We do not recommend collecting ants to feed a pet crested gecko. The sources checked for this revision do not establish an ant species, preparation method or feeding quantity suitable for routine captive feeding. That lack of evidence is not proof that every ant is poisonous; it means the inherited blanket recommendation was unjustified.
Choose established feeders
The RSPCA’s crested-gecko guidance names small Dubia cockroaches, calciworms and crickets as feeder options. It describes keeping feeder insects properly, gut-loading them and using appropriate supplements. An unidentified insect from a garden is not equivalent to a managed feeder.
Remove uneaten live insects rather than leaving them to disturb or bite a resting gecko. Provide fresh drinking water and monitor body weight as part of the wider feeding routine.
Use one coherent diet plan
Do not replace a complete feeding plan with ants, vegetable purée or an arbitrary weekly supplement dose. Diet formulations and supplement needs depend on the foods and lighting used. See our crested gecko care guide, which explains its chosen veterinary feeding approach and differences between published recommendations.
If your gecko has eaten an unidentified insect and becomes unwell, seek advice from a reptile vet. This article cannot identify an insect or diagnose poisoning.
Sources checked
Replacement copy checked on 2026-11-08. This is a source-based editorial review, not independent veterinary review.