Leopard geckos require a diet rich in live insects such as crickets, dubia roaches and hornworms for proper nourishment. Lean insects such as crickets are preferable over fattier options like mealworms or waxworms.
Gut-loaded feeder insects provide a good representation of what lizards eat in the wild, while adding vitamins is also recommended to maximize health in reptiles.
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Crickets
Crickets are an ideal food source for leopard geckos, as they are readily available, affordable, high in protein content and low in fat content compared with Dubia roaches. Furthermore, crickets gut load quickly while remaining relatively quiet for their feed delivery purposes.
Some people prefer feeding worms over crickets as they contain higher protein and lower levels of fat; however, their lifespan is shorter and costs more money. No matter which feeder you opt for, it is essential that their diet be varied regularly.
Never feed your reptile wild insects that you have collected yourself as these may contain pesticides, parasites or other contaminants. Instead, select insects bred in captivity, making sure to dust and gut load them prior to feeding as this provides increased vitamin and mineral content that cannot be obtained in their natural state.
Mealworms
Leopard geckos find live insects more appetizing than dry food because they wiggle and crawl about, stimulating their appetite and improving overall consumption. Unfortunately, however, insects do not fulfill all of a leopard gecko’s specific nutritional requirements and may lack calcium, Vitamin A and Vitamin D.
To combat this issue, it’s advisable to dust mealworms with calcium powder before feeding them to leopard geckos, and regularly apply vitamin/mineral powder on all feeder insects. In addition, mealworms should also be gut loaded with nutritious foods like carrots, apples, or potatoes before being offered as treats to geckos.
Increased nutrition from mealworms helps prevent metabolic bone disease.
Waxworms
Leopard geckos delight in munching down on fattier waxworms as treats; however, this should only be fed occasionally.
Waxworms provide leopard geckos with a nutritious and fulfilling snack that should not become an obsession; vitamin powder should be dusted on them prior to feeding them as this will further boost nutritional value. However, should your gecko become overly attached to waxworms as a regular treat instead of mealworms and crickets instead, switching may help.
Avoid feeding your gecko insects from outside as you will never know what they have been exposed to – including pesticides, parasites and environmental contaminants such as pollutants. Instead, captive-bred insects provide the safest solution; crickets and mealworms are simple to raise while they can even be “gut loaded” with cereal grains, honey or bran before feeding so as to provide maximum nutritional benefit to your leopard gecko.
Hornworms
Hornworms are an easy and nutritious feeding insect for leopard geckos, providing high levels of protein, calcium and vitamins as well as decreased impaction risk when compared with crickets.
Hornworms contain low levels of fat and provide your Leo with plenty of water, helping them stay hydrated.
However, they tend to have shorter lives than other feeder insects such as crickets or super worms and contain lower protein amounts than them. Furthermore, they pose a potential choking hazard and could become addictive to Leos, leading them to reject other food sources altogether if fed too often. Therefore, only give these treats in moderation for best results.
Silkworms
Leopard geckos in their natural environment feed on various animals and insects; therefore, captive leopard geckos must be fed a variety of feeder insects in order to ensure they receive all of the essential vitamins and nutrients they require for health.
Feeding geckos regularly is especially essential when breeding them; providing your leo with crickets, waxworms and morioworms will keep their appetite and metabolism going strong.
Farm-raised insects offer many advantages over wild caught versions, such as eliminating parasites and diseases which could otherwise be present. Also, be sure to gut load your insects for at least 48 hours in order to ensure you provide your leopard gecko with essential vitamins and minerals.
