What Do Leopard Geckos Eat? Complete Diet Guide [2026]

What Leopard Geckos Eat

Leopard geckos are strict insectivores — they eat only live insects. Unlike bearded dragons or blue-tongue skinks, leopard geckos cannot eat vegetables, fruit, or any plant matter. Their entire nutrition comes from the insects they consume.

Best Feeder Insects

Staple Feeders (Daily/Regular Use)

Treat Feeders (Occasional Use)

Insects to Avoid

• Fireflies / lightning bugs — Toxic, potentially fatal
• Wild-caught insects — May carry pesticides or parasites
• Ants — Can bite and contain formic acid
• Beetles with hard shells — Difficult to digest

Feeding Schedule

Size rule: Never feed insects longer than the space between your gecko's eyes. Oversized prey can cause choking or impaction.

Supplementation

Supplementation is critical for leopard geckos to prevent metabolic bone disease and other deficiencies.

Calcium Without D3

• Dust on every feeding
• Keep a small dish of pure calcium powder in the enclosure at all times — leopard geckos will lick it as needed (self-regulation)

Calcium With D3

• Dust once per week if UVB is provided
• Dust 2-3 times per week if no UVB is used
• D3 is essential for calcium absorption

Multivitamin (with Vitamin A)

• Dust once every 1-2 weeks
• Provides vitamin A (as retinol, not beta-carotene — geckos cannot convert beta-carotene well), B vitamins, and trace minerals

Supplementation Schedule Example (with UVB)

Gut Loading

Gut loading is the practice of feeding nutritious food to feeder insects before offering them to your gecko. This dramatically improves the nutritional value of each insect.

Good Gut Load Foods

• Dark leafy greens (collard greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens)
• Carrots, sweet potato, squash
• Apples, oranges (for moisture)
• Commercial gut-load diets (Repashy Bug Burger, Mazuri)

Poor Gut Load Foods

• Iceberg lettuce (no nutrition)
• Potatoes (low value)
• Dog or cat food (too much protein, wrong nutrient ratios)

Feed gut load to your insects 24-48 hours before offering them to your gecko for maximum nutritional transfer.

Common Feeding Problems

Refusing Food

• Check temperatures — too cold prevents appetite and digestion
• Could be approaching a shed
• Breeding season (especially in spring)
• Waxworm addiction — if your gecko has been eating waxworms, they may refuse all other insects. Go cold turkey on waxworms for 1-2 weeks.

Overweight Gecko

A very fat tail is normal and healthy (this is fat storage). However, armpit bubbles (calcium sacs) and visible fat deposits on the body indicate overweight. Reduce feeding frequency and cut out high-fat treats.

Underweight Gecko

A thin, stick-like tail ("stick tail") indicates underweight or illness. Increase feeding frequency, offer high-fat treats (waxworms), and see a reptile vet to rule out parasites or cryptosporidiosis.

Conclusion

Feeding leopard geckos is simple once you establish a routine: gut-loaded staple insects, dusted with calcium and occasional multivitamins, offered every 2-3 days for adults. Keep a calcium dish in the enclosure, avoid plant matter entirely, and vary the insect types for nutritional diversity. With proper feeding and supplementation, your leopard gecko will maintain a healthy weight and plump, fat-storing tail for years to come.