal replacement powders.

Mangoes are a good option as one of the many fresh fruits you feed to your crested gecko as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

A pair of smaller geckos sit together on the top and side of a spotted red mango.
"Good article! What's next?"

What about other fruits? Can Crested Geckos Eat Oranges?