Leopard Geckos in the wild are insectivores, eating about 50% insects as their main diet. Vegetables and fruit may also be included, though only on occasion as these do not provide protein and vitamin supplements like live insects do.
Feeding your reptile the best food possible is key to their wellbeing and well-being, and one effective method is by gut loading feeder insects with calcium powder before feeding.
Contents
Mealworms
Leopard geckos are insectivores; their digestive systems are tailored specifically to digesting insects. Feeding your leopard gecko a variety of insects will ensure it receives all the essential vitamins and minerals it requires. Mealworms make great staple feeds because they’re cheap, easy to keep, rich in proteins and calcium – although some contain large amounts of chitin that could be hard for young geckos to digest; in order to feed your leopard gecko more efficiently we suggest opting for mealworms which have shed their outer protective covering so they’re easier for him or her to digest.
Black soldier fly larvae provide similar nutritional value to mealworms; they’re low in chitin content while providing plenty of proteins and vitamins. Plus, these larvae are inexpensive, easy to keep, and calcium powder can easily be dusted on them for extra nutrition. Due to their short lifespan and short shelf life they should only be fed as treats when feeding your gecko supplemental food or following hibernation.
Crickets
Crickets provide leopard geckos with a complete diet, packed with proteins, fats and other essential nutrients. Plus they’re relatively inexpensive and readily available compared to mealworms or waxworms that burrow or hide; crickets can easily be kept alive without risk of impaction.
Crickets differ from other feeder insects in that they must first be gut-loaded before giving them to your gecko (see our article for more info on this topic). This process ensures they contain an ideal ratio of calcium to phosphorus for optimal bone health in your gecko. Otherwise, metabolic bone disease could occur, with its consequences including reduced calcium from its bones being available for feeding purposes resulting in metabolic bone disease symptoms like metabolic bone loss in its bones causing health issues for your pet lizard.
Some cresties do not enjoy eating crickets, particularly younger ones. To alleviate this problem, many keepers provide crickets in a separate tank without substrate or decor – this makes the crickets easy for your crestie to catch and consume while stimulating his natural hunting instinct.
Earthworms
Earthworms from an appropriate source may provide your pet with some extra variety and are rich in proteins and minerals while being low-fat and visually appealing to him or her. Just make sure not to feed too often since too much can lead to fatty build-up in their intestinal tracts.
Prey insects make an excellent alternative to crickets or mealworms for providing vitamins, minerals, water, and nutrition. Just remember to gut load or dust them with calcium and vitamin D3 prior to feeding them to ensure maximum benefits from the experience!
Baby geckos require regular insect diets in order to facilitate proper skeletal development and avoid MBD, and there are various options available for feeding baby leos such as live mealworms, crickets, dubia roaches, superworms waxworms or fruit as possible options.
Fruit
Not only should you provide commercially-raised crickets, mealworms and Dubia roaches to your geckos but you should also offer fresh fruit. Mango, bananas, apricots and pears make excellent options; citrus fruits have high concentrations of oxalic acid that may prevent calcium absorption into leopard geckos’ systems, leading to health complications in their bodies.
A leopard gecko’s natural diet includes insects, plants and fruit. You should provide at least five to seven live prey items daily while its growing and breeding stages occur.
Your best bet for providing your crestie with healthy food options is providing them with a blend of fruit and live prey items in a shallow dish that they can consume with their tongue easily. Furthermore, any uneaten fruit and insect mixture or food items should be cleaned up before they rot into a dirty environment; same goes with exoskeletons of insects which have fallen to the floor.
