Leopard geckos are omnivorous animals that feed on an array of prey. Common items that they feed upon include crickets, cockroaches and hornworms which provide ample protein, calcium, fiber, phosphorus and chitin content for their diets.
Geckoes love Dubia roaches and black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). Additionally, they adore waxworms and hornworms!
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Crickets
Leopard geckos are insectivores, so only feed them insects that are safe for consumption. Some of the best feeder insects include crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, and Phoenix worms; all contain essential proteins and calcium while providing ample hydration.
Purchase insects either online or from your local pet store; alternatively, raise them yourself if you want to save money on food for your pet. Just ensure a suitable storage system exists so they are easily available when feeding time arrives – also dust with powdered calcium supplement to increase calcium absorption by the insects prior to dosing them with their meal!
As treats for their diets, lizards may enjoy occasional treats of silkworms, butterworms or black soldier fly larvae; however, hornworms tend to be too fattening and high in phosphorus content for daily feedings.
Mealworms
Leopard geckos prefer live feeder insects over dry food nearly 99.9% of the time, as live foods provide more nutrition to them than dried mealworms and dried mealworms can become dehydrated over time. Mealworms provide good sources of protein while waxworms contain high concentrations of fat – you should limit the frequency and amounts you feed your leopard gecko accordingly.
Some people like to feed their leopard geckos darkling beetles (also referred to as mealworm beetles or sandworms), as these insects are easy to breed and provide your reptile with essential nutrition. It is essential that baby geckos be fed at least once every day so they can grow quickly; losing appetite during shedding should not be cause for alarm, though.
Canned Insects
Leopard geckos can benefit from eating a diet composed of various insects. Dubia roaches (commonly referred to as “king worms”) and waxworms are popular choices; these high protein, calcium, fiber and phosphorus-rich insects offer less fat and chitin content while still satisfying leopard gecko needs. Hornworms may also provide suitable nutrition.
Avoid feeding leopard geckos any fruit or vegetables as these contain too much cellulose that they are unable to digest properly and could result in nutritional deficiencies that lead to health problems in reptiles.
If a gecko stops eating, consult with your veterinarian as this could be a telltale sign that there is an underlying health problem. Gut loading, dusting food with calcium/vitamin powder and offering variety will ensure they receive all the essential vitamins they need for good health. You may even consider commercial diets specifically tailored for leopard geckos like Repashy gel diets for optimal performance.
Reptile Food
Leopard geckos thrive on a diet rich in insects, yet owners should ensure it includes other food sources too. Insects should form part of this balanced meal; earthworms, nightcrawlers or weevils contain too much moisture without providing essential nutrition. Many owners provide their geckos frozen or thawed insects as treats; however these treats could contain few micronutrients and pose health risks to their pet.
Live food should generally be preferred, as it will be easier for lizards to digest it. When feeding insects to your lizard, make sure they have been “gut-loaded” by dusting with vitamin and mineral supplements before feeding it to them.
Leopard geckos also enjoy snacking on crickets and mealworms as treats; occasionally they may enjoy eating hornworms, waxworms, and flies as treats; higher-calorie insect options should only be offered occasionally to avoid leading to hepatic lipidosis and cardiac disease in reptiles; gecko tail fat storage requires caution when feeding high calorie insect options too frequently.
