Leopard Geckos make popular pets both in North America as well as around the globe. It is native to Pakistan and Afghanistan. It also enjoys a warm, dry aquarium with a sand substrate. It’s normal to be confused by what Leopard Geckos eat and how much food you should give them per serving if this is your very first Leopard Gecko. Keep reading if these questions sound like something you’d like to know the answer to. We will take a look at what you should feed your Leopard Gecko to maximize its lifespan and keep them healthy.
Foods Leopard Geckos Eat
Your Leopard Gecko’s diet will consist primarily of different kinds of insects. It is important that they get the right nutrients. You will have to be careful with some insects because they are high in fat. They can cause your pet to gain weight and develop health problems. You will feed your Leopard Gecko these insects.
The safest insects for Leopard Geckos
- Crickets
- Mealworms
- Waxworms
- Dubai Roaches
- Butter worms
- Cockroaches
- Beetles
Foods Leopard Geckos do not eat
You might be surprised to learn that there are a few foods your Leopard Gecko shouldn’t eat. Fruits and vegetables are the safest foods to give other Geckos because Leopard Geckos cannot digest the fibers in plants. You should be cautious when buying commercial foods because they contain plant fibers. These are some other foods that your pet should not eat.
What to avoid when feeding leopard geckos
- Weevils
- German roaches
- Chicken
- Beef
- Pork
- Processed meats
- Fish
- Food for dogs and cats
- Fireflies
- Spiders
- Centipedes
Leopard Geckos Feeding Chart
| Age | Size | Quantity of Food | Frequency |
| New Born | 3 Inches | 6 Insects | Every Day |
| One month | 4 Inches | 8 insects | Every Day |
| Three months | 5 Inches | 10 Insects | Every Day |
| 6 Months | 6 Inches | 12 Insects | Every Day |
| 9 months | 7 Inches | 14 Insects | Every Other Day |
| 1 + Year | 8 Inches | 16 Insects | Every Other Day |
| 18 Months | 10 Inches | 20 Insects | Every Other Day |
Is it okay to overfeed leopard geckos?
Leopard Geckos are voracious eaters. If you accidentally feed them seven instead six, there won’t be any issues. But, like any other living creature, they will gain weight if they eat too much. Obesity may cause health problems that will shorten your pet’s lifespan. If the tail of your Leopard Gecko is wider than its neck it may be overeating.
Do Leopard Geckos Need Supplements?
Gut-Loaded Insects
Gut-loading the insects is the best way to ensure that your Leopard Gecko receives the best nutrition. Gut loading involves feeding insects a nutritious diet before you feed them to your gecko. Mail-ordered insects can arrive stressed and dehydrated. You can give your pet a healthier, more satisfying meal if you wait 48 hours before feeding and rehydrating them.
Multivitamin
You will then coat the insects with multivitamin powder. This multivitamin provides your pet with nutrients that it cannot get anywhere else. It is best to use it right before feeding so that your pet doesn’t get time to remove it through grooming.
Calcium
You will also need to add calcium powder to the bug right before you feed it. Commercial powders may combine calcium and multivitamins for convenience. Your pet’s standard diet will not provide calcium, which is an essential nutrient. It is responsible for the strength of bones and many metabolic processes. This will help you avoid life-threatening illnesses such as metabolic bone disease.
Vitamin D3
If the multivitamin dust you use to dust the insects does not include Vitamin D3, then you’ll need to look for a calcium powder with it in order to make the calcium more effective.
How often should you give treats to leopard geckos?
Waxworms make a great treat for a Leopard Gecko but are too fattening to be included in their diet. For best results, we recommend feeding your pet a small portion every few days along with a diet consisting of mealworms and crickets. Super worms, which are beetle larve, can also make an excellent treat. However, you should watch your pet’s tail to prevent obesity.
Do Leopard Geckos eat Fruits and Vegetables?
We briefly mentioned this earlier: Your Leopard Gecko can’t eat any fruits, vegetables, or plant matter. The plant matter is made up of small fibers of cellulose, which the Leopard Geck can’t digest. Plants do not provide any nutritional value to your pet and it is unlikely that they will eat them. It can cause digestive problems and other health concerns if you coat the food in it.
What to do if your Leopard Geckos Aren’t Eating
Leopard Geckos may stop eating due to many different reasons. These include cold temperatures, illness or injury, or even problems with vision that prevent your pet from seeing the food. Your pet can survive for several months without food, so you don’t need to panic or rush to the veterinarian. Make sure the temperature of your pet’s habitat is within the range. Give it some time to adjust. Make sure the room is not too noisy and that the lighting is right. Place a small dish of mealworms in the vicinity of your pet after a few days to see if they will eat. Let them sit there for a few hours to help them overcome their hunger. Replace the old food and give your pet another day if it didn’t eat. Repeat this process every day until your pet starts eating. You may need to consult a veterinarian if another week passes.
Final Thoughts
This guide is intended to help you plan a healthier diet for your pet. We hope that you enjoyed reading it. To prevent your pet from becoming overweight, feed your gecko according to the chart or the rule of two crickets per inch. Order your insects ahead of time so that you can gut-load them properly before feeding. Don’t forget to dust the bugs with multivitamins and calcium each time.
Please share our guide on how to feed Leopard Geckos with your friends and family via Facebook or Twitter if we’ve helped.
What should I give my leopard gecko?
Every day, feed 5-7 tiny crickets or mealworms to baby Leopard Geckos until they reach around 4 inches in length. Bigger food should be fed every other day until they reach full growth, which should take approximately 10-12 months. Adults should be fed 6-7 big crickets or mealworms twice a week.
When should you feed your leopard gecko?
The optimal time to feed a gecko is in the early evening (7-9 pm) when it awakens from its afternoon nap. Feeding can take 10-20 minutes on average – the gecko will know when to stop and will not ‘overindulge’. For some owners, owning a leopard gecko as a pet is the most satisfying aspect.
How often should I clean the tank of my leopard gecko?
Leopard geckos, like other pets, thrive in a clean environment. We recommend doing a spot clean every day and a complete clean every 4 weeks or so. If you maintain the gecko in a bio-active enclosure, you can spot clean and watch it
Is it okay to leave mealworms in a leopard gecko tank?
Fresh bugs should be fed to the gecko twice a day, and he should be supervised while eating to ensure he gets enough. He will also require calcium and vitamins. Also, if you simply offer him a large number of mealworms, he will gorge himself and eventually vomit, which is unhealthy.
Do leopard geckos sleep at night or during the day?
As a result, you may not encounter leopard geckos very often because they sleep throughout the day. Leopard geckos, on average, sleep for 12 to 13 hours every day. Leopard geckos, on the other hand, are most alert and active at night. Geckos sleep curled up in their shelters, whether it’s dry or damp.
What should I do if my leopard gecko is hungry?
Tail Fat. This is the simplest way to determine whether your leopard gecko is eating enough. Simply glance at their tail to see if they are fat or plump enough
How to keep your leopard gecko safe, happy and healthy?
Daily spray the hide box substrate. UVB light at a modest level is provided. Leopard geckos, as nocturnal animals, may be acclimated to low light intensity and hence require less supplementary UVB light in captivity than many other reptiles.
How do you entertain a leopard gecko?
Most leopard geckos hide during the day since they are crepuscular creatures. My geckos usually wake up at about 5 p.m. and go back to sleep as daylight approaches. By the time dawn arrives, they are always sound sleeping.
Is it okay to feed my leopard gecko on a daily basis?
How frequently do Leopard Geckos eat? Leopard geckos under a year old should be fed every day. Adult geckos should be fed every other day if they are healthy. Sick geckos should be fed once each day until they recover.