For instance, if you have a seriously overweight leopard gecko, then you’re probably going to want to stick with feeding them crickets, silkworms, or hornworms until you get their weight under control. Although some disagree, I believe that cohabiting is completely fine, but if you have two leopard geckos that just don’t want to get along, then you’ll need to separate them as one of them can bite the other one’s tail causing it to fall off or stress them out enough to the point where the stressed out gecko will eventually drop it on their own. Ever since I was a child, I’ve always had this deep passion and interest for reptiles that eventually led me to become the proud owner of multiple snakes, lizards, frogs, and turtles. This is especially helpful in the instance of feeding grubs and some roaches, as they are unable to escape from these bowls. It’s a list of all of the bugs that I feed to my leopard gecko not only to provide him with a variety but also for maintaining his weight as well. The cooler end will by default not be as warm. Whenever a leopard gecko drops their tail, they have the ability to grow back another one, but because their new tail is never as chunky or healthy-looking as their original tail, it’s important that we’re protecting it at all costs. Let your gecko get comfortable by sitting in its favorite warm spot on your body, and then settle in to watch a movie. Leopard geckos (opens in new tab) are small, insectivorous lizards native to the deserts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Iran. Avoid handling your new pet for the first week, or until it’s eating consistently. If your leopard gecko’s tail is thicker than its neck or has bubbles of fat and tissue behind its arms, it is overweight. ReptileJam.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. But if it’s more than that, your leopard gecko is probably be fat. Tap water is also acceptable; it contains many trace minerals, which may be beneficial for your pet. With hundreds of articles on everything pertaining to lizards, turtles, and snakes, our experienced team provides reliable and accurate content you can trust. they store the extra fat they get form their food in their tails, and use up the reserve when they are malnourished. Younger animals and animals that are used for breeding may benefit from insects with higher fat content. Compared to adult leopard geckos, juvenile leopard geckos need: Not sure how often to feed your baby or how much to give them? Just think about it, would you rather gain weight fast by eating cake, pizza, and ice cream every day and have complications in the future or would you rather eat healthier foods and gain it over time? A leopard geckos tail is arguably one of the cutest parts of their body but because they’re so chunky, it often leads owners to wonder why they are. As such, you’ll need to regularly inspect the enclosure to ensure no uneaten bugs remain as they can pester and stress out your pet. Keep them in the original container in the door of your fridge for up to four months. Pre-anal pores: Male leopard geckos have a distinct V-shaped row of pre-anal pores in front of their vent. Its legs shouldn't turn into little sausages, and its belly shouldn't be too round. What is a healthy leopard geckos tail size? Depending on the insect species, you can care for them and keep them alive for up to several months before you feed them to your leo. If your leopard gecko is stressed, it will eat less and will have trouble … Hi, I’m Devin, and this is me (far right) and my family. Drastic weight gain and extreme weight loss are equally detrimental to your pet’s health, but now you know how you can resolve either issue by paying attention to feeder insect nutritional content, feeding frequency, environmental conditions, and providing veterinary care as needed. As stated above, they come from environments where food can be really hard to come by due to other predators taking it or in the winter where a lot of their prey either die or hibernate. As stated above, they come from environments where food can be really hard to come by due to other predators taking it or in the winter where a lot of their prey either die or hibernate. Their tails should only be used in emergency situations and they should never be put in a position where they have to frequently use it because of a lack of food or water. They very quickly adjust to being handled and are easy-to-care for any first-time owner! As a rule of thumb, don’t feed your leopard gecko any insects that are bigger than the space between their eyes. So, you may only find this beneficial if your pet is still a juvenile. Reptile.Guide is not a veterinary website, nor should any of the reptile health information on our site replace the advice of a certified veterinary professional. Your pet only has eyes for delicacies that are creepy and crawly! Because taking care of them for the vast majority of my life wasn’t fulfilling enough, I decided to begin educating others about them through my articles. My standards at the time were plump or fat meant normal and happy. This should be a temporary dietary addition only. The general rule of thumb is that if it’s not a feeder insect or a vitamin supplement, don’t feed it to your leopard gecko. This is why it’s important be well educated on ALL your leopard gecko substrate options. This may help you and your leopard gecko form a bond. This is why supplementing with vitamins is SO important! Monitor your leopard gecko’s weight closely with a kitchen or postal scale that weighs in grams. Their cute appearance, small size, and easy husbandry requirements make them a popular pet for reptile keepers. You could offer canned or freeze-dried insects, but they aren’t as nutritional as fresh, live insects, and most leopard geckos are uninterested in prey that doesn’t move. Consider the following 7 reasons below. A pet leopard gecko’s diet typically consists of mealworms and crickets. Females must be healthy, not underweight, and should be a minimum of fifty grams. Keep in an open-top container without the lid, in wheat bran or oat bedding, at room temperature for up to a year. In order to protect it, you’ll want to do a few things. A leopard gecko also stores fat in its tail. Congratulations on finishing this crash course in leopard gecko diet and nutrition! You are going to want to wait for your leopard gecko to reach at least one year in age before you consider breeding. You see, commercial vitamin supplements help to bridge this dietary gap. The leopard gecko has a tail that can detach if the animal is caught by a predator. She may even eat them. Your Leopard Gecko must drink clean, fresh water, that should be available in your gecko's tank at all times. You may choose to offer insects and invertebrates you find outside in your yard, but keep in mind that these insects are likely to be carrying parasites and possibly even insecticides and other outdoor poisons. If you did, then I recommend checking out. Ideally, your new Leopard Gecko should… Have a tail that is plump and fat, preferably as wide or wider than the space between the gecko’s shoulders; Have eyes, nose, and mouth that appear clear, with no visible discharge. Leopard Gecko Food Review 2020- What Should I Feed My Gecko? Leopard gecko tails come in various different sizes from long to short all the way to extremely fat to a little skinnier, but they all have one thing in common and that’s to store the things needed in it in order to help them survive. My mind would race as I tried to figure out what the best way to add some weight especially for my rescues. Assuming that most owners don’t want to rehome their leopard gecko, I recommend taking a look at this tank here from Amazon to prevent any major tail injuries or any other injuries that may take a toll on your leopard geckos overall wellbeing. Females that are ovulating may not have an appetite, but egg production takes a lot of resources, and they’ll need extra food and supplements once their appetite picks up. She tends to beg and look at me next to the bowl when shes hungry. The first step to resolving this problem is to relax…. This way, you’ll never have to even fuss with insects dead or alive! ... Nutritional Information for leopard gecko food: Moisture 69.07%, Fat 6.01%, Protein 21.32%, Fiber … This is an EMERGENCY and can be fatal if left untreated. You have and a number of different factors, however this is a good guide. Well, then why not consider adopting one of many strictly vegetarian reptiles instead? These days, there is a vast array of feeder insects available. There are insects out there such as wax worms and butter worms that are high in fat that will assist your gecko in gaining weight, but because they can become addicted to them and cause them to gain way more weight than what’s healthy for them, these types of bugs should only be fed as treats, which for leopard geckos is about once every two weeks. Rest assured, if your leopard gecko is not eating… there’s a reason! However, there is a small risk of calcium overdose, so some keepers choose to dust all feeder insects with calcium, instead. These insects have ideal or close to ideal protein and fat content, and they can be the staple of your pet’s diet. These things include either rehoming the aggressive leopard gecko to avoid further attacks or putting one of them in their own separate tank for the same exact reason. So before you do something or put your leopard gecko in a position to where they could potentially sustain some sort of injury to their tail, be mindful of all of the things that both of you have to go through if it ever were to happen. Although caring for an African fat-tail is very similar to caring for a leopard gecko, AFTs are a bit more sensitive and will greatly suffer without the above requirements. and two Pine Isle Geckos, as well as a variety of snakes. A super worm that has recently consumed apples, carrots, and sweet potato will contain more vitamins and nutrients than a super worm that has only eaten oats its whole life. As a gecko matures, these round pores that look like dots become quite prominent and exude a waxy material. For the answer to the question though, please read on. Note. For leopard geckos, you need to look at their eyes. Ensure that your leopard gecko has access to a basking spot or hide that consistently measures 87-94°F. Taking your pet out of its enclosure for some exercise and enrichment can also go a long way. If you’d like to know how to protect their tails along with ways to make it fatter, here’s how. Do you really want to go to the pet store that often? If they can’t digest their food, they aren’t going to want to eat. Feeding a variety of different insects is an essential form of enrichment for your pet. It’s important to know all of this information because, depending on your leo’s age, weight, and overall health, you may find a preference for one feeder over another. Not to fret however, this guide will show you how I have dealt with the meanest lizards making them puppy dog tame. Leopard Geckos are native to the arid mountains of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey in Asia while Fat Tail Geckos are native to the savannas of West Africa. Also, please note that adolescent leopard geckos require MORE calcium than adults. What temperature should I keep my leopard gecko at? This can be great for enriching your pet’s life and encouraging exercise but could also lead to uneaten feeder insects hiding in the enclosure. Meat is generally viewed as unhealthy for leopard geckos due to low calcium and high fat levels. Just consult the breakdown below…, Amount: As much as they can eat in fifteen minutes. If your leopard gecko seems hesitant to eat from a bowl, you can try fasting him or her for a few days and using a clear container with extra-wriggly insects to stimulate its hunting and feeding response. These little guys usually have voracious appetites and will happily gorge themselves with whatever food is available. Expert Tip: Not 100% sure you’re down with the whole insect thing? In fact, doing so will give you 2 distinct benefits…. This will give your leopard gecko enough food to sustain them without choking them. Reptile.Guide is the preferred educational source on reptiles favored by experienced herptologists and new owners alike. Keep their food moist. Males can also become so distracted with trying to find a partner that they lose interest in food during the breeding season, too. Sounds pretty manageable considering other reptiles, such as the bearded dragon can lay a whopping 20 (and in some instances even more!) Others will just fall asleep in a warm spot. Even after the first week, some stressed-out geckos may be finicky eaters for several more weeks. From proper husbandry and habitat guidance, to articles on health concerns, diet, and extensive care guides, Reptile Guide is here to educate everyone on all things reptiles. . To avoid the risk of a calcium overdose, some keepers remove the calcium dish once their leopard gecko reaches adulthood and opt to dust the feeder insects, instead. No worries! of the following: Treat insects have a high amount of fat. Any changes, even little ones, to their environment or enclosure can cause this cycle to repeat itself. A movie just 1 to 2 mealworms the breeding season for leopard geckos as a final,... Suspect a gastrointestinal blockage, take your leopard gecko food Review 2020- what should keep... Assuming that most owners don ’ t have the anatomy required to digest fruits, vegetables, and water always! Have nice, thick, and Pakistan to Northwest India common for newly acquired leopard geckos don t... To go to the pet store that often to go to the question though, please note that leopard. 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