Gecko Food?

[AB3]

How do you guys feel about feeding geckos non-live insects and worms??

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

In my experience, leopard geckos will not eat anything that isn't alive and moving.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

They most likely will not eat them. They go after what they see moving. Plus, dead insects could be carrying bacteria.

 

[AB3]

ok, do they eat any kind of vegetable matter??

 

[Chibi Alien Monster]

My gecko only ate a dead bug twice while I had it.
One was a dead mealworm from Can O'Worms(the worms in there got moldy after just eight days, so we had to throw it out).
The other one was a cricket. It was alive when I put it in the leo's cage, though five minutes later it died(probably from hunger. This was from before I started gut loading them.)
When the gecko noticed it, its tail started twitching, and he stared at it for five minutes straight. XD
I went downstairs, ate breakfast, and when I came back upstairs the dead cricket was gone.

So leopard geckos probably will eat dead food, but it varies with the gecko.
I suggest you don't waste your money on dead food anyways.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

ok, do they eat any kind of vegetable matter??

Fruits and vegetables are not part of a leo's diet. I do not know if there are health issues with it, but it is not a natural part of their diet. I am sure some may eat it, but I would say it is a waste of your time. Stick to gutloading your insects and thats all you need.

 

[AB3]

what do i need to keep crickets?

 

[AB3]

i would get mealworms but my mom would never let me do it. (im only 17, just so you dont think im some 40 year old guy who still lives with his parents.)

 

[crayolaskies]

Crickets are a good food for geckos, but you should vary their diet with other insects such as mealworms and superworms. There are many other insects you can feed them, I just don't know the names. I feed my geckos mealworms and supers, with crickets and waxworms as an occasional treat. Keep in mind that mealworms and superworms are much easier to keep than crickets, plus crickets have more risk of carrying bacteria.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

what do i need to keep crickets?

You can go to your local pet shop and get a Cricket Keeper. It is a little plastic tank with two black tubes. The crickets climb into the tubes, you can empty the tubes into a bag to dust them with calcium, and then dump them into your tank.

i would get mealworms but my mom would never let me do it. (im only 17, just so you dont think im some 40 year old guy who still lives with his parents.)

For your mom's sake, I would think she would rather mealworms. Crickets escape, make noise, and smell in large quantities. You could use a cooler and put a few ice packs in there with the mealworms? Just a thought. Mealworms are the easiest feeder, I feel.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

Crickets are a good food for geckos, but you should vary their diet with other insects such as mealworms and superworms. There are many other insects you can feed them, I just don't know the names.

Roaches are also a very good feeder insect. Some argue it is the best. I won't have roaches in my house, and if your mom doesn't want mealwoms, I will bet my life savings she won't want roaches. Freak her out enough and maybe she will buy you your own place.. haha. But, like she said, they need a variety. Try to get her to agree to crickets, and mealworms at least and you will be fine.

 

[AB3]

She just hates worms, terrified. Whats the cooler and Ice pack for u lost me.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

She just hates worms, terrified. Whats the cooler and Ice pack for u lost me.

Oh wow, sorry my fault. You need to refrigerate mealworms. So, my bet would be she won't let them in her fridge. So if you put ice packs in a cooler, out of her site maybe it would be ok.

 

[AB3]

ooo, maybe if I keep it in the basement or something, what else do i need to keep them alive?? Would just a plastic tank be ok, if its in a cooler?

 

[Scott&Nikki]

ooo, maybe if I keep it in the basement or something, what else do i need to keep them alive?? Would just a plastic tank be ok, if its in a cooler?

The mealworms usually come in a little plastic dish. If you get them from Petco it isn't even see-thru. You can keep them in there. In the cold they kinda hibernate, so it is a good idea to take them out for a few minutes every week. You can gut load them (feed them) when you do this.

 

[AB3]

I just put the gutload in the dish while its out of the cooler? maybe it will work. And they dont smell right?

 

[Scott&Nikki]

I just put the gutload in the dish while its out of the cooler? maybe it will work. And they dont smell right?

No, they don't smell. My leo does not eat the mealworms right away. So, I just put the gutload in the dish inside of the tank. But you can gutload some mealies a couple days before putting them in the tank if you want.

 

[AB3]

Will anything happen if the gecko eats the gutload?? How many worms do you feed and how often? Do you have to dust the worms to?

 

[Scott&Nikki]

Will anything happen if the gecko eats the gutload?? How many worms do you feed and how often? Do you have to dust the worms to?

No, thats fine if it eats it. You can even mix in some calcium so that when he goes for the mealworm he gets some of that too. You can put as many in the dish as you want and keep them in there all the time. They cannot escape if the bowl is tall enough (but short enough so your leo can get in). He will eat until he is full. That's why I said before that mealworms are the easiest. Almost like a "set it, and forget it" type of thing.

 

[AB3]

But I thought they had to be kept cold