Looking for advice in regards to what to feed

[corviknight]

Heya! Just made this account yesterday and have been silently reading around a bit. I've been preparing to add a leopard gecko into my family for a few weeks now and I'm just about ready. It's tank is set up, heated, all that good stuff. This is my first reptile, so I'm trying to be cautious and do everything right, if possible. Only thing is, for some reason I was running on the information that feeding exclusively mealworms would be healthy, which this site is telling me is NOT true.
I'll front this discussion by saying I REALLY don't like bugs, but I really love geckos so I'm making, an exception I guess? Also, my dad agreed I could get one provided we're not filling the house up with creepy crawlies. My point is, yes I've read that a variety of different insects is ideal but I'd rather keep it to 2, maybe 3. Mealworms I know I can keep in the fridge. Crickets.. ugh. I've read they're not incredibly nutritious anyway? And also that it's a bit more difficult to feed them to babies since they're slower hunters. If anything, I'd rather wait till the baby is bigger and they won't be an issue hopping around their tank.
In the meantime, I'm seeing that black soldier fly larvae are a healthy choice? But I can't find much elaboration on that. (they look relatively easy to raise, though I haven't done the research yet)
Also, I have Repashy's calcium/multivitamin supplement, which I'm planning on just putting in there aside from the bugs.
So, I guess what I'm asking is, would a diet of the fly larvae with a side of mealworms be sufficient while the little bab is growing up?
(As an aside, I know how these kinds of forums work and I apologize if my question is redundant. Like I said, I did look around quite a bit before posting)
Thank you for reading!

 

[acpart]

Welcome to GU! The issue of what to feed your gecko is pretty complicated and there are a lot of opinions. If you want to read up a bit on gecko nutrition, here's a pretty straightforward article: Nutritional Value of Commercially Raised Insects - Gecko Time - Gecko Time

I brought up my hatchling leopard geckos on mealworms and they were all healthy. Some people do use mealworms exclusively. I have to say that the geckos I kept into adulthood got kind of bored with mealworms eventually. Black soldier fly larvae are easy to care for because you don't feed them (they are in a state of having finished eating and being ready to pupate and turn into flys which I believe doesn't happen because the conditions aren't right for it). They are nutritionally sound, but they don't move that much and some leopard geckos aren't interested in them. I feed my geckos crickets and super worms. You may be OK with mealworms and occasional feedings of super worms and crickets. You could buy just the number of crickets that are needed for one feeding once a week and put the crickets directly into to gecko cage for minimal annoyance of keeping crickets. I would recommend sprinkling the Repashy calcium plus over the mealworms or dusting the crickets with it rather than keeping it in the cage because it is possible for the gecko to overdose on the supplement.

Aliza

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

Here's Mark Finke, PhD's, chart updated with more insects and worms by DubiaRoaches.com


(click to enlarge)

 

[corviknight]

Thank you both so much!! That clears things up for me. (the article + chart are very helpful!)
Just brought the bab home today, they're already eating their mealworms which is great because I had expected them not to while they're still settling in. Also means I definitely need to order more right away though, haha. I'm gonna go with the idea of sticking to mealworms and the the larvae and occasionally supplementing crickets as they get bigger. As for superworms, I see that they're a good source of fat but I've heard horror stories of them biting geckos (??) Is there much difference between them and say, butter/wax worms? (other than exact nutritional values)

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thank you both so much!! That clears things up for me. (the article + chart are very helpful!)
Just brought the bab home today, they're already eating their mealworms which is great because I had expected them not to while they're still settling in. Also means I definitely need to order more right away though, haha. I'm gonna go with the idea of sticking to mealworms and the the larvae and occasionally supplementing crickets as they get bigger. As for superworms, I see that they're a good source of fat but I've heard horror stories of them biting geckos (??) Is there much difference between them and say, butter/wax worms? (other than exact nutritional values)

You're welcome! Nice to hear your leo is eating right away. Did you get 2 leos?

Waxworms are especially tiny. Butterworms are much larger. Both are super high in fat. I've heard the superworm "stories" too. Other keepers have fed superworms without any issues.

For 97 click: Butterworms: Nutritional Content & Care......Frank Indiviglio, herpetologist

 

[corviknight]

No, just one! I've been using they/them pronouns simply because they're too young to sex yet. (well, that's what I've read - haven't gotten to the point where I could handle them to check anyway) I've finally named them Blue.
Once again, that clears things up nicely, thank you!
Unfortunately, my area will be too hot this week to ship any live feeders to, so I'll have to get by with pet store mealworms for a little longer.
I'm glad to report that Blue has been consistently active and eating, it seems they've been settling in very well!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

No, just one! I've been using they/them pronouns simply because they're too young to sex yet. (well, that's what I've read - haven't gotten to the point where I could handle them to check anyway) I've finally named them Blue.
Once again, that clears things up nicely, thank you!
Unfortunately, my area will be too hot this week to ship any live feeders to, so I'll have to get by with pet store mealworms for a little longer.
I'm glad to report that Blue has been consistently active and eating, it seems they've been settling in very well!

You're welcome. :biggrin:

:banana:: Blue!

Are you possibly interested in breeding Blue's mealworms? Just set up a 6 quart Sterilite bin with an inch of bedding (Professional Reptiles' Pro Gutloard dry insect diet) + 100 or so mealworms. Breeding will happen.

Just don't buy Timberline's Giant Mealworms. They are sterile.

 

[corviknight]

Yes actually, I want to try doing that!
I can't seem to.. find any mealworms? xD I tried getting some from a local pet store to hold us over until I could order a breeder kit online but they told me there's some of 'national mealworm shortage'?? I dunno if that's a thing, but more than one store told us so, one of whom I trust. So uh.. have you guys heard anything like that?
Regardless, now that the heatwave is over I'll just be ordering from Josh's Frogs.

 

[acpart]

Yes, there is a big mealworm shortage. I don't know why. I don't use mealworms anymore so it hasn't been an issue for me. You could try putting an ad in local craigslist to see if anyone is breeding them. I saw an ad in my local craigslist recently where someone was offering mealworms they were breeding.

Aliza

 

[corviknight]

"now that the heatwave is over I'll just be ordering from Josh's Frogs" ..Is what I said but did not happen. Damnit New York, I do not need this last burst of summer heat right now.
Sighs. I'm down to my last few mealworms. Poor Blue does not appreciate their current meager rations.
Anyway. I'm still searching different pet stores. When I was at Petco a few weeks ago they had some other worm options, might see if they still do and grab some to hold us over. (I don't remember specifically what they were though..) I've also put up a craigslist ad as Acpart suggested (good idea!)

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I have no idea how long this mealworm shortage will last. Do any of the pet stores you usually buy from know?

Buy some Repashy's Grub Pie. Mix this powder with water according to the instructions. 2-3 parts water with 1 part powdered Grub Pie. Maybe that will tide your leo over.

Blue may reconsider crickets and dubia.

 

[corviknight]

Update!! We finally found a pet store that had mealworms on hand. Yay! Blue even ate one I was holding on tweezers. (and then immediately ran away. but still. baby steps)
Gonna go about breeding them hopefully, so as to avoid any future crisis like this, but I will keep in mind the Grub Pie in case of emergency!
I think that means I'm done here. Once again, thank you for all of your help and advice everyone.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Also, I have Repashy's calcium/multivitamin supplement, which I'm planning on just putting in there aside from the bugs.

Update!! We finally found a pet store that had mealworms on hand. Yay! Blue even ate one I was holding on tweezers. (and then immediately ran away. but still. baby steps)
Gonna go about breeding them hopefully, so as to avoid any future crisis like this, but I will keep in mind the Grub Pie in case of emergency!
I think that means I'm done here. Once again, thank you for all of your help and advice everyone.

As Aliza mentioned on post #2 free access to any multivitamin in an enclosure 24/7 is risky. That potentially allows key vitamins to be overdosed. I agree. Lightly dusting supplements onto the prey is much safer.

Oftentimes experienced keepers and breeders tweak the supplements more than the manufacturer suggests based upon the health of their leopard geckos.

Supplements stick better to crickets and to dubia than they do to mealworms or to superworms.

Here's the Repashy's Calcium Plus (all-in-one) multivitamin schedule that GU's acpart (Aliza Arzt) has used for all her leopard geckos ----> breeders and non-breeders. You'll need 2 different powders.

Repashy's Calcium Plus (all-in-one) multivitamin
(without UVB)​

R = Repashy's Calcium Plus, Cc = pure precipitated calcium carbonate (without vitamin D3)

Week 1:
M-------T-------W------Th-------F-------Sat-------Sun
R.....................Cc...............................R...................


Week 2:
M-------T-------W------Th-------F-------Sat-------Sun
Cc...............................R..........................................

For hatchlings 0-2 months old: Aliza also places a bottle cap of pure precipitated calcium carbonate (without vitamin D3) in the cage 24/7.

Repeat this schedule every 2 weeks throughout your leos' lives.

 

[Geecko123]

Have you considerd Dubia Roaches, they are the absolute best possible food for your reptile, the pros are: they have soft shells, don't stink, don't climb, jump, fly, ect. they are very nutritious, are very easy to care for, live longer than crickets, and are slowish moving so your reptile can catch it easily, the only con I can think of is they sometimes will play dead.