Proper feeding is essential for your gecko; it ensures it grows to its normal size and has good health. In the wild, geckos can find food by themselves, but when you keep them in your home as pets, it is your responsibility to feed them. You have to know the correct time you have to feed your gecko.
So, how often do you feed geckos? An adult gecko needs to be fed every other day and the baby gecko every day. If the gecko is sick, whether it is an adult or a baby, you have to try and feed it every day until it recovers. However, geckos have different feeding habits; hence, a gecko might like to feed or might prefer to eat once every two or three days. By monitoring a gecko’s feeding habits, a suitable feeding schedule can be created.
A good and balanced diet ensures your gecko’s growth and a robust immune system. Make sure you feed your gecko at the correct time to avoid underfeeding it or overfeeding it. Keep on reading to find out more about feeding your gecko, how often house geckos eat, how long can geckos go without food, and if you can overfeed them.
Geckos are small predators that feed on small insects in the wild. When you bring a gecko into your home as a pet, you will have to feed it. You will have to create a schedule of when you will be feeding your gecko.
Adults geckos need to be fed every other day, while baby geckos need to be fed every day. It can be tricky to feed your gecko because they are nocturnal. They spend most of their day sleeping; hence, you will have to feed your gecko during the night when they are active.
Feeding schedules can change depending on the age and health status of your gecko. Young geckos need to eat every day. They need a constant supply of food to ensure that they grow up to be healthy adult geckos. If your adult gecko gets sick, you have to try and feed it every day. Eating every day will help it regain the energy lost and get nutrients to help it recover.
You should feed your baby gecko with small insects for easy swallowing. It is recommended that you feed your gecko with insects bigger than the space between their eyes or bigger than their heads. You can increase the size of the insects when your gecko becomes an adult.
Geckos also have preferences; one gecko can eat lots of crickets while others prefer to eat mealworms. The most common insects fed include crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and flies. Offer your gecko all those insects at different times and see which type of insect they prefer. If a gecko does not like a particular insect, it will not eat a lot; you might find those insects crawling in their tank a few days later.
When geckos become adults, they might also become fussy, and their feeding habits might change. Your gecko might not eat after two or three days, but it should not be a big concern. Check their habitat to ensure no live insects are crawling; some insects might start chewing on the skin of your gecko, causing it discomfort.
How Often Do House Geckos Eat?
House geckos are small reptiles that make great pets for new as well as experienced reptile owners. House geckos prefer to stay indoors and feed on small insects. If you own a house gecko, you will have to provide it with food and water.
So, how often do house geckos eat? Adult house geckos usually eat three times a week. Baby house geckos typically eat five or six times a week. A freshly captured house gecko might not feed for two or three days because of stress; after they calm down, they will start to eat regularly. House geckos are predators; hence, you will have to provide live insects as food. You can buy crickets at the pet store or capture insects around your home.
House geckos are small; hence, do not feed them large crickets. The crickets’ sizes should be smaller than the head of your house gecko to ensure it can swallow them. You should feed your house gecko in the evening when they start to become active. Try and feed your house gecko insect caught in the wild since store-bought crickets might not have all the necessary nutrients. If your house gecko has not eaten for more than five days, you should consult your veterinarian.
How Long Can Geckos Go Without Food?
As mentioned earlier, geckos are predators; in the wild, they have to hunt down their food. Hunting is not an easy task, and a gecko can go for days without a successful hunt. Therefore, they have developed the ability to survive without eating for long periods.
So, how long can geckos go without food? Geckos can go one or two months without food. Geckos store their energy in the form of fat in their tail. If they cannot find insects to eat after a few days, they will start to use the fat stored in their tails to produce energy. If they use up all their stored energy without finding something to eat, they will die of starvation.
If you own a gecko, you should feed it regularly. Geckos can go for a long time without food, but it is recommended that you feed them every other day. Stress can also cause your gecko to stop eating, therefore, ensure your gecko stays in a comfortable habitat. If your gecko stops eating for more than a week, you will have to take it to the veterinarian.
Can You Overfeed a Gecko?
Feeding your gecko can be a fun activity. However, you have to do it at the correct intervals to avoid giving your gecko too much food. Geckos have big appetites and will eat any insect that comes near them.
So, can you overfeed a gecko? You can overfeed your gecko when you feed it too many insects. Most geckos will stop eating when they are full, but some will continue to eat. If you are overfeeding your gecko, it will start to gain weight. Your gecko will also start to regurgitate the food it has eaten.
If you want to know if you are overfeeding your gecko, check the size of its tail. The tail of a gecko should not be bigger than its body. Geckos store fat in their tails, and if they get too much food, their tails will be bigger. The gecko will also start to store fats in other parts of the body, like the stomach. If your gecko gains weight, cut back on the amount of insect you give it during every meal.
Finally
Geckos are low maintenance pets; it is easy to feed them. However, you have to understand your gecko’s feeding habits to avoid a problem like overfeeding it. You should create a schedule to know when to feed your gecko and the amount of food you provide.
Geckos have different preferences for eating insects; some will like a particular insect, while others prefer another type of insect. Most geckos prefer eating live insects, so do not bother dropping dead insects into their habitat; they will not touch it unless moving around. If you notice your pet has not eaten for a long time, you should consult your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis.