| Prior to getting a pet Leopard gecko, make sure that | | | | prepared to breed and females who have just laid |
| the pet store in your area has a regular supply of | | | | their egg. Silk worms are rich in vitamins, minerals, and |
| food and nutrients. Leopard geckos are insectivores | | | | protein. |
| which means that they primarily prefer to consume | | | | A leopard gecko also needs supplements of vitamins, |
| live insects. You as a pet owner must be able to | | | | minerals and calcium. You can ask your veterinarian |
| provide them with such live insects. Examples of such | | | | for a proven brand and its dosage. Powdered calcium, |
| live insects which are staple foods include crickets, | | | | powdered vitamins and powdered minerals can be |
| locusts, meal worms and wax worms. | | | | put in a bag and then the insect is dropped in. The |
| Locusts are high in protein but can be relatively | | | | bag is then shaken gently and the body of the insect |
| expensive. Crickets are cheaper and are readily | | | | becomes coated with the powders. The insect |
| available in pet stores. The manner of preparation of | | | | coated in the powder is then fed to the gecko. |
| locust and cricket, is the same, prior to giving them | | | | Just as important as the food your Leopard gecko |
| to the leopard gecko. Before putting the cricket | | | | eats is the water that the gecko takes in. The water |
| inside your pets' aquarium you have to first "gut-load" | | | | container should be shallow and the edges should be |
| it. The phrase gut-load means to feed it either with | | | | smooth and easily accessible. You will need to |
| store bought cricket food, oats, grated fruits such as | | | | remember to clean the water container often and |
| apple, or carrots. Some people like to add grated | | | | refill it often with water. |
| potatoes to the mix.Gut loading ensures that your | | | | Adult leopard geckos are usually fed once every four |
| pet is eating a truly nutritious cricket. Insects should | | | | days. They should be fed at night or in the evening |
| be gut loaded about half a day before giving to the | | | | because they are usually more active and hunt during |
| gecko. | | | | these times. This being said, there is no strict rule as |
| Meal worms should also be "gut-loaded." It must be | | | | to when to feed and when not to feed your pet. A |
| given in small quantities and given to the gecko less | | | | good thing to do is to observe and record the eating |
| frequently because it has a hard surface shell which is | | | | habits of the gecko. By doing so you will not only |
| quite hard to digest. The hard shell is called chitin. To | | | | know how much he can eat but also when he is not |
| prevent indigestion, it is better to purchase meal | | | | eating. If the gecko is not eating often then he might |
| worms whose chitin is underdeveloped and is thus | | | | be stressed out, sick or it might be that he is not |
| not as tough. Meal worms are not difficult to handle | | | | eating because it is winter. Leopard geckos |
| because they are slow moving. To prevent it from | | | | sometimes eat much less during the winter. |
| leaving the bowl, use a shallow bowl that has a | | | | Try to maintain good communication with a |
| smooth surface. | | | | veterinarian and visit regularly. Proper diet, care, |
| Other insects that can be offered as treats are Wax | | | | veterinarian visits, along with the information a |
| worms, and Silk worms. Wax worms are high in fat | | | | veterinarian could help your Leopard gecko live a |
| and must only be given occasionally. These are best | | | | fuller life. |
| to help females gain weight when they are being | | | | |