What do leopard geckos eat?

The feeder hierarchy

Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) are obligate insectivores — they eat live invertebrates and nothing else. The modern feeder list, ranked by nutritional value and operational sanity, comes from ReptiFiles' leopard gecko diet guide and consistent recommendations across PetMD's care sheet.

Staple feeders

Dubia roaches (Blaptica dubia) are the modern gold-standard feeder. High protein (~22 % vs mealworms' ~14 %), low fat, gut-load well, easy calcium absorption (calcium:phosphorus ratio ~1:3, improved by dusting), can't climb glass, don't fly, don't smell. A 100-count colony costs roughly the same as 8 weeks of crickets and self-sustains if breeding.

Some regions (Florida, parts of Canada, Hawaii) have legal restrictions on dubias. Check local laws.

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL / "calciworms") are the strongest all-around alternative. Naturally calcium-rich (1.5:1 Ca:P ratio without dusting — the only feeder with this property), soft body, ship live easily. Slightly more expensive per insect than dubias.

Either as primary staple works; rotating between the two adds nutritional and behavioural variety.

Acceptable but annoying: crickets

Crickets are nutritionally fine but operationally a hassle. They are loud (chirping at night), they stink, they escape every time the tub opens, and at night a loose cricket will harass and even bite a sleeping gecko, causing stress and sometimes small wounds.

If you use crickets:

• Remove any uneaten ones from the enclosure within 15 minutes.
• Keep the cricket tub in a cool location away from the gecko (most rooms work).
• Pre-empt escapes with a tight lid.

Most experienced keepers move away from crickets after one or two escape incidents.

Variety: hornworms and silkworms

Hornworms (Manduca sexta larvae) are large, soft, water-rich (~85 % water), gut-loaded with carotenoids that enhance gecko coloration. Excellent for:

• Slightly underweight geckos needing easy calories.
• Borderline-dehydrated geckos (the water content helps).
• Variety-starved adults.

Don't use as a staple — too water-heavy and soft to be balanced nutrition long-term.

Silkworms (Bombyx mori larvae) are soft, calcium-rich, easy to digest. Expensive (often £0.30–0.50 per silkworm) and short- lived once shipped (3–10 days). Excellent occasional treats and high-quality variety for picky eaters.

Treats only

Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae) have a popular reputation as "the easy gecko food" because they don't escape easily and live in a bowl. The trade-off:

• Hard chitin shell — harder to digest than dubias or BSFL.
• High fat (~13 %) — drives obesity in adult geckos.
• Lower usable calcium than dubias or BSFL.
• Lower protein than dubias.

A small dish of dry mealworms for grazing is harmless and many geckos enjoy it. A mealworm-only diet causes obesity, fatty liver, and contributes to MBD over time.

Superworms (Zophobas morio larvae) — similar issues to mealworms, plus they can bite a gecko's mouth or throat (crush the head first if feeding live).

Wax worms are dessert. High fat, high sugar, low nutritional value. Geckos love them and refuse better food for days afterwards. Maximum 1–2 worms once a week.

Never feed

• Wild-caught insects of any kind — pesticide residue, parasite carriers, predator chemicals.
• Fireflies / lightning bugs — lethal. Toxic to reptiles.
• Pinky mice — too fatty, unnecessary. Reserved for breeding females or recovering underweight animals under vet supervision.

Sizing the insects

The rule across every reputable care sheet: a feeder insect should be no wider than the space between the gecko's eyes. Wider prey risks impaction (an undigested mass blocking the gut) or choking. Smaller is always safer — multiple small insects beats one oversized one.

For a typical adult leopard gecko:

• Dubia roaches: medium (~1.5 cm body length).
• Crickets: small to medium adult.
• Hornworms: ½-inch (12 mm) — they grow fast, so feed before they outgrow.
• BSFL: any size up to the eye-width rule.

For hatchlings: use much smaller prey (¼-inch / 6 mm or smaller).

Gut-loading

The gecko gets whatever sits in the insect's gut. Feed feeders for 24–72 hours before offering them:

• Fresh leafy greens (collard, dandelion, mustard greens).
• Diced vegetables (squash, carrot, sweet potato).
• Commercial dry gut-load (Repashy Bug Burger, Zoo Med Cricket Crack, Mazuri Better Bug Diet).
• Water source — gel cubes (water crystals) or a small damp sponge. Never open water; insects drown.

Insects starved in a tub for three days are nutritionally hollow no matter what supplement you dust them with. The full feeding guide covers the calcium / D3 / multivitamin schedule across life stages, and the pillar care guide has the broader husbandry context.