How to Feed Leopard Geckos
Desired for their bright and incredibly diverse coloration and bold patterning, leopard geckos are commonly sold throughout the world and are the first reptile pets for many. Though leopard geckos are increasing in popularity as household pets and can be found in many pet stores, they are not the easiest reptiles to care for. Understanding the dietary needs of leopard geckos is just one step to ensuring that your pet will enjoy a long and happy life.
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Things You'll Need
- Live crickets
- Reptile vitamin supplement
- Live mealworms
- Wax worms (optional)
- Commercial cricket food or chick mash
- Potato slice
Instructions
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1
Decide whether to buy live crickets and mealworms from a pet store or to raise your own. Raising your own reptile food is ultimately cheaper and allows you to control the quality of crickets and mealworms, but is extra work. Store-bought food is more convenient.
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2
"Gut-load" insects before feeding them to your geckos. "Gut-loaded" crickets and mealworms are well-fed and therefore provide the most nutrients to your gecko. To "gut-load" the insects, place them in a small container with commercial cricket food or chick mash (found at most feed stores) and a potato slice for water 12 hours before feeding them to your gecko.
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3
Dust insects with a reptile vitamin supplement immediately before feeding your gecko. Put the insects in an enclosed container with the supplement and shake well to coat them with the vitamins necessary for the health of your gecko. A small dish filled with a mineral supplement can be left in the leopard gecko enclosure at all times.
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Feed adult geckos once every two days. A mixture of crickets and mealworms is best. Provide two insects for every inch of the gecko's body length, as a general rule. For example, a 4-inch gecko can eat a diet of four crickets and four mealworms. By carefully observing your leopard gecko, you can decide how much food is appropriate.
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Provide your leopard gecko with wax worms about once a week as an added treat, and as a supplement to the regular diet.
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Tips & Warnings
If your gecko is having trouble catching crickets, remove their rear jumping legs to make them an easier target.
Don't forget to provide your gecko with a shallow dish of water.
Never feed pinky mice to leopard geckos.
When buying live crickets from pet stores, always look them over to ensure that they are healthy and clean.
