Dubia Roaches

[LurancyVenom]

Do you guys recommend trying Dubia roaches with Leopard Geckos?
My boy has turned his nose up at crickets, but I don't want to keep him on mealies.

He's 10" and weighs 89g, so I'm not quite sure how many he'd need.
(I'm new to all this...)


1.0.0 - Leopard Gecko

 

[SC Geckos]

dubia are a great feeder option for leopard geckos one of the best feeder out there IMO. I feed a staple diet of mealworms and once a week I offer a few dubia. Variety is the best option and not settling on one feeder. Just an FYI the best way to feed dubia IMO is tong feeding.

 

[LurancyVenom]

Thanks.
He was eating crickets for the first week I had him, but then started turning his nose up at them, so I had to switch to mealies with the odd waxy tossed in.
I dust them in D3 powder, and he's got calcidust in the tank too.


1.0.0 - Leopard Gecko

 

[SC Geckos]

Thanks.
He was eating crickets for the first week I had him, but then started turning his nose up at them, so I had to switch to mealies with the odd waxy tossed in.
I dust them in D3 powder, and he's got calcidust in the tank too.

No problem.
I would also recommend using a multi vitamin as well to ensure the geckos gets the proper nutrition. A good vitamin supplement is just as important as a Calcium supplement.

 

[LurancyVenom]

Will do. I'm going feeder shopping on Saturday so I'll ask then.


1.0.0 - Leopard Gecko

 

[Nooon]

Try younger crickets. My leo never liked the grown-ups. I think it is the smell. Crickets start smelling much worse when they reach adulthood.

...but Dubias are nicer anyway -more nutricius and not as high in phosphorus.
...and much easier to handle.

 

[LurancyVenom]

He was fine with them up to a week ago, then suddenly stopped chasing them.


1.0.0 - Leopard Gecko

 

[Nooon]

Maybe there is another reason.
He might be shedding - losing appetite just before and a little after.
He might be cold. Is it warm enough for him to digest the food?
Is he stressed over something?
What time do you feed him? My leo is never interested in food any other time than in the evening.
Then there might be some other problem but if he seems healthy you don´t have to worry yet. Sometimes the just don´t eat.

 

[LurancyVenom]

He's eating mealies fine, and his tank's at about 31-32 °c.
He shed about a week ago, but he's looking dull again.
He's gaining weight, but I don't want to keep him on just mealies and waxies.


1.0.0 - Leopard Gecko

 

[Nooon]

Worms are candy - high i fat. He might be a little spoiled... and not hungry enough for the staple food. I´d let him wait and not give him any candy until he eats food.

 

[LurancyVenom]

Oh, I sound like a terrible mum. Haha!
I'll get some roaches today and see what he does.


1.0.0 - Leopard Gecko

 

[SC Geckos]

Worms are candy - high i fat. He might be a little spoiled... and not hungry enough for the staple food. I´d let him wait and not give him any candy until he eats food.

Wax Worms are high in fat and should not be used as a regular food source but mealworms on the other hand are perfectly fine to feed as a regular food source. I think roaches are the best option for a feeder insect but variety trumps any one insect.

 

[Mclaughlin]

^agreed

 

[LurancyVenom]

So mealies and crickets are good, but waxies should only be used sparingly?
Sorry if this seems dumb, but Google brings up conflicting information.


1.0.0 - Leopard Gecko

 

[Mclaughlin]

Correct.

 

[LurancyVenom]

I'm trying him again on some small crickets, but he seems distinctly unimpressed. He just watched it wander across in front of him, then he vanished off to his hide. :S


1.0.0 - Leopard Gecko

 

[SC Geckos]

Sorry if this seems dumb, but Google brings up conflicting information.

Forget using google when you have some of the best gecko breeders in the world on this forum. lol! Try using the search function on here for any questions you may have. Almost any question you can think of regarding leopard gecko care or health has been asked and answered in a thread at some point in time.

Here are a few other places with great info:
Gecko Blog: Breeder interviews, photo contests, gecko care | GeckoTime.com
Leopard Gecko Wiki

Hope this helps

 

[LurancyVenom]

Thank you
This is my second leo, but my first passed away after 2 weeks because she was ill when I bought her, so I'm kind of learning as I go. I did a load of research before buying my first, but a fair amount of that has been disproven by this forum, or is completely against common sense (i.e. using sand-stupid idea!!)


1.0.0 - Leopard Gecko

 

[Nooon]

Wax Worms are high in fat and should not be used as a regular food source but mealworms on the other hand are perfectly fine to feed as a regular food source. I think roaches are the best option for a feeder insect but variety trumps any one insect.

Yes.

Waxworms - ~ 22% fat
Mealworms - ~ 12% fat
Crickets and Dubia - ~6% fat

If the amount of fat is equivalent to "deliciousness" than the choice between mealworms and insects is obvious. Of course there may be other reasons... like laziness - the mealworms are not going anywhere... or perhaps they twist and turn in the most tempting way.

 

[Kylerbassman]

Superworms are a good feeder too. Much cheaper then Dubia. My female loves them.