Baby Food?

[Scoots85]

Is it good or bad for geckos? I don't mean as a staple diet but as an occasional snack.

 

[liljenn]

Leopard geckos are insectivores and only need a diet of insects. Baby food is not good for them, in fact, I have been told never to feed baby food even to my crested (who is omnivorous). It is high in sugar, thus causing other health problems. If you want to give them an occasional treat, feed a waxworm or 2, they LOVE them. But remember they are like donuts, no real nutritional value, just yummy & fattening! Also, it is good to give them a varied diet. I use mealworms as a staple, and occasionally, crickets, superworms, phoenix worms, and waxworms.

 

[Scoots85]

Thanks!

I ask because I read on multiple sites that geckos do occasionaly eat fruit/veggies in the wild, so sometimes it's good to feed them strained fruit. But you're right; probably better to stick to a regular "recommended" diet.

Right now I have a baby gecko who seems to be growing faster every week. I'm really glad he's healthy and putting on some weight (his tail is really starting to come in nicely!) so I'm thinking pretty soon I'll be giving him some mealworms.
Do they need to be alive when fed to him? I'm feeding him crickets right now and understand how that whole ordeal works, but where would I keep live mealworms? And can I gutload them with the same stuff I'm giving the crickets?

 

[liljenn]

Some types of geckos do eat fruits & vegies in the wild, not leopard geckos. They only eat insects...live insects. I know some people have used the freeze-dried crickets for theirs but most leos will not eat anything dead.

Basically, you put the mealworms in about 1" of wheat bran or ground up wheat cereal, put a few thin slices of carrots or potato on top for moisture & keep them between in a cool, dry area. I keep mine in a mini fridge turned up to 50 degrees. If it is too cold, they die, if it too warm they morph to beetles (non-flying) too soon.

You still need to dust the mealworms with calcium & vitamins, just like the crix, before feeding them to your leo.

Here is a thread about mealworms: http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=26177&referrerid=6657

 

[Scoots85]

Thanks a bunch!

 

[bitterbeauty]

I wouldn't say baby food is bad for geckos. If it were it would not be a key ingrediant in Marcia's slurry. (Squash baby food.)

I have a rescue gecko whom I feed stage 1 organic chicken baby food to when I first got her until I learned about slurry.

Also, I have a female gecko who loves mango and other fruit baby food when I offer it to her. It really just depends on the gecko. Variety is key.

Geckos do eat fruit...there was a thread not to long ago where someone put in a piece of watermelon to sustain the crickets and observed her gecko eat the watermelon. It may not be common but it is not harmful.