Crickets are a favorite feeder insect among many pet parents due to their ease of acquisition, affordability and nutritional value.
However, crickets can be noisy and irritating to Leopard Geckos. Furthermore, they are vulnerable to disease and parasites; thus, it should not be fed to baby Leopard Geckos.
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They are a staple food
Crickets are a commonly-feeding insect for leopard geckos due to their ease of availability, low cost, and high nutritional value. It’s important to note that not all crickets are safe for leopard geckos to eat.
As a general guideline, only feed your leopard gecko crickets twice or thrice per week. Doing so can cause digestive issues like impaction and constipation in the crickets.
For added protein and calcium, you can supplement their diet with other feeder insects like mealworms and waxworms. These beneficial pests provide a reliable source of nutrition.
Add variety to your leopard gecko’s diet by offering various dry foods like herbs and flowers. Your pet will always have something tasty! Plus, these dried foods provide essential vitamins and minerals for reptiles.
They are easy to maintain
Crickets are an essential food source for leopard geckos and can be a beneficial addition to any reptile’s diet. Not only are they easy to care for, but they provide your pet with essential protein as well.
Feed to hatchlings, juveniles and adults in small amounts. It is best to dust these areas with calcium and vitamin powder at each feeding for hatchlings and juveniles; and every other time for adults.
Feed crickets to your leopard gecko should be placed on a clean surface in their enclosure. Do not let them escape as this could lead to decay and introduce bacteria or fungi into their habitat.
Gut-loading crickets before feeding them to your reptile is recommended, as this helps the insects maintain a proper calcium-to-phosphorus ratio and may prevent metabolic bone disease in leopard gecko.
They are a good source of protein
Leopard geckos require a lot of protein to support growth and recover from injuries. Crickets provide them with this vital nutrient, as well as essential vitamins and minerals.
Crabs are also an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus, essential minerals for your pet reptile’s skeleton. However, you should exercise caution when feeding crickets to your leopard gecko.
A leopard gecko requires a varied diet of feeder insects to meet their changing nutritional requirements throughout life. This means alternating between mealworms, waxworms and other insect species is ideal.
Gut-load your crickets at least 48 hours before feeding them to your gecko. Doing this helps increase their calcium and phosphorus intake as well as provide essential vitamins and minerals.
Feeding your pet leopard gecko crickets is a popular and easy practice, but you must be mindful when doing so, as they may become difficult to keep alive if not delivered in an organized fashion.
They are a good source of calcium
Leopard geckos require calcium for proper bone development and growth. They can get it from various food sources in the wild, as well as sunlight which allows them to synthesize vitamin D3 for calcium absorption.
Crickets are an excellent source of calcium for leos due to their low phosphorus content.
They contain a high level of essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid and oleic acid. These essential acids promote health in the body and can help offset any negative effects caused by eating too many saturated fatty acids.
Maintaining them is simple – simply place them in a dish and change it every 1-2 days. Additionally, you can dust them with calcium powder for extra vitamins and minerals for your pet.
