Feeding your leopard gecko is an important part in taking care of a live animal. These lizards are insectivores, which means they like to eat bugs. A full-grown gecko will need to be fed every other day and a younger gecko will need many meals throughout the day.
There are many bugs and insects that can be fed to these animals. Cockroaches, mealworms, crickets, silkworms, and superworms are most commonly fed to them. A pinkie mouse is a slightly larger treat that you should only give them at certain times. Pinkie mice can become very addicting. Waxworms are also a special treat that should only be given out at rare times. Make sure that when you give your gecko a treat, it is small enough so that the lizard does not choke.
Another important aspect of feeding your leopard gecko is the amount that you should feed them. A larger gecko may be able to eat about 8 crickets, while a small gecko may eat only 4. Leopard geckos should be fed in one sitting.
Unfinished live food should be taken out of the cage, for crickets have been known to gnaw on geckos if left with it too long. This will definitely cause the lizard to become stressed out and possibly sick. If you can put the leftovers in a separate container in the cage, that is okay. Just make sure the other container is covered so the food doesn't find a way out.
Insects that you feed your leopard gecko should be full of nutrition. That is why it is a good idea to gutload the food one day before feeding it to your pet. Gutloading food means you stuff the insect with different foods such as healthy fruits or grains.
You can also put supplements on top of the insects directly before putting them in the cage to be eaten. Make sure you are aware that the food will lose its nutrition if the bugs are left to long without being eaten. Baby geckos that eat supplemented insects may live longer and thrive in the future.
One last thing you should do is make sure the geckos have fresh water at all times in their area. All animals need water and these animals are no exception, so be sure to change their water regularly.
The Bearded Dragon Manual (Advanced Vivarium Systems)
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