Can you feed a hornworm to your crested gecko? The answer is yes, but with some caveats.
Crested geckos eat insects as their primary source of protein and nutrition. A hornworm is the larval stage of a hawkmoth.
While it’s safe for your gecko to eat a hornworm, there are some considerations you should take before doing so.
Can Crested Geckos Eat Hornworms?
Yes, crested geckos can eat hornworms. These worms are commonly fed to geckos because of their high protein and fat content making them fantastic meals.
Nutritional Value of Hornworms
| Nutrient | Percentage |
| Moisture | 85 |
| Protein | 9 |
| Fat | 3 |
| Calcium | 4.6/100g |
| Phosphorous | 14/100 |
Are Hornworms Good Food For Crested Geckos?
Yes, hornworms are good for crested geckos. Rich in proteins, calcium, and fat. Hornworms are a great staple food for your crested gecko when it comes to insects.
They’re available at pet stores as feeder insects. You can feed your gecko as many hornworms as it can eat without any ill effects.
Are Hornworms Safe To Eat For Crested Geckos?
Captivity bred hornworms are safe to eat by crested geckos. Wild hornworms might contain toxins that could be harmful to your pet. Because hornworms mostly eat plants that contain toxic alkaloids.
The toxins can be ingested by your crested gecko causing harm. Only feed captivity bred hornworms not wild hornworms to avoid this problem.
How Many Hornworms Can You Feed To Your Crested Gecko?
2-3 hornworms per serving are recommended for juvenile and adult crested geckos.
Baby crested geckos should be fed 1 hornworm per serving. If you want to know how many hornworms to feed your gecko. You can start with 1 hornworm and slowly increase it up until your crested gecko isn’t able to eat all.
How Big Should Hornworms Be To Be Fed To Crested Geckos?
Adult hornworms can be as long as 4 inches. They are much larger than your baby crested gecko’s mouth. These can be fed to juvenile or adult crested geckos.
There is also the option of cutting hornworms into smaller pieces. Doing so allows you to feed them to baby crested geckos
How Many Times Can You Feed Hornworms To Your Crested Gecko?
Ideally, you should feed your crested gecko hornworms no more than 4 times per week.
Crested geckos are insectivores that need protein from their diet, but they can’t live on insects alone.
They also need calcium, vitamins, and other minerals and nutrients.
Bugs don’t contain these nutrients, so you need to feed your gecko a balanced diet of insects and other foods.
Insects are high in protein, low in fat and carbohydrates, and contain all the necessary amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Crested geckos also need a source of fibre in their diet, such as lettuce, to help them digest all the nutrients from their food.
Can Feed Hornworms To Hatchlings And Juvenile Crested Geckos?
Hatchlings can eat the same insects as adults, but they should be fed smaller insects.
Hornworms are too big for gecko hatchlings and should be fed to adult and juvenile crested geckos only.
You should wait until your hatchling crested gecko is big enough to eat hornworms.
You can feed your crested gecko a variety of insects when it’s a hatchling, but hornworms should be fed to adults only.
Here’s How To Feed Hornworms To Your Crested Gecko
Hornworms can be served to your gecko by using tweezers or placing them in its feeding bowl.
Dusting or covering the hornworms with powdered supplements is a great way to boost the nutritional value.
Summary
Hornworms are the larval stage of hawkmoths, and they are high in fat and protein.
Wild hornworms shouldn’t be fed to your crestie but rather captivity-bred hornworms.
Aim to feed your crestie a few times a week for it to grow healthy and strong.
