How to Feed a Gecko

Proper feeding keeps your lizards healthy for many years. Young geckos need more feeding times during the week to help their bodies develop. Geckos feed on insects, especially their main staple, crickets. Supplement the lizard's diet with meal and wax worms. Knowing how to feed your gecko requires little preparation. Get the insects at your local pet store or bait shop.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Live crickets
• Vegetables
• Grain meal
• Dried dog food
• Fish flakes
• Commercial gut load
• Orange
• Calcium dusting supplement
• Commercial dusting kit
• Cup
• Live mealworms
• Shallow container
• Live wax worms
• Fresh water
• Vitamin/mineral supplement

Prepare Crickets

1. Gut load crickets at least a day before your gecko feeds. This supplies the insects with added nutrition.
2. Place vegetables, grain meal (such as oatmeal or wheat germ), dried dog food, fish flakes or commercial insect gut load in the container housing the insects.
3. Add a slice of orange for water content.
4. Remove the number of crickets needed before you feed your lizard.
5. Dust the crickets with a commercial dusting supplement containing calcium. Do this every other feeding day.
6. Use a commercial dusting kit or place the supplement in a cup with several crickets.
7. Shake the cup to cover the crickets with dust.

Feeding Geckos Crickets

8. Feed your gecko 3 to 4 crickets at night--they're nocturnal creatures.
9. Allow 5 to 20 minute feeding times twice daily for geckos under seven months, 3 to 4 times weekly for older lizards.
10. Remove uneaten crickets.

Feeding Geckos Meal and Wax Worms

11. Give your gecko live mealworms once weekly. Choose the size of worm according to the size of your lizard.
12. Place 2 to 3 worms in a shallow bowl or suitable container. Ensure the sides are high enough so the worms won't crawl out and large enough for the gecko to access.
13. Remove the container and clean.
14. Feed wax worms the same way, repeating Steps 1 to 3.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep crickets in a warm area until feeding. If using small crickets, give more to your gecko.
• Provide fresh water daily.
• Add a vitamin/mineral supplement each week. Check the shelf life date ensuring fresh products.