Leopard geckos must receive nutrition from various feeder insects in order to meet their dietary requirements, since relying solely on mealworms could result in metabolic bone disease and related health concerns.
Crickets are readily available and simple to breed and raise, providing an excellent source of protein. Unfortunately, however, they also contain high concentrations of phosphorus and fat; therefore they should only be fed to older or heavier geckos.
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Mealworms
Mealworms are an easy and high-protein source of nutrition for leopard geckos. Unfortunately, their high level of chitin may make them hard for younger geckos to chew through, leading to digestive issues and impaction if your leopard gecko consumes too many. Mealworms should always be dusted with calcium supplement or gut-loaded with nutritious foods like carrots, bananas or apple pieces before being fed to your reptile.
Your gecko will thank you. Crickets are popular feeder insects for reptiles, but their high fat content may lead to weight gain in some geckos. Before being fed to them, gut-load the crickets with multivitamin mix for optimal hydration; either use a water pack or dish of distilled water as appropriate to provide your gecko with enough liquid hydration.
Superworms
Superworms make an excellent addition to a gecko’s diet, though not as nutritious as crickets or phoenix worms. Their high protein content allows your pet to build strength quickly after illness or injury while the calcium-rich content helps bone development.
At the final stages of its lifecycle, a superworm will cease functioning almost completely and form a cocoon around itself for protection from environmental threats; this cocoon should last two weeks before fully emerging as an adult creature.
While reports to the contrary exist, superworms are generally accepted to be safe for leopard geckos. It is advised to provide your reptile with a variety of nutrients prior to feeding them to them as this will create a more balanced diet and avoid any deficiencies or nutritional deficits in its diet; especially important when feeding feeder insects like Phoenix worms that contain high amounts of phosphorous content like other common feeder insects.
Phoenix Worms
Phoenix Worms (Hermetia Illucens) are black soldier fly larvae that provide leopard geckos with an ideal source of calcium, phosphorus, and fat for feeding purposes. Due to this low fat content and excellent calcium/phosphorus ratio they’re an ideal snack option that won’t lead to obesity-related diseases in your gecko!
Phoenix worms are easily available and affordable; offering your leopard gecko some as part of his/her weekly meal can add variety to their diet.
Earthworms may provide leopard geckos with additional calcium, but should only be offered occasionally due to high levels of phosphorus that could lead to Metabolic Bone Disorder. Furthermore, their large size poses risks of impaction or choking when fed directly as feeder insects; instead use as monthly treats instead and ensure all insects you give to your leopard gecko have been gut-loaded and dusted with vitamin powder prior to providing as feeder insects.
Roaches
Leopard geckos enjoy eating roaches as part of their regular diet, which makes roaches the ideal feeder insect since they do not jump or smell and provide an abundant source of protein and calcium – not to mention being an excellent source of Vitamin D!
Feed them both as staple food or treats – just ensure that you prepare and load up with calcium powder before feeding to your reptile.
Feeder insects provide valuable nutrition that Leopard Geckos can then absorb through digestion. You can feed feeder insects a wide range of foods like fresh fruits and vegetables as well as whole grain cereals; generally speaking one appropriately-sized bug per inch of gecko length should suffice; occasional treats could include tomato moth caterpillar hornworms. A varied diet is key in keeping geckos healthy and active!
