The Best Food Source???

Batdad · 07-22-03, 12:29 AM

What is the best food source for Geckos? Mealworms, Crickets, Pinkies, or what? Just curious as to the pros & cons of different food sources. And as always availability will play a factor.

Thanks for the input,
Bruce

enso · 07-22-03, 12:42 AM

Gut loaded crickets should consist of 50% or more of a geckos food. Supplemented with mealworms, waxworms and the ocassional pinkie mouse.

Tim and Julie B · 07-22-03, 01:10 AM

The very best feeder insect is silkworms. They are, however, hard to find and expensive. There is no need to use calcium supplements with them as they are loaded with it, but additional D3 is still very important. The next best would be a mixed diet of mealworms, crickets, wax worms (about once every couple weeks) and the occasional pinkie (maybe once a month during and after breeding). All these should be fed a variety of leafy greens, fruits, and high protein dry foods such as high quality dog food, cat food and fish food. Be sure to keep your feeder insects clean, and remove any old gut load items often. You can also gut load using any of todays commercial products (there are many kinds). Some leos also like fruit baby food (no sugar added) as a treat once in a while, they lick it off a spoon!

Julie

Edwin · 07-22-03, 05:22 AM

Yup, silkworms are the best feeder insect. However, you should still add some variety once in a while. My leo's diet mainly consists of mealworms, with crickets, waxworms and silkworms thrown in once in a while.

Samba · 07-22-03, 09:51 AM

I would agree with all the above posts. Make sure you Leos get a varied diet consisting of many types of cultivated insects. too much of one type of food can lead to problems. Make sure the insects are gut-loaded (you can feed them things like left-over veggies, some meats, etc. for at least a few hours before offering to you geckos). Never forget to dust the insects with a calcium suppliment (3 + times a week for young geckos, once or twice a week for adults). Make sure calcium is always available to your geckos via a shallow bowl in their cage. Hope this helps!

Pixie · 07-22-03, 10:12 AM

As every one has already stated, variety is the best thing for a gecko in terms of nutrition.

I myself really loathe crickets and avoid them at all costs! So my leos have a varied diet of worms consisting of: mealworms, silkworms, butterworms, waxworms, sometimes pinky mice.

I have just recently tried the butterworms are really like them!!! So do my leos

All three happily chomped on them! They are apparently comparable to silkworms in nutrition and easier to keep than silks.

Pixie

drewlowe · 07-22-03, 10:52 AM

I do the variety thing also. They also seem to love butterworms. It reminds me i need to order some butterworms and silkworms today.

Siretsap · 07-22-03, 11:04 AM

Varied diet is the best.
But don't stop at insects or pinkies,
Try some cooked chicken, some veggies and fruits...earth worms, butterflies.....
I have geckos who only eat waxworms and they are just as healthy as those who eat silkworms or crickets.

I recently tried some canned tuna, rince off the excess oil, and try it, the smell attracts the geckos and mine actually ate it without me having to giggle the food in front of them.

My fat tails went crazy over it.

Samba · 07-22-03, 02:48 PM

Siretsap - I'm so glad I'm not the only oddball on here! (No offense!) With much debate, I have kept mum about the fact that I feed my geckos other foods besides insects. I sometimes include babyfood, yogurt, prepared meat, (I'm writing a book on the captive care of Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus which includes a chapter on preparing meats for omnivorous reptiles), in their diets. I have yet to try tuna, but that sounds like a great idea. I would imagine that you should get the tuna canned in water, as opposed to the tuna canned in oil (ew).

Here's the post I had concerning this topic a while back. =)

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showt...threadid=14741

Tim and Julie B · 07-22-03, 03:49 PM

You wanna hear something weird? Mine like shredded zucchini!

Samba · 07-24-03, 10:07 AM

LOL Tim and Julie! I wouldn't doubt that though, leos seem very 'open' to trying new foods. I once had a leo, (My first, Basil, his pic is my avatar), invade my plate of macaroni and cheese! (I was eating on the floor and he was running around... as soon as he smelled the plate he plowed in like there was no tomorrow!) Don't you just love Leos? =)