Petstore vs. Home Bred Feeders

[PinkLeopard]

Hi everyone,

I'm about to adopt my first leopard gecko/first lizard and am doing some research. I've searched posts on this site - forgive me if I missed an obvious one - and have a question:

Are live feeders bought from pet stores (I'm thinking Pet Smart) suitable, or should you be breeding/maintaining feeders at home to provide proper food quality?

I'm not a big insect fan, nor do I want to have a colony of them living in my house. However, I've seen debate on a number of websites about store-bought live feeders being too dehydrated and/or malnourished to properly maintain a gecko. If this is the case, is there any middle ground (ie: gutload live feeders for a few hours at home before feeding) that would provide proper nutrition for my future gecko but still limit the time I have to spend cohabiting with insects?

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

 

[Tongue Flicker]

Feeders should be gutloaded 24 hours prior to the actual feeding. The only advantage of homegrown feeders is that you know exactly what you are feeding it and thus you will be solely responsible for the health of the pet that's gonna eat your feeder

 

[tb144050]

Feeders should be gutloaded 24 hours prior to the actual feeding. The only advantage of homegrown feeders is that you know exactly what you are feeding it and thus you will be solely responsible for the health of the pet that's gonna eat your feeder

and cost..

 

[Tongue Flicker]

and cost..

Yeah and that too lol

 

[lisa127]

I buy mine at the petstore. But I feed them at home what I choose. Usually whole grain oats, sometimes with cricket gutload mixed in. I also keep carrot in there for moisture. I only have two geckos, both males so not huge eaters as adults. It's not worth breeding feeders myself.