Best Gecko Diet?

XoVictoryXo

XoVictoryXo

New member
I have to say I used to have a horrible fear of bugs. As in the whole screeching standing on top of chairs flapping my arms. (pathetic LOL) But ever since I got my gecko I got over that fear quickly. LOL. Now I see a bug and Im nonchalantly like, hmm, I should feed you to my geckos (of course I dont) lol.
Never did I imagine I would be spending the $$ on bugs.
OK, So I want to feed my lizards the best mixed diet there is. Apparently I have been feeding them wrong this whole time.
I usually give them a dozen small sized gutloaded calcium dusted crickets a week. I dump them all in the geckos cage and provide cricket food inside the tank. They eat 4 or 5 off the bat, then there are stragglers that hide from them.
I tried to keep lots of crickets separate in a small carrier cage and they all died in one day and cleaning that made me vomit. lol
I also feed maybe one or 2 gutloaded dusted mealworms a day. I am now reading that they are not good for leopard geckos?
And probably 1 or 2 waxworms a week as a treat. I also now learn they are not good? Which is sad, I loved watching them enjoy that treat once in a while. :(
In my area these are the only options:
Crix
Mealworms
Superworms- seem way too large for them
waxworms

Thats it!!

I plan to purchase some silkworm eggs and try my best to start harvesting them.
Any other options for nutritious bugs? Uhm except roaches... I just can NOT have roaches in my house in fear they escape and populate!
Can anyone recommend me a good online supplier for bugs and tips on harvesting them?
 
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Riverside Reptiles

Riverside Reptiles

Administrator (HMFIC)
Firstly, a varied diet is the best diet. That being said, tropical roaches are by far the best staple for a variety of reasons. Your fears about them infesting your home are unfounded as these are not the same as the domestic roaches that you're worried about. Without the proper conditions, they may survive for a little while if they escape, but they will not reproduce. You're more likely to get infested with crickets. Besides the better nutritional value of roaches, the financial savings and freedom from having to go to the pet store all the time to get your feeders are yet two more reasons to "go roach". Perhaps you'd be more comfortable if you called them "Happy sunshine beetles"??? The two most popular types in the herp industry tend to be dubia and lateralis. Both have their benefits, but lateralis is a species of roach that is found in the natural environment of leopard geckos and thus a natural prey item for them.

All that being said, crickets can certainly be used. Make sure they are properly gut loaded as well as properly dusted. Mealworms are fine as a small part of a varied diet, but not great for a staple. They're basically impossible to gut load due to their short intestinal tract and they're chitinous shell keeps them from being able to be well dusted. It hasw also been known to cause impaction issues. Waxworms really have no place in a leos diet as they are basically nothing but fat and leos are NOT humans and do not need "treats".
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
This is my first choice. Mulberry Farms - Silkworms and other premium feeder insects
If they are out of silkworms, then I buy them here. Coastal Silkworms, Your Online Worm Shop
Look under care and raising tips for information. Just so you know there are roach species for example dubias that do not climb. They are not a bother at all actually. They stay hidden in between egg crates and I have never had an escape problem. You can also feed baby hornworms as treats since they grow too fast.
 
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cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
That place also sells a small amount of roaches in a cup if you change your mind and want to give them a try first. They are also pretty good about giving you sizes you prefer if you request it in the note check out section.
 
XoVictoryXo

XoVictoryXo

New member
My male Gecko Rex loved the phoenix worms I got! My female wants nothing to do with it. I tried to place one in front of her, not interested. I then taunted her with it with the tongs letting it tickle her nose, she looked annoyed. Then You know what she did? turned around and ate a stupid cricket instead. LOL I have to laugh because I shouted out, I BUY YOU THESE GOURMET EXPENSIVE WORMS AND YOU EAT A DUSTY CRICKET? lol!!
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
XoVictoryXo said:
My male Gecko Rex loved the phoenix worms I got! My female wants nothing to do with it. I tried to place one in front of her, not interested. I then taunted her with it with the tongs letting it tickle her nose, she looked annoyed. Then You know what she did? turned around and ate a stupid cricket instead. LOL I have to laugh because I shouted out, I BUY YOU THESE GOURMET EXPENSIVE WORMS AND YOU EAT A DUSTY CRICKET? lol!!
Click to expand...

:lol: I can't remember her age, but if you feed her every other day, try offering them the day after no food and without other insects present. Some just won't eat them, but worth a try.
 
A

AnthonyRenna

New member
Go with the roaches they are pretty much just the best, I use roaches and silkworms as the staple and mix in phoenix worms and mix in butterworms for a treat(they are fatty but also have more calcium than silkworms).Occasionally I'll throw in some crickets too just to switch it up I also give a bi-weekly waxworm I know they aren't nessecary but I treat my leos anyway. If my gecko refuses to eat anything else I'll offer a super worm or meal worm otherwise I sell off my colonies or feed the local birds
 
XoVictoryXo

XoVictoryXo

New member
Im going to think for a bit about the roaches. Im traumatized, My last apartment was invaded by roaches and I had to break the lease to move out. lol

Xena took to the phoenix worms finally! Nice :)
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