Leopard gecko · Daily diet

What should I feed a leopard gecko?

Varied appropriately sized live invertebrates, gut-loaded and supplemented to a reviewed plan.

The right menu must fit the gecko's age and body condition while delivering balanced nutrition safely.

Use the practical checks

Put it into practice

The useful checks

Do this

Use the exact species diet and a reviewed supplement plan.
Remove spoilable food and uneaten insects promptly.
Keep fresh water and monitor leopard gecko behavior every day.
Record changes so a reptile veterinarian receives useful evidence.

Avoid this

Do not make one treat or feeder the entire diet.
Do not combine supplements without checking the instructions.
Do not copy another reptile species' setup.
Do not treat a persistent health change as a shopping problem.

Build the correct menu

For a leopard gecko, build meals around varied appropriately sized live invertebrates that are gut-loaded and supplemented to a reviewed plan. Portion food for the gecko in front of you rather than treating treats or one favored feeder as the whole diet.

Follow the formulated-food or supplement instructions carefully. Vitamin and mineral products can be overdosed, so do not stack powders or add extra vitamin D without a reviewed plan.

Prepare feeders properly

When feeding insects to a leopard gecko, buy captive-bred species, keep them well fed and hydrated, gut-load them before use, and offer prey the gecko can safely take.

Dust immediately before feeding according to the reviewed schedule. Remove uneaten live insects promptly because they can hide, stress, or bite a resting gecko.

Use appetite as one data point

Serve fresh food in a clean dish, replace water daily, and wash hands and tools afterward. Keep reptile equipment away from human food-preparation areas.

Track body weight, body condition, droppings, appetite, and activity together. A sudden appetite change with weight loss, weakness, abnormal stool, swelling, or poor temperatures needs more than a different flavor or feeder.

Leopard gecko care boundaries at a glance

Adult home: RVC minimum 36 × 18 × 18 in; the RSPCA lists 60 × 30 × 40 cm as a minimum and encourages larger housing
Warm zone: RSPCA basking area 28–30°C (82–86°F); RVC guidance is about 32°C (90°F)
Cool and night: Cool area about 24–26°C (75–79°F); Lights and daytime heat off; controlled non-light heat only if the room falls below about 18–20°C (64–68°F)
Humidity: Dry ambient air around 30–40%, plus one clean contained humid hide
UVB: Low-output UVB with a measured gradient near UVI 0.7 to zero shade
Food: Varied appropriately sized live invertebrates, gut-loaded and supplemented to a reviewed plan