Leopard geckos are native to dry deserts and mountainous grasslands, typically preferring areas without plant matter to consume it if given. If offered food they usually turn it down.
These ectotherms are strict insectivores, feeding on crickets, worms, waxworms and mealworms for their diet. Before feeding their insects to them, be sure to gut-load first in order to enhance nutritional value.
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Feeding Schedule
Leopard geckos’ diet typically consists of invertebrates, vertebrates and occasional plants. When in the wild, leopard geckos are opportunistic hunters that pursue and catch prey as it appears; with sharp eyesight and superior senses of smell they often use their tails to spook prey into moving before striking for maximum success – with any live prey eaten within 24 hours; dead prey being left alone until digested later by gecko bodies.
Expert Tip: Avoid feeding your reptile wild-caught insects as these could contain toxic pesticides and parasites that could pose a health risk, instead invest in or breed feeder insects that provide a high nutritional density as staple foods for them to enjoy.
Always gut-load feeder insects for at least 12 hours prior to feeding them to your pet and consider dusting them with multivitamin and calcium supplements directly before being fed (this way they won’t have time to remove the powder through grooming). This is an effective way of increasing vitamin and mineral intake without reducing food volume.
Substrate
Leopard geckos require a special substrate that replicates their natural habitat and offers access to both hot and cool areas so it can thermoregulate by taking advantage of both.
Leopard geckos in the wild feed on insects and invertebrates, but can also eat other lizards, snakes or newborn rodents if hungry enough.
Leopard geckos are insectivorous, meaning that live insects should serve as their main food source. Feeding freeze-dried treats like crickets or mealworms could result in nutritional deficits; therefore these treats should only be fed occasionally to maintain optimal health.
Feed your leopard gecko live insects dusted lightly with calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 supplements, then gut-loaded so as to pass along all their vital nutrients to him/her. Do not feed fruit or vegetables directly as these may be toxic or cause intestinal impaction if eaten by your leopard gecko.
Insects
Leopard geckos are insectivores that feed on various insects in their natural environment, from crickets and grasshoppers to Dubia roaches (which offer more nutrition), hornworms for treats and silkworms for variety. When feeding your leopard gecko insects for feeding purposes it is wise to ensure the insects are parasite-free before offering as food sources. House crickets, Dubia roaches (more nutritious than house crickets without biting), house crickets (dubia are better as a source), house crickets (more nutritious than house crickets but don’t bite), house crickets (dubia roaches) are all suitable feeder insects while silkworms provide variety. Phoenix Worms or Black Soldier Fly Larvae are excellent choices – providing better protein/calcium/phosphorus ratios than most feeder insects available today.
Feeder insects for leopard geckos should be dusted with multivitamin reptile powder to provide all of their essential vitamins and minerals, especially as these nocturnal species require vitamin D3. Furthermore, provide your gecko with a shallow water dish large enough for them to drink from without risk of drowning.
Supplements
Leopard geckos require several supplements in order to thrive. Water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored by their bodies and must therefore be provided through diet on an as-needed basis. Examples include vitamins B and C which aid digestive function while helping prevent mouth diseases. Multivitamin powder supplements make dusting simpler; look for ones specifically made for reptiles which contain calcium and vitamin D3 — your gecko’s primary supplements.
Many keepers choose multivitamins that do not contain vitamin A, which can be toxic if given in excess. Instead, most products provide it via beta carotene.
Dubia roaches, similar to crickets in nutritional profile but without jumping or making noise, are another popular feeder insect for leopard gecko owners. By adding a small dish of powdered calcium into their tank, Dubias can be fed at will – simulating how they regulate calcium intake naturally in nature.
