Leopard geckos are strictly herbivorous creatures. When in the wild, they hunt rodents (not plants) and other insects as sources of nourishment for complete nutrition.
Before offering feeder insects for consumption, it is crucial that they are gut-loaded with vitamins and minerals to enhance the nutritional content. Doing this will increase their vitamin and mineral levels.
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Mealworms
Leopard geckos are insectivorous reptiles, meaning they feed solely on insects and worms, unlike most reptile species that consume plants or fruit. Therefore, it is crucial that feeder insects they consume be gut loaded with supplements prior to being offered up for consumption by gecko’s.
Mealworms are among the most beloved feeder insects for geckos, as they’re easily available and affordable, high in protein content and easy to rear. Plus, their non-escapement and lack of chirping noises don’t pose as many potential distractions for lizards!
Mealworms should only be provided as a supplement food source to your leopard gecko and not its primary food source, due to being extremely low in calcium and phosphorus content – both essential for bone health. In addition, they require vitamin D3, which commercially produced mealworms may not provide. Therefore, gutloading them before feeding it directly is highly recommended to maximize results!
Crickets
Leopard geckos are opportunistic predators, hunting both crepuscular (active between dawn and dusk) and nocturnal prey, typically small invertebrates found throughout desert and mountainous habitats in the Middle East.
Crickets are an ideal food source for leopard geckos as they’re readily available, low in fat content and highly nutritious. Plus they jump, stimulating natural hunting behavior. Plus they’re simple to gut load.
Prior to feeding feeder insects to your gecko, it’s essential that they receive high-quality calcium supplements. Powdered or liquid forms of these supplements are available and should be applied directly onto insects, fed through syringe or eyedropper or added directly into their water source.
Leopard geckos also enjoy eating Dubia roaches, hornworms (for treats), and Phoenix worms (also known as Black Soldier Fly Larva or calci-worms). Unfortunately, many species contain too much fat for daily feedings and should therefore not be offered as treats.
Waxworms
Waxworms are high-calorie treats that may help underweight geckos regain body mass and fat stores. But it is wise to offer waxworms sparingly as they can be highly addictive; some geckos will go on hunger strikes just so they can consume waxworms instead of other nutritious foods.
Some owners opt to gut load waxworms before feeding them to their reptiles as this helps increase their nutritional value and provide extra rewards for leopard geckos. Others simply like using them as snacks or treats for their leopard geckos.
As with other feeder insects, be sure to give your lizard waxworms with plenty of calcium powder before feeding them to them – this helps prevent hard shelled varieties from forming and becoming stuck in their digestive tracts. Some owners like to pour a small amount directly into their insect container and shake it vigorously while others use tongs to pick up each bug individually and dip it in calcium powder before offering them to their lizards.
Other Insects
Leopard geckos are insectivores in their native environment and thrive by feasting on insects and worms; however, some pet lizards require additional foods in order to thrive and survive.
Your leopard gecko can benefit from feeding it a wide range of insects in addition to mealworms and waxworms, including crickets, dubia roaches (commonly referred to as black soldier fly larvae or calci-worms) and superworms, all available from most pet stores.
Before feeding other insects to your leopard gecko, be sure to dust them with a nutrient powder for best results and ensure they provide necessary vitamins and minerals for its wellbeing. This will ensure they get exactly what their gecko requires!
Gut loading your feeder insects is recommended to help lower the risk of gut impaction for gecko species. Coating insects in nutritional powder 12 hours prior to feeding them to your gecko will ensure proper digestion and eliminate potential health concerns caused by digestive upsets.
