Treats for leopard geckos can be an enjoyable way to build relationships between pet and owner. Just remember not to feed it fruits and vegetables as leopard geckos are insectivores that could get sick from eating this type of food.
Your gecko will appreciate treats made from gutloaded foods containing calcium powder that have been purchased at an animal reptile store or online. Do not feed wild insects as these may contain parasites or chemical pesticides that could harm their health.
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Insects
Insects are an essential part of leopard gecko diets. Not only are they an excellent source of protein and calcium, but crickets (Acheta domestica) are often used as feeder insects – these can be purchased in pet stores and online, as well as being gut-loaded prior to feeding them directly to your leopard gecko for optimal nutritional benefit.
Black soldier fly larvae (Daphnia magnicornis) is another excellent feeder insect choice, boasting higher protein and calcium concentrations than crickets while being lower in fat content. Unfortunately, however, their lifespan is short and storage may not be easy.
Waxworms (Galleria mellonella) are another popular feeder insect for leopard geckos. Although leo’s find these fatty treats irresistible, too often feeding waxworms could lead to obesity and metabolic bone disorder if overfed – not providing enough vitamin D3 either!
Meat
Leopard geckos require a high-protein diet and should receive meat treats as rewards from reliable vendors. No additives or preservatives should be fed to their gecko.
Leopard gecko digestive systems are optimized to take in an insectivorous diet and do not possess the enzymes necessary for breaking down cellulose found in vegetables and fruit, leading to blockages of their system if consumed by this animal. If consumed, this could result in bloating and blockages to their digestive systems.
Leopard geckos should only receive small amounts of commercially-prepared cat food as treats as it could lead to weight gain. Furthermore, most commercially made food lacks essential minerals and vitamins such as calcium or Vitamin D3 – crucial nutrients that leopard geckos must consume in their diet in order to avoid metabolic bone disease (MBD).
Pinkie Mice
Leopard geckos are opportunistic predators, alerting to movement when searching for prey. When feeding pinkie mice as treats to leopard geckos can stimulate their appetite and provide additional sources of protein in their diet.
Feeding pregnant females mice rich in nutrients as a supplement may also help ensure a successful gestation and pregnancy. But please remember, they shouldn’t be fed on an ongoing basis as they’re quite high-nutrition!
Leopard Geckos can benefit from feeding these treats to increase calcium, phosphorus and vitamin intake as they are rich sources of high-protein sources that contain essential minerals. Feed them occasionally; just don’t replace crickets as an integral part of their regular diet! These treats can help increase calcium and phosphorus intake for your gecko. They can be purchased either online or at pet stores nearby.
Invertebrates caught in the wild
Leopard Geckos live in the wild and consume insects (worms, crickets and mealworms), invertebrates such as spiders, beetles, locusts and caterpillars as well as small lizards and nesting rodents as food sources. Furthermore, their shed skin provides essential nutrition for growth of new skin cells.
Leopard geckos in captivity should be provided with an array of feeder insects in order to provide them with all of their nutritional requirements. As a general guideline, two appropriately-sized insects per feeding is usually sufficient – roughly matching up with their respective head sizes.
Feeder insects should be sprinkled with calcium (such as Zoo Med Reptivite with D3) so as to provide geckos with all of their necessary vitamins and minerals.
Some breeders may advise giving Leopard geckos pinkies, newborn rodents known as pinkie mice. However, it should be remembered that such treats should only be given occasionally and not as part of the regular diet, as pinkies contain too much fat which could cause gastroenteritis as well as life-threatening Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) symptoms if fed regularly.
