Taking care of a leopard gecko can be fun, but it can also be a bit challenging. If you don’t feed it the right foods, it could become unhealthy or even die. To make sure you’re doing everything right, you’ll want to follow the tips in this article.
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Giant mealworms
Choosing the right feeder insect for your leopard gecko is important. They are insectivores, so you want to choose an insect that is nutritious and will not cause your pet to become obese.
Crickets and mealworms are popular choices. They are available at most pet stores. You can also buy them online. Both are easy to feed, although it’s hard to keep them alive.
Both insects are able to pass on vitamins. Mealworms are more nutrient dense than crickets, which is good for your leopard gecko. They are also less likely to carry harmful bacteria. You can supplement your leopard gecko’s diet with mineral powders.
While crickets have many advantages, they have several drawbacks. They are not very active, and their lifespan is short. They are easily obtained, but their odor is awful. And, they can bite.
Mealworms are great for special needs leopard geckos, and can be easily bred. However, you can get too carried away with them. They can be quite expensive, and they don’t last very long. They should be offered in a small dish, or kept in a refrigerator until ready to feed.
Waxworms
Whether your Leopard Gecko is a picky eater or not, waxworms are a great way to get your gecko to eat. They are an excellent source of calories and protein, and help your Leopard Gecko gain weight. However, you do need to be careful about the care and feeding of these insects.
For example, they are not the best source of calcium, and they contain too much phosphorus. This is a problem, because it can lead to metabolic bone disease (MBD), which is a fatal condition in Leopard Geckos.
For that reason, you may want to feed your Leopard Gecko more nutritious foods. Crickets are a good choice for a variety of reasons. They are easy to obtain, and are nutritionally superior to mealworms.
When you do feed your Leopard Gecko crickets, you should make sure to inspect them for injuries or other abnormalities. If you notice anything, you should replace the insect with another more nutritious food.
Caterpillars and weevils
Keeping leopard geckos requires a well-balanced diet. The geckos are omnivorous and feed on insects and plant material. They have smaller jaws and an alkaline digestive tract, which makes it difficult for them to digest fruit. They can eat a variety of insect-based foods, such as crickets, worms, grasshoppers, and even cockroaches.
The number one food for leopard geckos is crickets. The insect is easy to raise and is a good protein source. The mealworm is another food that is popular with the leopard gecko. It can be used as an occasional treat.
The hornworm is also an attractive food for the leopard gecko. They are a good source of protein, but have low chitin and fat content. They have long antennae, a moist, thin body, and are easy to feed.
Weevils are not suitable as a food for the leopard gecko. Their body is too small for adults. They are known for their stinging hairs, which are toxic. They are dark in color. They are very small, but have a tough chitinous shell.
Calcium supplement
During the breeding season, female leopard geckos need calcium to produce eggs. When a leopard gecko doesn’t have the calcium it needs, it can cause metabolic bone disease, which is an extremely serious problem.
A calcium supplement can help prevent metabolic bone disease. In addition, a calcium supplement can also help your leopard gecko develop healthy bones.
It’s important to make sure that your leopard gecko is receiving adequate amounts of both calcium and vitamin D3. The two nutrients are essential for proper metabolism and the development of healthy bones.
In order to supply your leo with the correct amount of calcium, you must offer a quality multivitamin with a high calcium to vitamin D3 ratio. You can add the supplement to your leopard gecko’s food, or dust your leo with it.
The amount of calcium powder you use depends on the size of the insects you are feeding. Smaller insects will require less powder than larger insects.