Leopard geckos are opportunistic insectivores in their natural environment, eating mostly insect feeders such as dubia roaches, mealworms and crickets.
From time to time, it may be beneficial to supplement your leopard gecko’s diet with some special treats, such as wax worms, butter worms and super worms which contain more fat.
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Super worms
Superworms may make a healthy addition to your gecko’s diet, but should only be fed on an occasional basis due to their higher chitin content and risk of scratching or pinching their skin, possibly leading to irritation and weight gain if fed too frequently.
As these foods contain high concentrations of phosphorus, which can overload calcium stores in their body and promote metabolic bone disease, it’s recommended that leopard gecko owners only feed superworms and waxworms sparingly to their leopard geckos.
Gut-loading your worms before feeding them to your reptile can help minimize this effect, providing them with a nutritious meal of vegetables and grains in advance of feeding them to them your pet lizard or reptile – this will make them healthier and more nutritous for him or her – though you should limit his or her consumption to no more than one or two per week for best results.
Mealworms
Mealworms are a popular food choice among leopard gecko owners as feeder insects, yet it is essential that geckos receive a varied diet. Alongside mealworms, other options to consider could include dubia roaches or waxworms.
To provide your leopard gecko with all of the nutrients it requires, mealworms must first be “gut loaded”. This process entails feeding them premium nutrient-rich food to boost their nutritional value when fed to your pet.
Crickets are another common feeder insect for leopard geckos as they’re easily available and cheaply priced, not to mention high in protein content. Their chirping sound stimulates their natural hunting instinct, so only feed crickets as snacks rather than as staples in your leopard gecko’s diet.
Crickets
Crickets provide Leopard geckos with an essential protein source as part of their diet, but should only be offered as treats due to their high fat content. As with all wild insects, crickets should first be dusted with an effective calcium supplement before being fed to leopard geckos.
Hatchling and juvenile leopard geckos must eat pinhead crickets every day in order to thrive and grow. As many crickets or roaches as can be eaten within 10 minutes should be fed back into their bowl, with any uneaten crickets taken away immediately.
House crickets can be purchased in bulk from most pet stores for an inexpensive cost, yet can often smell and become noisy. Instead, opt for more nutritious insects like Dubia roaches, mealworms and waxworms as feeder insects for your leopard gecko feeder to feed on. Their nutritional profiles offer better outcomes while stimulating hunting instincts in leopard geckos [4]
Fruits & Vegetables
Leopard geckos are carnivorous animals, so their diet should consist of insect proteins like house crickets, dubia roaches and mealworms. Aim to feed your leopard gecko roughly the size of their head without overfeeding – remembering not to overdo it with their food!
Vegetables should never be fed to leopard gecko pets as they cannot digest the plant matter properly and this may lead to a variety of health issues in your leopard gecko, from digestive distress to obesity.
As with humans, geckos must avoid eating wild insects as these could contain parasites or diseases that could pose risks. As an alternative, farm-raised insects such as those sold at pet stores or online are ideal. It is also a good idea to offer fruit as treats since its natural sugars will provide essential vitamins and minerals.