How Many Crickets to Feed Baby Leopard Gecko
Leopard geckos (opens in new tab) are pocket-size, insectivorous lizards native to the deserts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Iran.
Their cute appearance, small size, and easy husbandry requirements make them a popular pet for reptile keepers.
Unlike many other lizards, which may crave varied diets from different food groups and unique food training techniques, the menu of a pet leopard gecko is relatively straightforward: live insects and vitamins.
In fact, the easiest fault to brand when caring for and feeding your leopard gecko is to overfeed it. These little guys usually have voracious appetites and will happily gorge themselves with whatever food is available.
However, just like in humans and any other animal species, obesity is a severe health trouble and tin drastically shorten your pet's lifespan.
Reduced appetite is another dietary problem that leopard gecko owners may face up.
Balance assured, food strikes are prevalent in only about every reptile species and, thanks to their tiresome metabolisms, usually merely require a little chip of time and patience.
Accompanied past an splendid habitat with the proper temperature, humidity, hides, and do opportunities, a proper nutrition volition ensure that your pet gecko lives a long, healthy, and happy life.
What practice Leopard Geckos Eat?
Leopard geckos are strictly insectivores. This ways that they eat bugs.
Yous don't need to worry about fruit, meat, vegetables, or grain – just ditch that whole nutrient pyramid thought. Your pet but has optics for delicacies that are creepy and crawly!
However, only because your pet "just" eats bugs does not hateful that his or her nutrition should be boring! These days, there is a vast array of feeder insects available.
Feeding a variety of unlike insects is an essential form of enrichment for your pet. Information technology likewise increases the likelihood that your leopard gecko is getting all its required vitamins and micronutrients.
Leopard Gecko Nutrition: Supplies
Below, you'll find the 3 must-haves you'll demand to feed your leopard gecko and discover why each of them is important.
Water Bowl
Fresh, clean water should always exist bachelor to your pet gecko in a spill-proof, shallow basin to prevent drowning .
Tap water is also adequate; information technology contains many trace minerals, which may exist beneficial for your pet.
Calcium Basin
Some leopard gecko owners cull to leave calcium powder in a dish for their leopard gecko. The dish is always bachelor. Leopard geckos have a loftier calcium requirement.
This state of affairs allows your pet to self-regulate its calcium intake and lick the supplement whenever the body signals a need for it.
Notwithstanding, there is a pocket-size take a chance of calcium overdose, so some keepers choose to dust all feeder insects with calcium, instead.
Also, please note that adolescent leopard geckos require More calcium than adults. And then, you may simply find this benign if your pet is all the same a juvenile.
If you choose to make calcium bachelor in a basin 24/7, only use calcium powder WITHOUT vitamin D3 to reduce the take a chance of a vitamin D3 overdose.
Food Basin (& alternatives)
Most leopard gecko owners put their pet's feeder insects in a deep bowl with smooth sides.
This is peculiarly helpful in the instance of feeding grubs and some roaches, as they are unable to escape from these bowls.
Nonetheless, it's important to note that crickets and some types of roaches and beetles will hands escape whatsoever kind of feeding dish.
If your leopard gecko seems hesitant to eat from a bowl, you tin can try fasting him or her for a few days and using a clear container with actress-wriggly insects to stimulate its hunting and feeding response.
Uncommonly spoiled leopard geckos can be fed from a pair of soft-tipped feeding tongs or even your fingers! This may help yous and your leopard gecko form a bond.
This can exist great for enriching your pet'south life and encouraging exercise simply could besides pb to uneaten feeder insects hiding in the enclosure.
As such, you'll need to regularly inspect the enclosure to ensure no uneaten bugs remain every bit they can pester and stress out your pet.
What Insects to Feed a Leopard Gecko
These insects have ideal or close to ideal protein and fat content, and they can exist the staple of your pet'due south diet.
As a dominion of thumb, don't feed your leopard gecko any insects that are bigger than the space between their eyes.
You could offer canned or freeze-dried insects, but they aren't as nutritional equally fresh, alive insects, and nigh leopard geckos are uninterested in prey that doesn't movement.
Regularly feed your leopard gecko whatsoever combination (the more varied, the improve!) of the following:
- Mealworms
- Hornworms
- Crickets
- Roaches
- Beetles
- Sow Bugs
- Silkworms
- Phoenix Worms
Care for Insects
Treat insects have a high amount of fat. Limit these treats to once or twice a week, or more often if yous're trying to assist your leopard gecko proceeds weight.
Indulge your leopard gecko with any of the post-obit on occasion:
- Superworms
- Waxworms
- Butterworms
🤓 Skillful Tip: Although it is never a expert idea to let whatsoever reptile you own eat insects you've caught outside due to the take a chance of ingesting poison0us pesticides or parasites, you'll want to especially avert feeding them any insect that glows. Insects similar this, such as lightening bugs, incorporate a chemical that is highly toxic and can be lethal if ingested by your gecko.
Leopard Gecko Vitamins
No captive diet tin replicate the nutritional value of the variety of invertebrate, vertebrate, and possibly even occasional constitute species that a leopard gecko would ingest in the wild.
This is why supplementing with vitamins is Then important!
You lot see, commercial vitamin supplements help to span this dietary gap. But put the feeder insects in a plastic bag with the supplement pulverisation, give information technology a piffling milk shake, and so offering the coated feeder insects to your pet gecko.
Here's how frequently to supply each vitamin blazon:
- Calcium Powder WITHOUT Vitamin D3: E'er available in a dish in your leopard gecko'due south enclosure, or dusted on insects for EVERY feeding
- Calcium Powder WITH Vitamin D3: two-3 times per week. This isn't required if you use a UVB bulb in your leopard gecko'southward enclosure.
- Cannibal Reptile Multivitamin: Every week or every other calendar week.
Leopard Gecko Feeder Insect Data
Now that you understand the importance of vitamins and what insects yous can requite your leopard gecko, let'southward briefly discuss a couple topics in relation to feeders.
In the post-obit section, you'll go a bird'southward middle view of the nutritional breakdown of feeders, every bit well every bit how to care for them, and why you should consider buying them in bulk.
Leopard Gecko Feeder Insect Nutritional Breakdown
Reptiles need an equal amount of calcium to procedure phosphorus. T he ideal calcium to phosphorus (AKA Ca:P) ratio is 2:1.
About insects have college phosphorus than calcium, which is why nosotros glaze them in calcium powder.
When it comes to fat and protein content, opt for college poly peptide and lower fat for overweight or healthy adult leopard geckos.
Younger animals and animals that are used for breeding may benefit from insects with college fat content.
With all of that said, here'due south some in-depth information about the nutritional content of mutual feeder bugs…
| Feeder | Protein % | Fat % | Ca:P Ratio | Gut Loading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crickets | xix% | 5% | 1:9 | Commercial high calcium cricket gut load, vegetables, fruits, canis familiaris or cat nutrient |
| Mealworms | 19% | 9% | 1:seven | Greens, carrots, squashes |
| Superworms | 19% | 18% | one:18 | Greens, carrots, squashes |
| Silkworms | 13% | 2% | i:ii.4 | N/A |
| Pheonix Worms | xviii% | 10% | i.5:1 | Northward/A |
| Roaches | ~20% | ~8% | ane:3 | Fresh fruits and vegetables |
| Hornworms | 9% | 3% | 1:3 | Hornworm media included in container |
| Waxworms | 15% | 22% | 1:seven | Northward/A |
| Butterworms | 16% | 17% | i:xviii | N/A |
Above you lot tin see how these ix feeders stack up against one another in terms of protein, fat, Ca:P ratio, and how to properly gut-load them (if applicable).
It's important to know all of this information because, depending on your leo'due south age, weight, and overall health, you may discover a preference for one feeder over another.
For instance, if you have a seriously overweight leopard gecko, then yous're probably going to want to stick with feeding them crickets, silkworms, or hornworms until you go their weight under control.
Additionally, knowing the calcium and fatty content tin can likewise be helpful considering it will allow you to feed a sick or underweight leopard gecko.
How to Care for Leopard Gecko Feeders
Below you lot'll discover easy-to-follow instructions on how to intendance for the ix most common feeder insects your leopard gecko can enjoy.
By properly caring for these insects, you'll be able to keep them healthy and living longer, which in turn volition exist more cost constructive for you lot and beneficial to your pet.
Crickets
Go on in a secure, ventilated container with a lid and paper-thin egg crates at room temperature for viii to ten weeks.
Mealworms
Keep in an open-top container without the lid, in wheat bran or oat bedding, in the fridge for upward to ii weeks.
Superworms
Go along in an open-top container without the lid, in wheat bran or oat bedding, at room temperature for upward to a yr.
Silkworms
Keep in the original container at room temperature for upward to two weeks. Keep their food moist.
Phoenix Worms
Keep the original container in a cool room (l-70°) or the door of your fridge for upwards to three weeks.
Roaches
Keep in a smooth-sided container with cardboard egg crates at room temperature for up to three months.
Hornworms
Keep in the original cup, upside downward, at room temperature for three to vii days.
Waxworms
Continue them in the original container at room temperature or the door of your refrigerator for upwards to one month.
Butterworms
Keep them in the original container in the door of your refrigerator for upward to iv months
Benefits of Buying Leopard Gecko Feeder Insects in Bulk
Since leopard geckos usually need to consume live insects, you should at least consider purchasing the bugs in bulk and caring for them until you feed them to your leopard gecko.
In fact, doing so will give you 2 distinct benefits…
Do good #one: It's Convenient
Baby leopard geckos need to eat EVERY day, and fifty-fifty developed leopard geckos need to swallow several times a calendar week.
Do you really want to go to the pet shop that frequently?
Depending on the insect species, you can treat them and go on them alive for up to several months before you feed them to your leo.
Do good #2: It Allows for Gut-loading
The phrase "you are what you eat" resonates here. A super worm that has recently consumed apples, carrots, and sweet potato will contain more vitamins and nutrients than a super worm that has merely eaten oats its whole life.
Even though your leopard gecko can't assimilate institute matter, they tin can do good from the good for you properties of fresh foods past having their feeder insects do the plant digestion!
The optimal flow for gut-loading insects is 12-48 hours before yous feed them to your leopard gecko.
🤓 Practiced Tip: Non 100% sure you lot're down with the whole insect thing? Well, then why non consider adopting one of many strictly vegetarian reptiles instead? This way, you'll never take to even fuss with insects dead or alive!
Baby Leopard Gecko Diet
All leopard geckos swallow insects and Merely insects. Even so, infant leopard geckos will have slightly unlike needs than that of adults.
Compared to developed leopard geckos, juvenile leopard geckos demand:
- More calcium
- Smaller insects
- More frequent meals
Infant Leopard Gecko Diet Feeding Schedule
Not sure how frequently to feed your babe or how much to requite them? No worries! Only consult the breakdown below…
Historic period: 0-6 Months
Frequency: Daily
Insect Size: ⅜"
Amount: Every bit much every bit they tin can eat in xv minutes
Age: 6-12 Months
Frequency: Every other day
Insect Size: ¼"
Amount: As much equally they can eat in xv minutes
Adult Leopard Gecko Diet
Later your leopard gecko reaches twelve months of historic period, your BIGGEST concern will be preventing it from becoming overweight or obese.
You tin still offering calcium freely in a dish, just you may notice that yous'll need to refill it less often.
To avoid the risk of a calcium overdose, some keepers remove the calcium dish in one case their leopard gecko reaches adulthood and opt to grit the feeder insects, instead.
Some especially gluttonous leopard geckos volition feast on calcium powder out of boredom or but to fill their tummy.
Adult Leopard Gecko Feeding Schedule
Historic period: 12+ Months
Frequency: Every ii-3 days
Insect Size: ½"-¾"
Amount: Two insects for every inch of body length
Monitor your leopard gecko'south weight closely with a kitchen or postal scale that weighs in grams.
This is important to make sure that your leopard gecko isn't gaining too much weight AND to make sure that it isn't losing too much weight if information technology goes on a hunger strike.
A healthy developed leopard gecko volition accept a tail that, at the thickest indicate, is as broad as its cervix. If your leopard gecko'due south tail is thicker than its neck or has bubbles of fatty and tissue behind its arms, it is overweight.
If you find your leopard gecko to be overweight, yous'll demand to cut back on the number of insects offered and the feeding frequency to help it lose weight.
Taking your pet out of its enclosure for some practise and enrichment can also go a long mode.
What Non to feed a Leopard Gecko
Leopard geckos don't have the beefcake required to digest fruits, vegetables, and grains . They may prove involvement in these kinds of foods, but they likely offering NO nutritional value to your pet.
Meat is more often than not viewed equally unhealthy for leopard geckos due to low calcium and high fatty levels. Raw meat tin can carry dangerous bacteria, and cooking meat destroys its nutritional value.
Pinkie mice may be offered to ill, underweight, or breeding leopard geckos as a source of boosted fatty and protein. This should be a temporary dietary improver only.
Y'all may choose to offer insects and invertebrates yous find outside in your yard, but continue in heed that these insects are likely to be carrying parasites and possibly fifty-fifty insecticides and other outdoor poisons.
The general rule of pollex is that if information technology's not a feeder insect or a vitamin supplement, don't feed it to your leopard gecko.
Help! My Leopard Gecko Isn't Eating
The first footstep to resolving this trouble is to relax …
Cold-blooded reptiles have slow digestive systems; they've evolved to withstand days, weeks, and in some cases, months without eating when the conditions aren't ideal.
vii Reasons Your Leopard Gecko May Exist on a Hunger Strike
Rest assured, if your leopard gecko is not eating… there's a reason! Consider the post-obit 7 reasons below.
Reason #ane: Stress
This is especially mutual for newly acquired leopard geckos. This situation merely requires patience.
New leopard geckos can go over a week without accepting food.
Avert treatment your new pet for the first calendar week, or until it's eating consistently. Even after the commencement week, some stressed-out geckos may exist finicky eaters for several more weeks.
Any changes, even little ones, to their environment or enclosure can cause this bike to repeat itself.
Reason #2: Temperature
Leopard geckos are ectothermic, significant they depend on the environmental temperature to heat their torso. Without heat, they can't digest their food.
If they can't assimilate their nutrient, they aren't going to desire to consume.
Ensure that your leopard gecko has access to a basking spot or hide that consistently measures 87-94°F.
Reason #3: Shedding
Many leopard geckos will refuse nutrient for a few days before and a few days afterwards they shed.
Also, they usually consume their shed skin. Weird, I know. Merely remember, they're little gluttons.
Reason #4: Mating Flavour
The breeding flavor for leopard geckos ordinarily starts around Jan and lasts upwardly until June or July.
Females that are ovulating may not have an appetite, but egg product takes a lot of resources, and they'll need actress food and supplements once their appetite picks upwardly.
Fifty-fifty if your female person leopard gecko wasn't introduced to a male person for breeding, she might produce infertile eggs. She may fifty-fifty eat them.
Males can also become so distracted with trying to find a partner that they lose interest in food during the breeding season, too.
⭐️ Fun Fact: Did yous know, female leopard geckos lay simply 1 to 2 eggs per clutch? Sounds pretty manageable considering other reptiles, such as the disguised dragon can lay a whopping twenty (and in some instances even more!) eggs per clutch!
Reason #v: Brumation
Even though our pet leopard geckos live inside controlled environments, they've retained many of their instincts, and their internal biological clock is notwithstanding ticking.
Pocket-sized temperature and lighting changes in the tardily Fall and early Winter may cause your leopard gecko to enter a state of brumation.
They'll go less active and stop eating, simply you may withal see them move effectually the enclosure and drink water.
Reason #6: Illness
If y'all've ruled out the above possible scenarios and your leopard gecko seems sickly, an infection or parasites may exist the cause.
In this example, it'due south best to get your pet to an experienced reptile veterinary as chop-chop every bit possible.
Reason #7: Gastrointestinal Blockage
If you go along your leopard gecko on loose substrate, a gastrointestinal blockage is a very real possibility.
This is why it'southward important be well educated on ALL your leopard gecko substrate options.
Symptoms include:
- Nutrient refusal
- Regurgitation
- No bowel movements
This is an EMERGENCY and can be fatal if left untreated.
If you suspect a gastrointestinal blockage, take your leopard gecko to an experienced reptile veterinarian as quickly equally possible.
Wrapping Upwardly Leopard Gecko Diet & Feeding Guide
Congratulations on finishing this crash course in leopard gecko nutrition and nutrition! You're now ready to serve your leopard gecko a long life of health and happiness thanks to a proper nutrition!
Every bit a final takeaway, remember to Always monitor your leopard gecko's weight closely, using a scale that weighs in grams.
Drastic weight gain and extreme weight loss are as detrimental to your pet's health, but now yous know how yous can resolve either effect by paying attending to feeder insect nutritional content, feeding frequency, environmental conditions, and providing veterinary intendance as needed.
Remember the basics: bugs, h2o, and vitamins.
Variety of insect types, and gut-loading the insects prior to offering them to your leopard gecko will ensure a nutritionally complete diet. Pair that perfect nutrition with platonic habitat, and you lot and your piddling leo can enjoy many happy years together.
Source: https://reptile.guide/leopard-gecko-diet/
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