How Much & What I Feed My Leopard Gecko | UPDATED

[@okayowl]

I feel like it’s difficult to offer a variety when you only own 1 gecko. Feels wasteful to have to buy 50-1000 of a feeder that’s only meant to be fed every now and then. Wish companies/reptile shops would make like a combo box for purchase that features mostly nutritious feeders and a small amount of treats for 1-2 weeks worth of meals.

[@coastalwren]

YES! And the companies that offer things like that are never near me which is such a pain.

[@Sentientmad9m]

Do you have any local pet stores? My mom and pop petstore in my area sells smaller quantities of dubias etc

[@inuyashasangelkagome]

I think rainbow mealworms has a leopard gecko sampler pack. I dunno where you live tho!

[@mileskorb9424]

yeah at petsco they had a variety, it was fairly expensive though

[@mymygonzalez45]

I just ordered from dubiaroaches.com and got their variety pack for my juvenile leopard gecko they have a flatrate of $7 for shipping. I was worried they would be DOA but only a few roaches (3-5) were dead of the 100, which isn't too bad. All the mealworms and calciworms were fine. I really like it so far, and Calcifer (my gecko) seems to enjoy them too!

[@Cfodder790]

Wax Worms = gecko cheesecake

[@allgamingnetwork9448]

theyr good for fattining up a skinny rescue

[@allgamingnetwork9448]

@@deimos-n3j i mean as a snack lol

[@xXHatchetRunnerXx]

@@deimos-n3j they are good to fatten up a gecko just as that person said. They said nothing about it being a diet you moron.

[@QueenSmenkhare]

Yeah, my leopard gecko eats those things before I even but it in their feeding bowl xD

[@justsomememingbigyoshiwith4832]

@@xXHatchetRunnerXx explain to me how many waxworms it would take to get a gecko fat , alot right that would result in the waxworms being a part of the daily diet, also don't go around calling ppl morons just bc you are a sad lonely person that is angry 24/7 and have nothing to do other than make fun of ppl

[@thundertaill]

I consider myself lucky. My Leo, Saturn, will eat anything under the sun if it is hand fed to her. Doesn't matter the type of insect, the time of year, or even if she's close to / in shed. I'm sure she'd even eat vegetables if her digestive system was built for it, but she is perfectly content with mealworms, crickets, and the occasional butterworm or hornworm. She'll see me feeding my other pets and will stare at me like "Where's mine? I want some! I'm hungry too!" even if she'd just ate. I'm so happy to have her and couldn't feel more special for such an ecstatic eater.

[@rdz1860]

That's my Leo's name he eats whatever and is massive I got him at petsmart turns out hes a blizzard

[@LilyHagan]

That’s amazing! Congratulations! I wish my two boys were like that lol

[@thefantasticferrets3922]

Same my gecko is such a little eater. We feed him like 10 mealworms or dubias every night! He is a baby.

[@kayleighward3429]

Awww I wish my Leo was such a good eater

[@sofiaallar2765]

Same with my little gecko Jellybean. He’ll eat as much as 7-10 crickets a night! (Small crickets ofc) he is a baby so he needs to be fed every night. Lol

[@lricci007]

I have found that keeping mealworms in oatmeal where they are covered by it keeps them from pupating too.

[@plant2188]

I do that for my mealworms lol!

[@tiarenechandler5185]

That actually works as well covering them up with oats they eat as WELL ....and become bigger so u can have mealworms and super worms and i freaking love dubia roaches and crickets as well they grow so fast so u end up WITH a RIDICULOUS colony of dubia ROACHES crickets and meal worms u can also do black soldier FLYS as well .....

[@picklejuice4281]

I used to but the oats attracted pantry moths

[@itzvapid3855]

I use the oatmeal for my colony, like my breeding colony, I find a lot of them pupate

[@itzvapid3855]

But I actually prefer that, so I get more beetles to lay more babies

[@DragonHybrids2409]

That one live cricket: All my friends are dead 3:22

[@Divinixm_]

TheCrazyHyena 24 push me to the edge

[@PotatoWedge-ux5yw]

All my friends are deeaaaad

[@2TymesDev9600]

gummy bear 2017 push me to the edge

[@savannahg5098]

Ysj Ofnn al my friends are dead

[@bluebeans356]

push me to the edge

[@thereal_daxp2263]

The reason they died is because when one cricket dies it releases pheromones that basically tells the other crickets to die

[@AzureArrow56]

One homie goes, they all go.

[@Julie-oe5qf]

Literally them: If you die, I die. *intense music*

[@corysummerhays5980]

I stopped being crickets because they r really annoying and die quickly

[@wickedglassbears]

Jonestown Massacre 😂

[@zaixhmc8002]

Lol they really are controlling.

[@brayancendejas8076]

The way I fed my baby leopard gecko mealworms and got him into them was by getting small mealworms and splitting or cutting them in half. I'd hold the gooey insides part close to his face and he'd like the smell so he'd lunge at the worm. He'd eat 10 halves or 5 worms max at a time. But he now eats them whole as a juvenile and hunts them too

[@fionashepley478]

Just curious, are they his main diet?

[@brayancendejas8076]

@@fionashepley478 they are not. I also feed him crickets and am going into dubias soon

[@justsomememingbigyoshiwith4832]

@@brayancendejas8076 be careful with Dubai roaches they are quit big ( you can always use the babys instead of cutting them in half)

[@hoodempress9082]

Thank you for this!

[@Julie-oe5qf]

Hey I am also really curious but what should I feed my leo regularly?

[@zelda2025]

Thank you so much for all the videos you make. I’m getting my gecko (Makar) next week, and I had a lot of research to do building up to this point. I have gained lots of essential information from your videos. Thanks to you, he will have a good life. Before I found your videos, I found misinformation saying that leopard geckos only need to be fed once a week. Thank you for helping me!

[@tullyDT]

Back in University I used meal worms and wax worms for my thesis experiment (ecology). We kept them refrigerated until they were needed. This put them into a hibernation state that helped make them last longer and discouraged pupation. I cant do that at home though, or I'd be kicked out of the house.

[@mobstercrow7515]

Btw, you can feed them mealworm beetles, they have more nutrition than mealworms. You can also use them in bioactive enclosures, they clean up pretty well.

[@yvainestelmack7196]

A warning about phoenix worms: years ago I offered my gecko Cinnamon a phoenix worm which she grabbed with no hesitation. She then gave a disgusted face, squinting her eyes and backing away while shaking her head. I offered another and after a couple seconds she grabbed it again then spat it out. She refused all food for three days and then literally for two years after she would carefully inspect every single bug I offered her, which made feeding her the most agonizing activity in the world as I would have to keep moving the meal worm back to her after it walk away. Moral of the story: some geckos think phoenix worms taste absolutely horrible ... and remember!

[@hilaryhandy5030]

Mine have reacted this way as well. Thankfully they aren’t suspicious of all food now though.

[@MrsVrba]

My Sparks spit them out, too… it’s a shame, since they’re so good for reptiles!

[@mobstercrow7515]

Some animals are pretty picky. Have you tried using a spoon and making airplane noises?

[@allisonparramore2642]

10-15 - mealworms (pupae & beetles Ok) 5-8 - crickets 10-15 - calciworms (small & healthy) 3-4 - morio worms (treats, pupae OK) 2-3 - waxworms (treats) ▪ Some people say offer as much as the gecko will eat in 15 mins. This is OK for babies, but not for adults because the type of food comes into play. ▪ She links her video on feeding & supplementing schedule in the description ▪ Never force feed a gecko, she has multiple videos on what to do if your gecko won't eat

[@nightinggale6470]

Mealworms are not a healthy staple and should make up no more than 25% of their diet. I wouldn’t feed any more than 8 or so at a time. Her supplement schedule isn’t great; it’s best not to dust every single feeding (with the exception of Repashy Calcium Plus, an all in one). Otherwise dust with calcium every other feeding and vitamins every three feedings.

[@mobstercrow7515]

@@nightinggale6470 It depends on the age of the gecko and if they have UVB or not. Without UVB they require more vitamins, especially D3. With it they still require D3 because you never know how much your pet is actually getting since it greatly varies from the type and brand of mesh you are using, the type of bulb, the light fixtures, how much power is actually being generated to the light fixture, the height, and other things. You never know how much your gecko is actually getting, so they still need D3, but half the normal amount seems to be the safest. Without UVB they will require more vitamins of course. If they are a baby that is fed every day, you don't need to dust every single day. If you have an adult that eats 2-3 times a week, you should dust every time.

[@nightinggale6470]

@@mobstercrow7515 not sure why you responded to a four year old comment. Adults should be eating 1-2 times a week. For adults, dusting every feeding with calcium is fine, although dusting every feeding with a multivitamin is excessive (with the exception of Repashy Calcium plus as it’s an all in one that’s meant to be used every feeding).

[@dappyhappy773]

Yet another great and informative vid! Much better info than I've ever found in a book x

[@terrikemp8751]

My 4 month old Bearded Dragon goes crazy for the black solder flies. It is really funny because they are so small compared to my Bearded Dragon, she has gotten huge sense I have gotten her. When she sees one she will chase it all over her cage, and if I catch one and feed it to her she acts like I'm giving her the best treat in the world. They are really hard to catch with feeding tongs though lol.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

haha that's great! Lots of exercise and natural enrichment :)

[@venus-lavish3529]

Awsome I can use this for my reptile pets aka a bird

[@Josie-6]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6qmamykjdmbZqs

[@Lusewing]

My boy, Calcifer, loves his locusts but its not something I can keep in all the time. I mostly breed mealworms and Dubia roachs for him to eat, with an isopod or two as a rare treat. However, since keeping Ghost mantises, and having a couple that have miss molted, I decided to offer them to him to give them a quick end and not waste anything (raptorials removed to avoid sharp points). He went CRAZY! Both times snatched the mantis away as soon as he saw it, chomped it down and then started scanning for more with wide pupils.

[@Sam-ps2rc]

Lusewing they eat praying mantis’??

[@Lusewing]

@@Sam-ps2rc Mine has. It seemed such a waste to have the dieing mantises just put out of their misery and thrown away.

[@kittycats-tu3nc]

I love this Channel! I was questioning how many this really helped! :D

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thanks! Aw no problem :D

[@relieveddimetrodon9058]

@@leopardgeckotalk hey so didn't know how i could reach out 2 u but how many dubias should i feed. my leo is adult. idk how many adult babies or sub adult roaches i should feed

[@angelicamccoy6113]

Another good 'hide' for mealworms is a toilet paper tube cut in half and of course you can use as many as you want but its closer to the soil so they feel more natural

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah yes :)

[@jenelleadams3764]

iv been searching these videos because im getting one,but im very scared so this video is so helpful for me.

[@thedailylifeofpets2805]

Same

[@klmaracle3062]

Thank you for such an educational video! Have you ever done a video that explains a leopard geckos eating patterns for a full year? It would be helpful to see how their food consumption changes. You mention here that in Spring the geckos eat less, and my own gecko is also eating less right now. Thank you for posting!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thank you :) Yes it's called a year in the life of a gecko - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4XUpmqZhJiLntU

[@shmack72]

Thanks for this! I'm always wondering if I'm feeding 'the right' amounts because some sources vary wildly or are unclear. Glad to know I'm on the same page! I also feed the occasional locust and dubia, and I am starting a dubia colony because my gecko LOVES them. It's not taken off yet- I'll let you know how it goes!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

No problem :) I know it can get super confusing so i thought i'd just show you guys what I do :) I tried breeding dubia once but didnt have much luck lol

[@faithrice275]

i have been watching like all your vids because i just got 2 leopard geckos yesterday that are 4 months old and these are soo helpful

[@fionashepley478]

Just curious, are they housed together?

[@faithrice275]

@@fionashepley478 yes, why?

[@fionashepley478]

Faith Rice they need to be separated ASAP. Leopard geckos are solitary animals and should never be housed together. It’s very stressful and dangerous for them. I have seen too many cases to count of geckos snapping and fighting, even after years.

[@faithrice275]

@@fionashepley478 but the owner of the two said that they have always grown up together and she wouldn't sell them separate

[@fionashepley478]

Faith Rice it doesn’t make a difference that they’ve grown up together, the person you got them from was terribly misinformed. Please read this, an article written by someone who had two females together for a few years before they fought: www.google.ca/amp/s/aminoapps.com/c/reptiles/amp/item/cohabiting-leopard-geckos/D8Qg_QpxUNIM8BDlKwQwYGZQzgrJ3Q1WWV8 Some of the many cases I’ve seen of cohabitation going wrong (female/female are further down): imgur.com/a/3mRE7qj It’s just not worth the risk at all.

[@mileskorb9424]

I wish this vid was on yt before I got my leo lol

[@leopardgeckotalk]

haha my bad :') I did one a few years back lol

[@mileskorb9424]

@@leopardgeckotalk oh your fine, I watched that vid too and you improved this one a ton

[@joshuahares8153]

Honestly you've taught me more on how to care for 1 with just like 15 videos and days of Google seaching hasn't done that keep it up great vids

[@Jsaunde]

Hey, my baby is about 5-6 months old. I feed him between 12-18 mealworms, they're not big compared to the ones you have. Sure theres the occasional large one or two. I tend to feed 20-25 and he eats through about 2/3 of them which leads me to believe his appetite allows for 13-15, but with that said I like to leave a few more then that due to me being busy and if hes hungry he can just go munch on some.

[@gardian1701]

Also, you can keep mealworms in the fridge! they'll slow right down but will still eat and gut load. 👌

[@susanna_wolfe]

Yes! Very good video. It's hard to find the actual amount that people feed their geckos. That was one of my biggest questions before I got my first one and the answer was always "however many they'll eat in 15 min." Yeah. Not helpful. XD I used to feed mealworms as a staple and my first geckos grew up on them... While mealworms aren't the best I certainly wouldn't call them a treat like some people do. They are more of a side dish. Strange enough after I switched to a staple of crickets my geckos got very chubby. XD

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Haha thanks :) yeah I mean this is just what I have always done and it's worked well. Its pretty interesting to see how the geckos will weigh when fed the exact same amount. Like Diego will be 95-105g, where as Gizmo will be 50-60g lol

[@lilom1619]

I have a leopard geko named Athena and she LOVES crickets but I HATE dealing with them they always escape and they creep me out but she’s just so cute I can’t resist.

[@nightinggale6470]

Try dubia roaches, they’re a very nutritious staple and far easier to deal with than crickets. Although crickets won’t escape when kept in a secure container.

[@WhisperingHydrangeas]

Thank you so much for your tutorials! My mother has let me have a leopard gecko and these videos are incredibly helpful^^

[@aaronpalmer7425]

Insect eating Geckos love moths, where I used to live we would leave the back porch light on so we could water the garden you could easily spot in the summer 7+ Geckos around the light for the moths. They had learned that the light = food. Also they didn't touch the other flying insects just the moths.

[@myamay1511]

I have a younger gecko. I would consider her a baby but I feed her around 8 meal worms give or take!💜

[@x.jeanna]

not sure if any of your leopard geckos have had weight problems but a video on maintaining a healthy weight for your leopard gecko would be amazing!!! (I have an overweight leo who is on a diet and would love some tips from my fav!)

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah interesting. I've never really thought about that. I did do some videos on maintaining a healthy fat tail, which is basically giving them a varied diet with the correct supplements :')

[@8386charlie]

I gave my leo meal worms once, he was scared of them and never touched them. He loves locust!!

[@MacyLeaJCL]

SAME WITH MY LEO her name is Pheonix she is still a lil baby and she hates meal worms she loved locusts and now she is bored of them but we got crickets and waxworms and when we put a cricket on a meal worm and feed it to her with teasers she will eat both the meal worm and crickit

[@slumpmusic-i7f]

same for my leo except he loves mealworms and hates crickets i tried feeding him one and he refused after taking one bite

[@LoFiAxolotl]

scary scary meal worms.... i have a chewie who just sometimes puts his leg into his feeding dish when i give him meal worms and he basically waits till they crawl up right infront of his face because he's just that lazy

[@luvlost03]

What about dubia roaches? I usually feed about 5 and those are my staple feeders along with mealworms and occasionally superworms, hornworms and wax works. I really hate crickets but once in a while I'll pick some up just so that they have a varied diet

[@andrea-akmop4701]

Do you offer adult roaches and is your gecko an adult cause i have a leo and i don't want to overfeed him with dubia roaches.

[@luvlost03]

@@andrea-akmop4701 I feed my adult leo med size and my juvenile slightly smaller ones, adult roaches get big too big for leo's. The insect shouldn't be much bigger(width)than the space between the leopard geckos eyes.

[@eternalbrea]

luvlost03 she has tried dubias in the past but none of her leopard geckos would eat them. This is why she doesn’t talk about them, she’s never had success with feeding them

[@LoFiAxolotl]

@@andrea-akmop4701 adult roaches are like half the size of a leo... the problem wouldn't be overfeeding (unless you feed them really fatty insects like meal/wax worms that should never become a problem) the problem is just the size... can't gobble something down that's twice the size of your head

[@taeviansworldofreptiles3828]

Great video. I personally just let mine eat as much as they want for about 15 minutes with any bug.

[@garvinchinnia2438]

I've had the giant mealworms breed, but they just made regular sized meal worms, and the beetles were regular sized in the subsequent generations.

[@indigochild3334]

Omg I need to hear this my leo hasnt been eating his meal worms but eats 60 crickets in 3 days lol good to know its cause I need to switch his food thanks !

[@xoluv2904]

Omg I love your videos so much!! I'd like to know how you transport your geckos to go to the vet for their check up?!💞🦎

[@geotheleo2716]

Leopard gecko this video answered so many of my questions Yay

[@meganlamm1568]

I have a roughly 3-4 month year old Leo and I tend to give him about 6-8 medium sized mealworms (a little smaller then average)

[@myzoo2856]

I offer like 8 or less to a baby

[@jordanaestelle7442]

Tora is a juvenile and I offer her around around 5-8 because anything more she’ll throw up. I noticed one time I fed her around 10-11 and she threw up in her cage.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

That's not normal. Are her temps correct? She may be eating too much too quickly.

[@TheOtomeBug]

I breed Dubia roaches for my bearded Dragon. When I get my Leopard gecko can I feed him some of the smaller ones?

[@doublet2084]

Yes. Hopefully it will eat them. Mine doesn't like dubia but my buddies does.

[@eemerson7323]

Yes mine love them

[@charlietitmuss3626]

Super super helpful im in England planning to get a leopard gecko and trying to find somewhere othet than pet at home for food so thanks for mentioning internet reptiles will definitely check them out

[@doroteabole3667]

So I'm watching this as I'm handling my crestie and he was VERY interested in the mealworms.... He is literally 2 months old

[@leopardgeckotalk]

aw that's so cute :)

[@doroteabole3667]

@@leopardgeckotalk thank you! Your channel helped me so much with deciding to get him! Thank you so much 😊

[@aleafurbabiesminidinos828]

My baby crestie has been eating 2 small mealworms at a time since he's been 2 months

[@Stevensonthe3rd]

This is the exact video I was looking for!! Thank you so much 😊

[@alyssaross4692]

I feed my 2 month three meal worms a day and dust them with calcium and give her crickets some times usually 3 a per week

[@moonlark5039]

Mealworms aren’t healthy for their main diet and should make up no more than 25% of their diet. When fed regularly they will lead to an obese gecko. It’s best to feed mainly live crickets or dubia roaches. A good supplement schedule is dusting with calcium every other feeding and vitamins every three feedings

[@doublet2084]

I have a baby leo (hatched Jan142020) I have just started her (probably) on mealworms. I dont have small worms just average size. What I do is dust them then put them in her feeding dish 10 at a time with a thin slice of Apple for hydration. I have found on average she eats 4-5 a day. But she is new and usually hiding. I just feel offering her more than she can eat allows her to eat what she wants and come back later for more if she is hungry. Much easier than trying to get her to eat them off tongs being that sh ed isnt used to me quite yet.

[@fionashepley478]

Mealworms are fatty and not a healthy staple diet. They’re also more difficult to digest, especially for a baby. It’s best to only feed them occasionally. It’d be much healthier to feed mainly live crickets or Dubia roaches.

[@dutzu1081]

Hi can you help me ?? My leopard gecko is an adult and he dont want to eat mealworms at all,he eats just crickets.when he was a juvenile he ATE a lot of mealworms But now is like he cant SEE them.im giving him an adult feeding schedule and he is now eating 4-6 crickets.Now because he left the brumation im trying to give him a bigger number that you sad in the video.The problem is that im out of crickets and he dont want to eat mealworms.Is he just picky or he probably dont like mealworms at all ? Just Tell your opinion.Thank you anyway for all ur vids,LOVE them👍👍👍please answer,someone!please.

[@FreshCannedEels]

I've slowly stopped feeding my gecko cricket because she don't care for them unless she's very hungry. I buy them from the pet store I work at, 15, to feed over the course of the week. Mainly because they never last no matter how much food and water I put in there. Half the time, 3-5 of them die before I can even feed them. Right now, Tandy, my gecko, gets a mix of mealworms, crickets, dubai roaches, calci, with giant mealworms and waxworms as snacks. Each meal is about 10-15 mix of each.

[@mattrange2126]

I’m about to get a leo and I feel so overwhelmed by what to feed, how much and when

[@CadenHeuving-wm1ch]

Me too. Stuff like what to feed and what supplements to use stresses me out

[@mlj1309]

​@@CadenHeuving-wm1ch so far for supplement the most common are calcium and D3 (except if you use an UVB lighting you dont have to give d3 as it can create a vitamin overload). For insects, start with two varieties maybe so not to feel overwhelmed. I am also learning step by step for my future gecko!

[@okay6442]

Your videos are so helpful. You really helped me with my leopard gecko, thank you so much

[@viewer_discretion0]

Heyy! Good morning/evening. I have a quick question. 1.) How often should I feed her? She is aboutttt 9 months old, probably 10 months this month sometime. I was told every day-every other day. (Yes, I went to a professional place, dont worry ^^)

[@fionashepley478]

Every other day. Once she’s a year old, every 3-4 days/twice a week

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah i mentioned this in the video and linked the video where i talk about it :)

[@viewer_discretion0]

Leopard Gecko ack, im sorry. Musta missed it :)

[@7empestTv]

Been feeding my 2 month West Indian Leopard Gecko. He took a bite of a BSFL and spit it out. But he loves chasing crickets. He eats mealworms too. They’re pretty big so he only eats about 3. He can eat up to 6 baby crickets tho.

[@maryannesteele]

That one live cricket: All my friends are dead... push me to the mouth of the gecko 😪😔 don't make me suffer 3:22

[@ivansosic1897]

I feed my geckos a variety of live insects such as meal worms, super worms , horn worms, discoid roaches, wax worms, and used to feed silk worms but aren't available to me locally anymore. I also feed a variety of Zoo Med canned insects and Hikari Leopard gecko gel

[@WisteriaWinds]

I don’t know why im watching this because i can’t have one and its just making want one more 😂. I hope i get one someday

[@MONSTER-rx2vn]

Keep trying my mom hates reptiles and I thought I was never gonna get one just show ur parents that your doing the research and if you have any pets take extra car of them to show your ready it works and is a great argument

[@MONSTER-rx2vn]

I just ordered all the stuff waiting 1 week to get my gecko

[@WisteriaWinds]

@@MONSTER-rx2vn cool!

[@jenna6078]

Early!! I have watched almost all your videos! I love you so much!!

[@kaylachristine2377]

You forgot the beloved Dubia roach!!! & hornworms!!

[@poopyrose8180]

My little guy is a fan of horn worms

[@Emily-ol2mk]

I think hornworms are illegal in her area

[@RubyRoberts-b4e]

Hornworms r illegal in her area I think and she used to use dubia roaches but not many of her geckos liked them :)

[@thatonenerd1697]

When my newest geckos were babies I would occasionally give them mealworms I would pick out the smaller ones that came in the “large” size tub and give them maybe 2/3

[@michellegore1710]

Mine is way picky she eats mealworms and crickets I've tried everything.

[@eemerson7323]

Mine is also picky I finally got her to eat dubia roches they are a great cricket substitute

[@kiriasagi2681]

When I got mt first gecko, Yuki, he was a couple months and I'd give him about 15 mealworms per feed, and then went up to 20 when he was an adolescent. And then went down to 10 full grown mealworms because that's all he wanted. But now I give him more of a variety with his diet, mealworms, wax worms, hornworms. He is a sweetie

[@nightinggale6470]

Keep in mind that mealworms aren’t healthy for their main diet and should make up no more than 25% of their diet. Feeding mealworms too often will make them overweight. Live crickets, roaches, silkworms, and black soldier fly larvae can be fed regularly. The more variety in their diet, the better.

[@pandora1655]

unfortunately my aft won't eat anything but crickets 😭 i would like to variate his food but that's a big no :// i've been forced to put my mealworms in the compost

[@radzz2226]

that’s what my leo does. it’s makes me mad how i spend money on various worms and he never tries it :/

[@pandora1655]

PanicXsocial omg same he is so picky that it drives me crazy i spend so much money for him to eat different kind of bugs but nope nope nope flfodofkf

[@BlackDouglas1000]

I use black soldier fly larva for my toads. They live a long time and are easy to gut load. Toads really like the flies, it gets them quite active. The flies are not disease vectors and have no stings or bites and are soft bodied and slow movers. If the flies do get out they don't live long and are easy to put out of your misery. The larva have gotten loose in the tanks and just become part of the environment until they become flies and then the chase begins.

[@geotheleo2716]

My gecko has stuck shed :( and im going to try to get it off... he seems so grumpy when he has stuck shed.

[@harrydaniels6900]

Try using a warm water bath

[@user-yn1bd4yf3h]

I always find crickets escape into unreachable area in my vivarium and keep me up at night (why do few people have the same issue?). I personally replace crickets with locusts, as they don't escape from reach and are easier for her to spot. Don't worry, I know why you don't use locusts, I've been around for a while.

[@rachel9766]

H I hate crickets 🙄, I prefer dubias

[@user-yn1bd4yf3h]

I agree with you on the crickets for the reason just given. However, I've never used dubia roaches before, so I can't speak for them.

[@rachel9766]

H they’re pretty good, they’ve got good nutritional qualities

[@avasubbarao4361]

Can we have a drogo video soon ?

[@jadevercruysse6778]

Love the video!

[@starbyray7828]

None of me Geckos will touch calci worms (I don't blame them they smell so unappetising), they always escaped or were spat out when offered. The Soldier flies were occasionally eaten by my Cresties, when the escapees pupated and started buzzing around the viv. The Flies mostly escaped into my room when opening the viv doors (quite easy for ME to catch however lol). I have stopped buying wax worms, my male Leo will ONLY eat those and will refuse to eat anything else. It has taken months to wean him off them. The others do not show much interest in them until they are pupae or moths. Then they will snatch the pupae and go bananas chasing the moths!. I am lucky that crickets from Swell Reptiles and from my Local Fisheries & Reptile Centre are sourced from a supplier very near as the crow flies to where I live so they are always tip top. (Just a shame I cannot buy direct ). However I noticed the Crickets are quite vicious biters and it was putting my Geckos off them. They really bite onto the feeding tongs. Since I have seen them also bite my geckos I nip the crickets head off. Now all my Geckos happily eat them. Also any dropped ones get eaten by the Orange Isopods instead of scurrying around my bioactive vivariums chewing through my plants.

[@alexisgeorgia]

Starby Ray I loved how detailed this all was, it was great to read about :) I just bought Phoenix worms, and if they pupate I’ll see if my frogs will take them. I also have friend with other beardies and leos, so if my two geckos refuse them I could give them to someone else

[@starbyray7828]

@@alexisgeorgia I love Leopard Gecko's videos, they are always very clear concise and informative. I always refer to them if I want to find out anything about my Cresties and Leos. Rebecca's ant video was the first one I saw on this channel and I was fascinated. I then began watching all of her content and became VERY interested in both Crested and Leopard Geckos. I spent a year watching and researching before taking the plunge and buying my first Crestie quickly followed by a 2nd (Literally a week apart). I wanted to make sure I knew as much as I could before buying them. Also its very rare for there to be any in Cresties in stock. Finally there were 3 at the reptile centre and I bought two of them. Having taken the plunge and finding that I could manage them quite well I kept watching and learning. 3 months later I fell in love with a young pre-owned Leo. After much thought and consideration I bought him. A year later I bought my 2nd pre-owned Leo she was/is BEAUTIFUL.... I now have a 4 members to my reptile family. I am expecting my fifth. I have recovered a 2 newly laid Crestie eggs from her viv. She hides them very well in her bioactive viv (only one appears viable). Due to circumstances beyond my control caused by my neighbours I had to evacuate my reptiles immediately and my cresties had to go in a container together. Instalove!. I had not PLANNED to raise my own but my hand was forced. So now I am hoping to successfully hatch the viable egg and have a new born to raise in about 3 months time fingers crossed.

[@wtv_dom2511]

I put 4 superworms dusted with reptcalcium and reptivite in a feeding dish and when he eats them all I wait a day and put 4 more dusted superworms is that a good diet also with the occasional wax worm, 2 to be exact

[@fionashepley478]

That is not a good diet. Superworms are absolutely not healthy for their main diet, they’re fatty. He’ll become overweight soon if he isn’t already. They should only be fed occasionally. Feed mainly live crickets or Dubia roaches. Silkworms and black soldier fly larvae are two much healthier worms. Dust with calcium every other feeding and vitamins every three feedings. How old is he? If he’s an adult the reptivite can be used on its own as an all in one, just follow the instructions on the back.

[@giselecompere5200]

I feed my baby leopard gecko a medium size of mealworms and 10-15

[@jackc008]

Me too!

[@franchiscayoung9711]

Same and someone said it was way too much

[@jackc008]

@@franchiscayoung9711 how much do you feed now? i only feed 10 and sometimes 11 if hes a good boy

[@franchiscayoung9711]

Milky Way 10 I order micro so by the time I feed them the mealworms there still super small I may have 5 medium but this time I bought 20,000 so I’ll be able to give them decent sizes now. And before there would be about 5-7 left and I would take those out and give them fresh ones

[@OOwu00]

Got my baby leopard gecko about 2 weeks ago and so far it’s been eating around 4-5 mealworms depending if it’s shedding or not

[@eriksonmoses2524]

Ad Gon do you feed everyday?

[@OOwu00]

Erikson Moses I used to, but recently he started eating more worms and doesn’t want to eat the next day. It’s a repeating pattern that he began himself as he began to grow.

[@starnaito]

If you can get ahold of banded crickets, I really recommend getting those instead of the standard pet store crickets. The bandeds don't smell as much, they're not as noisy, and best of all - they grow slower and live longer. :) My gecko prefers the pupae over the mealworms. He pokes them to watch them twitch before eating. XD He loves silkworms, too, but unfortunately, they're not cheap and don't live long. When I feed him black soldier fly larva, I only give him about 5-8. He loses interest in those very quickly. (And I can typically feed the flies to my mantis.)

[@rdnkenki]

❤ The exhaustive extensive hands on leopard gecko knowledge expert😂❤❤❤

[@bobatea7392]

my leo will only eat worms, if tried all of the types of insects but she only takes mealworm and waxworms :(

[@trintrin9086]

are night time black lights save for leopard geckos? 75 watt the one i have is : black nightlight bulb - incandescent reptile lighting

[@fionashepley478]

No.

[@pupsparrotsyt3370]

When my leopard gecko was a baby I would give her two large meal worms in the morning and two in the evening

[@fionashepley478]

Just curious, are mealworms her main diet?

[@henz1335]

Fiona Shepley i use half meal worms and half discoid roaches (dubia isn’t legal where i live). my gecko is like a teenager now i feed him 5 days a week and alternate between 8 medium mealworms and 6 medium roaches

[@fionashepley478]

hani farouki I’d use the discoids as his main diet, with mealworms only occasionally. Mealworms are fatty and not healthy as a staple, and feeding them too often will result in an overweight gecko. For variety you can use feeders like crickets, silkworms, black soldier fly larvae, superworms, and occasional hornworms. The more variety the better. How many months old is your gecko?

[@slotiix4298]

Fiona Shepley h

[@dobbyhumbert52]

My 8 month old gecko only eats crickets and has done since I got her in December. I’ve tried her with Mario worms and mealworms but she didn’t eat any of them. I want to vary her diet but how can I?

[@b_ball3496]

If she only wants to eat crickets you can't force her if she seems to be getting bored with food try something else if it ain't broke dont fix it

[@lucianasadventures985]

I use just a heat pad do I need a overhead heating?

[@LilyHagan]

Luciana's Adventures nope! As long as they have underneath heat and a day night cycle :)

[@gemmacale303]

My baby leopard gecko eats 9-10 mealworms and then for the next two or three days will eat between 3 and 5 worms. This pattern is her usual unless she's shedding when she will eat 1 or 2 the day before she sheds and then nothing the day of or after. :)

[@fionashepley478]

Keep in mind that mealworms are fatty and difficult to digest and are not healthy for their main diet, they can lead to an overweight gecko in the future. It’s best to only feed them occasionally. They should be getting mainly live crickets or Dubia roaches

[@seang9770]

Do you ever give hornworms as a treat? Mine love them

[@Zach_Bonett]

Since Leopard Gecko lives in the UK, she can not but hornworms because hornworms are illegal there

[@Zach_Bonett]

Buy* not but

[@seang9770]

Random_Boi why are they illegal in the UK?

[@Lusewing]

@@seang9770 They are considered a crop pest. Same as why a lot of places cant sell Dubia roaches.

[@skyloveup]

@@seang9770 hornworms destroy tomatoes out here in the states 🙈

[@louhicks9118]

Im in the uk hated buying crickets from pah so i buy them from livefoods ltd. Amazing prices and always have decent amount in packaging

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah nice, yeah I usually get mine from Internet Reptile, have for years, usually pretty decent :)

[@lucydoesart7535]

lou hicks yes they always die

[@ieeshao2999]

I have a baby and I feed him 6 or 7

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah nice :)

[@fionashepley478]

Keep in mind that mealworms are not healthy for their main diet

[@alejoluipaardgekko5357]

Hello, you can try to put a cup with dirt so they can ley ther eggs. I had this to and i think they die because they cant lay there eggs

[@logantesta1938]

I feed my baby 3 or 4 mealworms

[@fionashepley478]

Are mealworms your gecko’s main diet?

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah cool

[@allayney]

Can you do a small video on how to tell if a gecko is overweight vs healthy vs underweight? Thanks a bunch. I watch your videos everynight and im always pleased with what i learn!😊

[@fionashepley478]

This is accurate www.goldgeckos.org/choosing-a-healthy-leopard-gecko/ What’s your gecko’s diet like?

[@gettingnewer]

We feed our baby Leo 7-8 small mealworms (if she’s having only mealworms for that feeding), but we will usually feed 4-6 small crickets and 3-4 mealworms in a feeding, plus a wax worm once every few feedings or so as a treat.

[@nightinggale6470]

Keep in mind that mealworms aren’t very healthy and should make up no more than 25% of their diet. Try to offer as much variety as possible. You can feed roaches, silkworms, and black soldier fly larvae regularly. Superworms and hornworms can be fed occasionally once your gecko is big enough.

[@itssassysarah]

When I bought my gecko about 3 weeks ago they said leave a dish of mealworms in there and they had done the same in the shop undusted and the gecko had dropped his tail so I was like nodding along but in my head I was like “absolutely not following that advice”

[@theawkwardartist12]

I have a six month old leopard gecko and a three month old and I use mealworms as a staple diet for them. The three month old I feed about 5 mealworms everyday. The six month old one (I got him at three months old), I feed around 8-10 mealworms with the occasional waxworm as well.

[@fionashepley478]

Mealworms are not healthy for their main diet at all, and should only be fed occasionally. Live crickets or Dubia roaches are much healthier for their main diet. Your six months old is old enough to start eating every other day. This explains why mealworms are unhealthy www.geckodan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Pros-and-Cons-of-Mealworms.pdf Just wondering, are they housed together?

[@gibbsongee9968]

Did you give the crickets a source of water? The may have needed more humidity. Especially if you want them to mate, they don't like it too dry. I find the pet store crickets tend to be dehydrated.

[@ksn8908]

we offered our Mango the smallest mealworms when she was first brought home as a baby. she loved them, but likes hunting crickets more

[@markfiles5200]

Almost first!!!! Good video!!!😀😀🦎🦎

[@arianamucci1029]

In my experience, my leopard gecko LOVES chasing and eating Black Soldier Flies, which is good because Phoenix Worms are expensive and I don't like wasting perfectly good food like that.

[@jessicalipscombe9117]

my about 4-5 month leopard gecko eats darkling beetles, mealworms, pupas, crickets and waxworms, oh boy! it eats so well! a tiny but of movement and that bug is gone!

[@sharoncooper3031]

Hey I have a question my leopard gecko called mooshu and he is a FANTASTIC eater so as a treat I gave him a few wax worms and this was hîs first time having them and now he is refusing any food unless it’s wax worms so of course I don’t want hi to go hungry so that’s what I have been feeding him but he is putting on gram after gram soooooo I wondered if you have any tips for me. Thanks a lot 🦎;)

[@fionashepley478]

Stop feeding him waxworms. Keep trying other feeders, he will eat something else eventually. Don’t worry about him going hungry, they can go months without food. Waxworms are like candy/chocolate. If you continue to feed them to him he will become morbidly obese and very unhealthy, and it’ll take forever to get him to lose weight.

[@sharoncooper3031]

@@fionashepley478 thank you sooooooo much I will take your advice and try other feeders. I love your channel so much and when I was looking into getting mooshu you were such a help and still are. Thanks for the help Sharon;)

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Yeah some geckos like some foods, some don't. I know mine didn't take to dubia roaches, which sucks because they're pretty healthy feeders.

[@stevestauff2196]

Can you use munchies (crunchy mealworms)?

[@nightinggale6470]

I don’t know what you mean by munchies/crunchy mealworms, how are they different from regular mealworms? Mealworms in general aren’t the healthiest staple, and a varied diet is best.

[@morganpenn6869]

QUESTION: Can I leave a few mealworms to burrow in Echo’s (Adult Leo Gecko) substrate? Wouldn’t it be more natural for her?

[@nightinggale6470]

I guess you could, although they would likely pupate and turn into beetles. Your gecko might also get a mouthful of substrate when striking at them, which isn’t ideal. Make sure mealworms aren’t the only thing you’re feeding.

[@ARI-tz3bt]

i got my leopard gecko 3 weeks ago hes a juvenile and weve ONLY fed him crickets from pet land is that oki for him? my crickets arent dying but is that oki? bc we heard that the meal worms turn into beetels than thay eat the gecko... so were not getting them

[@fionashepley478]

Yes, crickets are nutritious and healthy for their main diet. Try giving them more variety in the future though (such as Dubia roaches, silkworms, occasional hornworms and superworms when they’re big enough, etc.). Mealworms are safe to feed for variety, just not their main diet. Darkling beetles can actually be used to clean up the gecko’s poop if the setup is bioactive. Any feeder insect can nibble on the gecko if left in the enclosure for too long without a food source, even crickets.

[@Blueberry-bd5tv]

I’m so happy I found you

[@llove-electrical]

Pets at home use a supplier called monkfield nutrition if I were you I would look for somewhere that use perigrine live foods as a supplier

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Yeah it said monkfield on the label lol. I usually buy from Internet Reptile, not 100% sure who their supplier is though