An animal’s diet is one of the most crucial aspects of its care and maintenance. Therefore, overfeeding is a serious concern because animals tend to get obese, which may be harmful to their health. You wouldn’t want to provide too much food, but at the same time, you may run out of options if your gecko is always hungry.
So, why is your leopard gecko always hungry? The primary reason why your gecko seems hungry and insatiable is age. Months-old geckos are usually hungry because they are still growing; hence, they need a lot of food for bodybuilding. Hatchlings also tend to eat a lot as they grow. Therefore, it is essential to provide as many fleshy foods as you can. You will also realize that most geckos are hungry at night because they do most of their activities at that time. The good thing is, they usually stop as soon as they get full and are not likely to get obese in the process.
If you have one or more of these beautiful lizards, we’ve compiled information to help you know everything about their diet. We investigated the healthy foods, correct portions, and the items you should altogether avoid. Read on for cool feeding tips for your leopard gecko.
Food is necessary for growth and development. However, not all animals eat at least three times a day like humans. You need to know their feeding schedule to avoid overfeeding or underfeeding them.
The right time to stop feeding your leopard gecko every other day is when it is a fully grown adult. It means that they don’t have to feed it every day if they are a year old or more. They can eat four times a week while you alternate the days.
Since they are old enough and do not have a faster metabolism unlike young geckos, they don’t need to eat every day. At this time, excessive feeding is likely to cause obesity, which severely affects their health. Thus, it is best to give them the right portions according to their preference but only every other day. They can eat up to ten insects a day, depending on the individual.
It is understandable for owners to get busy. Due to this, some may find it convenient to feed their animals a massive chunk of food at one go. Considering this method may save a lot of time, is it the healthiest way to go?
It is not advisable to feed a leopard gecko once a week. Leopard geckos need all the energy to go about their daily activities, and only food can do that for them. Some would argue that giving them tens of worms or insects will be enough, but that isn’t the case. Your lizard will eat until satisfied and leave the remaining crawling around in the tank.
It is unsanitary, and the worms may end up crawling out of the tank. It will also result in food wastage even when you plan for them to eat the insects for the rest of the week.
It is riskier when your pet is still a baby or growing. They tend to suffer starvation since they use most of their body’s food reserves to build and strengthen muscles. The result is malnutrition or death. The best way to go about it is to feed young geckos every day and the older ones at least four times a week or on alternating days.
Can Mealworms Kill a Leopard Gecko?
There are claims that mealworms eat the geckos’ tummies from the inside. This is because mealworms eat dead leopard geckos. However, we aim to debunk this myth by giving you more facts.
Mealworms only feed on dead leopard geckos since they obtain proteins from the carcass. They are a staple meal for lizards; hence, many pet parents opt to buy and store them in bulk. Furthermore, you can gut load them before serving them to your pet. Gut loading the mealworms will fatten them up; hence, providing more fats and proteins for your lizard. The recommended number of worms is approximately twenty-five in one feeding.
One advantage of these creatures is that they are affordable and readily available. Secondly, they are crawling animals, and you don’t need to worry about them escaping from the enclosure. You can also get a feeding dish that is well-designed to prevent them from crawling away. If you want to store some, you can always keep them in a refrigerator as you serve them in bits.
Can Geckos Eat Pinky Mice?
Geckos naturally feed on crickets, mealworms, wax worms, and other insects. As a pet owner, considering pinky mice are fleshy meals, you may wish to know whether they are viable feeds for your geckos.
Leopard geckos can eat pinky mice, but it depends on the species and its size. Carnivorous geckos can eat them since their systems are well adapted for such diets. On the other hand, other geckos should not eat them regularly because they contain a lot of proteins. When in excess, it can lead to obesity and other serious health complications.
Therefore, it is wise to provide the pinkies occasionally and only as treats. Some owners feed them when they want their pets to gain some weight after falling ill or laying eggs. Otherwise, it is best to provide worms and other supplements to your pet.
Can a Leopard Gecko Eat Pinkies?
Leopard geckos are insectivorous, and they enjoy eating various insects. From these meals, they get all the nutrients they need. However, you may wish to provide an alternative source of proteins like pinkies.
The lizards like leopard geckos can eat pinkies, but they shouldn’t eat them daily or even monthly. Pinkies contain many fats, calcium, and essential nutrients, but the fat levels are too much for their bodies to take. You can only provide them as a treat, say once or twice a year, depending on your pet’s physical state. Others would do it once a month when they want their pets to gain more weight, while others with well-fed lizards do it once in a while.
The only concern with this meal is that it has too many proteins, which can cause obesity when in excess. To be safe, you can avoid it altogether and instead feed them mealworms or wax worms as protein sources. Otherwise, they can still get the necessary nutrients from supplements.
Can Crested Geckos Eat Pinky Mice?
You might have heard that you can feed your crested geckos with pinky mice. Also, some may recommend this meal to your female gecko after they have laid eggs; but, is it advisable?
Experts do not recommend frequent feeding of pinky mice to geckos including crested geckos. They may be yummy treats but unhealthy for your pet to eat daily. Due to the high protein content, geckos tend to get overweight when they often feed on them.
It can lead to obesity and other serious health-related issues. The internal organ will strain, causing your pet to become inactive. Therefore, unless you help them shed off some fats, it may be fatal.
It may only be a viable option if you want your gecko to gain a little weight if they were sick or just laid eggs. Even so, it would be best if you did it once a month at most. Consider giving using them as rare treats; you can even provide them once a year.
Can Leopard Geckos Eat Camel Crickets?
Wild geckos love indulging in wild insects like camel crickets. If you are contemplating providing a few to your buddy, we will tell you why it might be a great idea.
Camel crickets are great protein and vitamin sources; therefore, they are highly recommended for your pet leopard gecko. It is easy to find them and they will provide the essential nutrients for your geckos.
You only need to be cautious with their size and the number you provide since too many or giant crickets can attack your pet. Only two or three in one serving will provide all that your pet needs. Crickets tend to feed on the gecko’s feces, and, in turn, cause infections to your pet. Thus, if your insects are hungry, it is wise to feed them first. One cricket will serve a baby gecko, while adults need up to ten depending on their size.
Lastly
Hatchlings and juvenile geckos need a lot of food, which is why they are always hungry. They need to eat daily to get enough proteins for their muscles and fat storage. Similarly, sick geckos should feed every day, whether adults or not, to help them get better faster. If you worry about them overeating, geckos stop whenever they are satisfied, but if you find them gaining too much weight, it is best to reduce the portions.
Overweight geckos have many health complications and are likely to die unless they shed excess weight. They must eat the right portions of healthy foods for their health, such as mealworms and other insects. However, they need to avoid eating meals with a lot of proteins, such as pinky mice.
