Leopard Gecko Care

The leopard gecko is an impressive looking creature, and its docile and easy-to-tame nature makes it an excellent pet. Leopard Geckos are nocturnal, land-dwelling and usually slow-paced. Originally from the desert regions of Southern Asia, the leopard gecko is very common today and has been domesticated in the United States for over 30 years now. Proper care and a nutritional diet will help ensure a long leopard gecko lifespan. What do leopard geckos eat and how can you help them stay healthy? Continue reading to learn all about leopard gecko care

What Do Geckos Eat?

The leopard gecko diet doesn't consist of greens, fruits or vegetables. Instead, leopard geckos eat live insects. While these reptiles are known to eat mealworms, wax worms and superworms, Dubia Roaches are the most common leopard gecko food.

Benefits of Dubia Roaches for Leopard Geckos

Dubia roaches provide a great diet advantage for feeding a leopard gecko. They're high in protein which helps your reptile stay active and healthy. To keep them high in protein, it's important to feed Dubia roaches fresh veggies, fruits and even whole grain cereals. Make sure to avoid feeding these insects cat or dog food, as it contains a lot of chemicals, preservatives and fillers. Providing Dubia roaches with a healthy diet will make them even more nutritional when you feed them to your leopard gecko.

Along with their health benefits, Dubia roaches for leopard geckos offer many other perks. These feeder insects can't jump, so you don't have to worry about them escaping and causing an infestation in your home. Additionally, they don't smell or make noise, which means you won't even know they're there. Best of all, leopard geckos simply love eating Dubia roaches as a main part of their diet.

Preparing Dubia Roaches for Leopard Gecko Feeding

Along with their usual diet, Dubia roaches must be gut loaded at least 12 hours before you feed them to leopard geckos. Gut loading these insects consists of feeding them nutritious, powdered food. To effectively gut load Dubia roaches for leopard geckos, place the insects in an enclosed container with the powder and a piece of a potato as a form of hydration. This is a very important step in preparing the roaches for leopard geckos.

We also recommend dusting the Dubia roaches with vitamins and mineral supplements. The simplest way to do this is to place the insects in a closed bag with the powder and shake lightly to coat them. When adding the powdered insects to the terrarium, make sure none of the powder flies into the leopard gecko's eyes. You can also keep a jar lid or a small dish filled with the powder inside the terrarium. Your leopard gecko will naturally know how much subsistence it needs and will lick it out on its own accord.

How Often Do Leopard Geckos Eat?

After you've prepared the Dubia roaches for leopard geckos, you're ready to feed them. But how frequently should your leopard gecko eat? When determining how often to feed leopard geckos, you must first consider the reptile's age. If you have a baby leopard gecko, feed it daily. In comparison, a full grown leopard gecko should be fed every other day.

Depending on its size, your leopard gecko can eat 3/16" to 1/4" Dubia roaches. A good rule of thumb for leopard gecko feeding is to serve two Dubia roaches per inch of the reptile's length. For example, an eight-inch adult gecko will get 16 insects every other day.

Leopard Gecko Lifespan

With a proper diet of food like Dubia roaches, leopard geckos can live healthy lives. When they first hatch, they typically measure three to four inches from their heads to the tips of their tails. Over time, a leopard gecko's size will increase as it ages. Males are typically larger than females, measuring eight to 10 inches long, while females measure seven to eight inches long. Some males even grow as large as a foot long!

How Long Do Leopard Geckos Live?

Compared to other reptiles, the leopard gecko lifespan can be rather long. On average, females live six to 10 years and males live longer - 10 to 20 years. There have even been reports of leopard geckos living up to 27 years!

Get Top-Quality Leopard Gecko Food at TopFlight Dubia

Leopard geckos are alert, quirky pets that will bring you hours of entertainment. With a balanced diet and adequate care, your reptile will live a long and prosperous life. When you want the very best leopard gecko care, look no further than TopFlight Dubia. We're proud to offer a wide selection of Dubia roaches for leopard geckos in a variety of styles and quantities. To get the best leopard gecko food on the market, shop our selection of bulk Dubia roaches for sale today!

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