Leopard geckos are insectivores, meaning they primarily feed on insects such as crickets, wax moth larvae, mealworms, grubs, hornworms, grasshoppers, dubia roaches and locusts in the wild.
Feed your reptile only feeder insects as meat may contain harmful bacteria and parasites that could endanger them. Also, they tend to be much more nutritious.
Contents
Mealworms
Mealworms are a popular feeder insect for Leopard Geckos, providing essential sources of protein and calcium while being much cheaper than crickets or dubia cockroaches. Unfortunately, mealworms also contain high fat content which if fed too frequently can lead to obesity as well as other health complications.
Before feeding feeder insects to your leo, they should all be gut loaded – this process works best when done using live mealworms. While other foods can be used as well, be careful that those that contain pesticides are free from them as this could poison their mealworms and have adverse reactions in them.
An adult leo should receive six to seven large mealworms on two or three occasions each week as an excellent source of protein; geckos prefer food that moves since their hunting strategies involve hunting invertebrates such as these worms versus non-moving organisms like insects.
Waxworms
Wax Worms can be an excellent treat for Leopard Geckos that can help restore appetites if they’ve fallen off track, treat underweight geckos and add calories to their diets. But like all treats, they should only be fed occasionally as wax Worms contain high levels of fat that could potentially lead to obesity and health complications if overfed.
Waxworms should only be fed as occasional snacks to Leopard Geckos; rather than providing solely this type of diet item. Instead, offer your leopard gecko other insects like crickets, mealworms and dubia roaches for optimal diet balance.
Super Worms
Superworms, like mealworms, are the larvae of a darkling beetle called Zophobas morio and provide geckos with essential proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals for good health – calcium is important in maintaining bone structure; while magnesium, iron zinc copper help fuel metabolic processes.
However, their high fat content means that feeding them on a regular basis could lead to obesity and associated health issues in leopard geckos. Furthermore, their low calcium-to-phosphorus ratio could erode bone health over time.
No matter these concerns, superworms can still be fed as treats for reptiles as an occasional treat. Many reptile owners prefer gut-loading them first before offering them as snacks to their animals in order to increase the nutritional value. You can then place the worms in a shallow dish bowl or feed them directly; they’ll remain alive up to 24 hours before perishing; please be sure to clean up any uneaten ones from your pet’s enclosure in order to reduce potential contamination with parasites and keep an eye out for parasites!
Butterworms
Butterworms (the larval stage of Chilecomedia moorei moth) are beloved treats among reptile enthusiasts. Leopard geckos love eating these soft, orange worms that contain tons of vital nutrients for their well-being.
Leopard Geckos may enjoy these tasty treats up to three times each week; however, due to their high fat content they should not become part of their regular diet as doing so may lead to obesity in their species.
Your local pet store and online may carry them; when selecting one make sure it has brightly-colored wings with firm textures rather than soft ones and is active when gently prodded – an insect such as this will provide your Leopard Geckos with protein and calcium sources!
