Juvenile Crested Gecko (Correlophus ciliates) Growth Rate on a Calcium-dusted Dubia Roach and Papaya Diet Versus a Commercial Diet

Crested Geckos (Correlophus ciliatus) are common in the United States pet trade despite limited information on their specific physiology and nutrition. Suboptimal husbandry may be detrimental to animal growth, quality of life, and lifespan. Commercial diets are available; however, many hobbyists prefer feeding calcium-dusted fruit and insect alternatives. There is a general lack of published literature evaluating the effect of either option on gecko development. A food trial was conducted for 5 weeks on juvenile Crested Geckos fed a diet of calcium-dusted Dubia Roaches and fresh papaya (n = 30) or a commercial diet (Pangea Crested Gecko Diet; n = 30). Body length and weight were measured weekly on their fourth feeding day. Animals on both diets grew in length and weight over the 5-week feeding trial (p < 0.05) however the roach/papaya-fed geckos experienced almost twice the weight gain 0.81 g (24.35%) than the commercially fed geckos (0.42 g) and (13.07 %; p = 0.002). No differences in behavior of activity were noted between either diet. These results suggest that a calcium-dusted Dubia Roach and papaya diet may be more advantageous than a commercial diet during Crested Gecko juvenile development.