Mealworms are a staple food for leopard geckos and an excellent source of nutrients. You can usually find them in most pet stores.
Unfortunately, they can cause impaction in your leo’s digestive tract. That is why they should be gut-loaded before being fed to your gecko.
Contents
Protein
Mealworms are an excellent source of protein and can be a nutritious treat for sick geckos. Additionally, they contain essential amino acids which aid in wound healing as well as supporting liver health.
Mealworms are not a complete source of nutrition and should only make up about 10% of juvenile geckos’ diet if offered regularly as a food. Juvenile geckos tend to develop health issues if given too much protein, so it’s essential that they adjust their metabolism properly as they grow older.
Start by providing your geckos with a nutritious, vegetable-based diet. This could include oats, carrots, apples, and leafy greens.
Calcium
Leopard geckos require a diet rich in calcium for bone growth and maintenance, metabolism, and muscle function. Without enough calcium in their food supply, geckos may develop health issues like metabolic bone disease.
Mealworms provide calcium and vitamin D3 when supplemented with the correct amount of phosphorus. Furthermore, they make an excellent source of protein for geckos.
To guarantee your geckos get the calcium they require, dust them with calcium or vitamin powder before feeding them. This is an easy and cost-effective way to ensure they get all of their nutrition.
Additionally, you should dust your leo’s feeder insects every time they eat, even if they appear healthy. This is especially essential for ill or recovering geckos as well as gravid females.
Vitamins
Geckos are insectivores, meaning they only feed on insects. Therefore, it’s important to provide them with a varied menu of feeder insects so that they get a balanced diet.
Mealworms are an ideal food choice for leopard geckos, as they provide essential micronutrients without being overly high in fat. Unfortunately, mealworms lack essential vitamins and minerals, so supplementing their diet with calcium and vitamin D3 powder is recommended.
Before feeding your gecko mealworms, it’s wise to gut load them. Do this by placing the gut-loaded mealworms into a sealable bag or container with calcium or vitamin D3 powder and shaking vigorously to cover them completely.
Fat
Leopard geckos often enjoy live foods such as mealworms and crickets, which provide them with essential nutrition and water. Feeding your pet this natural way ensures their wellbeing;
Mealworms make an ideal meal for sick or elderly geckos, as they don’t require much energy from your gecko to consume them. Plus, these nutritious treats contain amino acids which aid in wound healing, fight liver disorders, and are generally healthier overall for your gecko.
In addition to mealworms, other feeder insects such as waxworms and Dubia roaches can also be offered to your leopard gecko. Just make sure all these feeder insects get gut loaded with a nutritious diet before offering them to your gecko.
Mealworms are an easily accessible food source that can be purchased both online and at many pet stores. For optimal growth and health, feed two mealworms per inch of your leopard gecko’s length.
