When you’re trying to keep your leopard gecko healthy and happy, it’s important to choose the right food for your pet. Besides crickets, you can also feed your leopard gecko Dubia roaches, Grasshoppers, and Black soldier fly larvae. Each of these is highly nutritious for your pet. You should make sure to rotate the types of cricket food regularly, changing the contents at least twice a week.
Contents
Mealworms
Mealworms and crickets are both excellent sources of nutrition for your leopard gecko. Mealworms are a more affordable option and require less care than crickets. However, crickets have one major drawback: their odor, which is impossible to mask. Crickets are also very noisy, and they can be difficult to keep alive. Crickets are also hard to catch and may harm your gecko if they don’t get eaten right away.
Mealworms are not suitable for all types of leopard geckos, but they do provide excellent nutrition. The main difference between mealworms and crickets is their chitin content. Mealworms contain more protein than crickets, but they are not as effective as crickets in providing nutrition to your gecko. Waxworms, while tasty, should be fed only as treats. Waxworm larvae are high in fat and lack protein, and have low calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.
Dubia roaches
While leopard geckos don’t harm humans, they can be bitten and may transmit disease. To minimize their risks, feeding your gecko crickets should be limited to four to five times per week. Dubia roaches are better than mealworms as a feeder insect. They contain five times more calcium than mealworms and don’t carry parasites or pinworms.
When it comes to feeding non-mammal pets, it can be confusing. There is conflicting information available on the best way to feed a gecko, and some advice is contradictory. To make things easier, this article summarizes the latest research on common feeder insects. Crickets are not only an excellent source of nutrients, but also a cheap and easy to find food. While dubia roaches and crickets have similar nutritional values, discoids roaches are a more nutritious choice due to their higher protein content and calcium-phosphorus ratio.
Black soldier fly larvae
The first time you feed your leopard gecko crickets, you must make sure you dust and gut load the crickets properly. Remember to measure the size of each cricket before feeding it to your gecko. Ensure the crickets you buy are the correct size, as larger crickets will not be able to eat the tiny hatchling or baby leopard gecko. If you want to feed your gecko crickets that have larger head sizes, you can use superworms instead of crickets.
A black soldier fly larva has a moisture content of 61% and contains a high amount of protein and fat. It also contains a small amount of fiber and ash. It is one of the most popular insect feeders available, as it contains a high calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. It is a good replacement for calcium supplements, but does not contain D3 as they are deficient in the vitamin.
Grasshoppers
The two most common types of insects that Leopard geckos eat are crickets and grasshoppers. The two are relatively easy to find, although the latter can be expensive and difficult to catch. Both species are rich in calcium and are excellent sources of hydration. The disadvantage of using roaches as feeder insects is that they do not survive well in cold temperatures. Fortunately, there are other insects that are safer for your gecko to eat, which are also cheaper.
Grasshoppers are also high in protein, which is essential for the body’s ability to build and maintain muscles, organs, and bones. The protein in grasshoppers helps injured geckos heal and repair their cells. They also provide fiber, which is an essential nutrient for a gecko’s digestive system. Grasshoppers contain about five percent fiber, which is higher than the average mealworm.
Pinky mice
A good way to feed your leopard gecko crickets is to offer pinkie mice. These mice are day-old baby mice. Some breeders also feed pinky mice to females who have just laid eggs to provide the females with added weight and nutrients. Although the pinky mice can be tasty and nutritious, they are not a healthy long-term feeding option. In addition, your leopard gecko may go weeks or months without eating.
Crickets are a popular way to feed leopard geckos. They are smaller than other mice and are less hairy. These mice are easy for your reptile to digest and are easy to find. Crickets contain all of the necessary nutrients, including protein and calcium. So, you can feed your leopard gecko crickets without compromising your reptile’s health. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, you can buy a pinky mouse from a pet store.
