Leopard geckos require a diet rich in live insects for proper development and ongoing survival as adults. Daily feedings should occur during development stages and then every other day thereafter.
Avoid feeding freeze-dried food to reptiles as this type of diet lacks essential micronutrients and does not stimulate their natural hunting instinct.
Farm-raised feeder insects like crickets, Dubia roaches, hornworms and Phoenix worms are easily available at most pet stores. Not only are these lean insects high in protein content and easily dusted with vitamin powder – they are also easy to keep for feeding purposes!
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Baby Geckos
Baby leopard geckos should be fed as many small crickets or cockroaches within 10 minutes to consume within their enclosure. Any unconsumed insects must be removed.
Newly hatched geckos can often be very nervous. When approached, they will quickly hide as soon as they see you coming near their tank, but with some soothing and food they should quickly adjust and become used to their handler.
It is crucial that you select a high-quality feeder insect, gut-loaded and dusted with vitamin powder, for your gecko’s diet. These are available online and at some pet stores. Gut loading provides essential vitamins and minerals your gecko requires to thrive, while offering variety is always best! Specifically avoid feeding it glowing insects like fireflies and lightning beetles which contain toxic chemicals harmful to reptiles.
Juvenile Geckos
Figuring out what to feed your leopard gecko can be daunting for new owners, but most common pet stores stock live insects your reptile will need for sustenance. Crickets, Dubia roaches, mealworms and hornworms make excellent options; waxworms may serve as treats since they contain fat; however they should not replace traditional feeders as primary feeding methods.
Baby geckos develop quickly, so they need to be fed regularly in order to meet their rapid development. For best results, try providing crickets or cockroaches which they can consume within 10 minutes or less.
Leopard geckos are opportunistic carnivores in their natural environments. They feed on beetles, spiders and scorpions as well as reptiles and invertebrates – these include plants designed for other reptiles that contain plant products that could be detrimental to leopard gecko health; instead feed your gecko fresh farm-raised insect food for optimal care.
Adult Geckos
Since leopard geckos are insectivores and do not consume plants, they need a diet composed of only meat-based products. Many owners feed mealworms as the primary food, however according to Ron Tremper’s recent article one of the leading authorities on captive-bred leos, mealworms contain too much fat and do not provide an appropriate phosphorus-to-calcium ratio. Instead, Dubia roaches (easy and inexpensive to raise at home with lots of nutrition) could provide healthier and cheaper alternative. Additionally hornworms (limited as treats) and silkworms may provide variety.
Gut loading your feeders can help ensure that your pet receives all the vitamins and minerals they require to remain healthy. Be sure to sprinkle calcium powder every feeding, and vitamin D3 powder twice weekly. Most owners opt for placing their insects in a deep bowl with smooth sides so as to prevent escapees from wandering off and creating havoc throughout their home.
Feeding
Leopard geckos are insectivores and only digest insects, making protein intake an essential factor. We generally advise feeding house crickets and banded crickets; both provide more calcium and phosphorus than wild caught varieties.
Leo hornworms make an excellent treat, providing protein, calcium, phosphorus and fiber while low in fat and chitin content. Before feeding your insects to them it’s advisable to gut load and dust them with calcium/multivitamin powder; offering some every other day is ideal.
Wild caught insects should not be fed as feeders due to potential parasites and chemical pesticides which could harm your reptile, and risking ingestion of any potential toxicants used by someone to kill the insect themselves or by anyone else.
