Leopard geckos are fascinating creatures for people who have never had a reptile before because they are small, friendly, and easy to take care of. Leopard geckos that have been raised in captivity come in many different sizes, patterns, and colors.
As long as leopard geckos have the proper diet, attention, care, and environment, they are typically problem-free. However, if you can avoid long-term issues, the most crucial components of their care are providing heat, food, and vitamins. To keep your leopard gecko healthy, make sure you go through the following tips.
Providing Feeder Insects
Leopard geckos mostly consume life, moving insects as food. Adults should eat twice or three times a week, and young ones every one to two days. Daily refills of a small container with clean, fresh water are required. In addition, you need to provide a small dish containing calcium powder so that your gecko always has access to this essential nutrient.
Here are some feeding options you might find at most reptile stores that will help your leopard gecko grow healthy.
1. Dubia Roaches
For your leopard gecko, you can buy a variety of roaches, including Turkestan cockroaches, but the Dubia is the most common. Click Top Flight Dubia Roaches if you want it now. You won’t have to be concerned about their escape because this roach cannot climb. If you can build a warm, dark environment, they will not make any sound and are rather simple to reproduce.
They are easy to gather during feeding time, have good nutritional value, and stimulate the hunter instinct because they move faster than mealworms. Dubia roaches provide several benefits but are costlier than other choices.
2. Mealworms
The most common bug to feed the leopard gecko is a mealworm. They are simple to locate and don’t cost too much at most pet stores. They last a while, and if you want to feed your pet for less money, you can breed them.
Even though they are a little high in fat or have a low calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, the leopard gecko might love them, and you shouldn’t have any trouble making them a regular part of its diet. But the hard shell might sometimes make it hard for them to digest, and as they prefer to dig down, it may be hard to find them when it’s time to eat.
3. Crickets
Feeding the leopard gecko crickets is another great idea; many people may prefer them as they are healthier. Crickets can also jump, which makes your pet want to hunt. This makes your pet happier and more active, which can help fight obesity. In addition, it’s quite low in fat, easy to digest, and has a lot of protein for your pet. Like mealworms, they may be easy to buy or raise, and you can keep a low-cost food source going as long as you have room.
If you’ve never had a lizard before, you may not have known that crickets stink. Even putting some of them in a chamber will make the room smell terrible. Jumping and chirping all the time can make a lot of noise, and they may find a way to get away.
4. Waxworms
Your leopard gecko loves waxworms and will walk considerable distances to get them, ignoring other items that may be in its way. Waxworms are nourishing, but they also have a significant amount of fat and might make your pet gain weight. Therefore, most specialists advise giving them as a rare treatment to avoid obesity and the associated health issues.
Additionally, some owners treat them as bribes to persuade stubborn geckos to resume eating. Although waxworms may not be difficult to produce, it is usually preferable to buy a little at a time because they do not do well with daily feeding.
5. Other Feeder Insects
There are additional insects that serve as food sources, and they’re much more challenging to acquire and often relatively expensive. If you see any of these worms for sale, it is recommended to use them to provide your leopard gecko with a varied diet.
Hornworms, super worms, silkworms, and butter worms are all suitable for leopard geckos to occasionally consume. However, the Black Soldier Fly Larvae are among the most well-liked exotic foods because it has the right calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, and you can find them frequently from online stores.
Providing Supplements
Sadly, no home diet can match the diversity that lizards get in their natural environments. This is why the feeder bugs must be gut-loaded before being given to your pet. They should be sprinkled with powdered vitamin and mineral supplements explicitly formulated for reptiles.
Regarding powdered supplements, choose the multivitamin powder that contains vitamin D3, as leopard geckos are nocturnal/twilight animals. Since they do not spend time in the sun and under UVA/UVB rays, they must receive Vitamin D3 via their diet.
Housing
A 10-gallon container or aquarium can hold a single leopard gecko. The cage needs to be at least 6 inches tall. Screen tops are essential if your lizard doesn’t want to get out of its cage.
You should give them a box or hut to hide inside and wet cypress mulch, sphagnum moss, or vermiculite to help control moisture and shed. You can put reptile carpet, paper towels, bark, or newspaper on the floor of the cage. Coarse sand, corncobs, as well as crushed walnut shells, should not be used as bedding because they might eat them and get a blockage in their intestines.
Heating and Lighting
The mid-eighties (Fahrenheit; 30 degrees Celsius) is the optimal temperature for leopard geckos. However, Geckos can live in temperatures down to as 21°C (70°F) at night. Under tank heaters, heat tapes, and low-level basking lights are good ways to heat the cage. Do not put hot rocks in the tank.
Geckos don’t need ultraviolet B (UVB), but it’s good for them. The plastic will melt if you put a dome light lid on a plastic surface while the lamp is on. Also, ensure that your gecko can’t get nearer than 6 inches to a heat light because it can cause thermal burns. To get the most out of the UVB lights, your gecko should be 10 to 12 inches away.
Final Words
A diversified diet is essential for providing proper nutrition when you are keeping this intriguing reptile as a pet. Remember that only live, captive-bred insects should be given to your leopard gecko. To keep your leopard gecko healthy, providing a suitable environment and proper diet is a must. Make sure you are following the tips mentioned above and feeding it right to keep it by your side in good shape for a long time.
