What can i feed a baby gecko
How to Care for a Baby Gecko | Baby Lizard Care
By Laurie Hess, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian Practice)
Geckos are one of the most popular lizard species kept as pets. Baby geckos can make adorable additions to any family and when housed and fed properly can grow up to be hardy adults that live many years. The key is to educate yourself before you get them so that you can set them up right from the start.
More than 2,000 species of gecko, varying in color and skin markings/patterns, are recognized around the world. Among the most common pet lizard species are leopard geckos and crested geckos. Less commonly kept geckos include day geckos and Tokay geckos.
When they are born, hatchling geckos are typically 3 to 4 inches long. Adult female leopard geckos grow to 7 to 8 inches, while males grow to 8 to 10 inches. Adult crested geckos of both sexes typically are 4.5-5 inches long.
Many pet stores and breeders sell baby geckos so that owners can bond with their pets at a young age and watch them grow. Baby geckos, however, do not have fully developed skeletal and immune systems and are therefore more susceptible than their older counterparts to developing certain diseases. Thus, they must be fed and housed appropriately when they are first purchased to try to prevent the development of common juvenile diseases.
Once their enclosures are set up properly and a feeding regimen has been established, baby geckos can be relatively easy to care for.
Making a Home for Your Baby Gecko
Geckos are typically housed in 10- to 20-gallon glass aquariums. Plastic storage boxes, such as those for storing sweaters, also may be used, as long as the box is at least one-foot high to prevent the lizard from jumping out. Twenty-gallon tanks are better for larger adults or if more than one gecko is being housed in the same tank.
Tanks larger than 20 gallons may be harder to keep warm and humid enough and may enable the gecko to avoid sitting under heat and ultraviolet (UV) lights.
All enclosures must have a secure mesh top to prevent escape and to promote good ventilation. A small, upside down, plastic box with a cut-out door, filled with moist moss or vermiculite, can be used within the enclosure as a hide box to help maintain the humidity high enough to enable the gecko to shed its skin properly. Live or artificial plants can be added to the enclosure, as well, to help maintain humidity and to satisfy the gecko’s desire to climb.
Baby Geckos Need Warmth and Humidity
All types of gecko, regardless of species, need supplemental heat in their enclosures. Heat may be provided with an over-the-tank heat bulb or an under-the-tank heat mat placed at one end of the tank. Hot rocks are not recommended, as they can get very hot, and reptiles often don’t move off them before they get burned.
Gecko tanks should have a temperature range with a warm end and a cool end. The ideal temperature range for a gecko depends on the species. Leopard geckos should have a warm zone (containing the hide box) that is about 90°F and a cool zone that is no lower than the low 70s°F.
Crested geckos do better at slightly lower temperatures, with the warm zone in the upper 70s to low 80s°F and the cool zone no lower than about 70°F.
Tank temperatures should be monitored daily with “point and shoot” temperature guns, available in most pet stores, or with traditional temperature strips or thermometers that stick on the inner walls of the tank. The amount of heat provided may need to be varied seasonally depending on the ambient temperature of the room in which the lizard is housed.
Humidity must be monitored, as well, with gauges called hygrometers. Ideally, humidity should be maintained between 50-70 percent to ensure that lizards are hydrated and shed their skin properly. Daily misting of the tank helps to keep humidity adequate.
Most gecko species are nocturnal in the wild, being active at night, so they are not exposed to a great deal of sunlight. Consequently, some reptile breeders and veterinarians feel that geckos do not require UV light. Provision of UV light to geckos is, however, controversial, and certain veterinarians (including this author) feel that geckos do better and are less likely to develop common skeletal diseases, such as metabolic bone disease, when they are exposed daily to a few hours of UV light from a full-spectrum UV bulb, particularly if they are housed completely indoors.
While geckos in the wild may live on sand or soil, these substrates are generally not recommended in a pet gecko’s enclosure, as the animal may inadvertently ingest them and develop gastrointestinal impactions or obstructions. Paper-based bedding, such as recycled paper pellets typically used for guinea pigs and rabbits, or shredded newspaper, are better, since they are digestible if consumed.
For a more natural look, pieces of reptile carpet, sold in pet stores, may be used as bedding; however, reptile carpet must be changed frequently, as it gets soiled with food and feces quickly.
What to Feed to a Baby Gecko
Leopard geckos are carnivores; they don’t eat plants or other vegetable matter but rather live insects such as mealworms and crickets. Crested geckos eat small amounts of fruit in the wild in addition to insects.
Baby geckos can be offered small crickets and mealworms daily. Insects, in general, should be no bigger than the width of the gecko’s head.
When lizards get closer to adult size, they can be fed insects every other day and be offered larger insects, such as waxworms, superworms, and Dubia roaches.
The insects you are feeding to your gecko should be fed a diet that has been fortified with calcium, vitamins, and minerals (a process called gut-loading) before being offered to the geckos so that the lizard is getting balanced nutrition. If you are raising your own insects for feed, the insects also should be lightly coated with calcium powder three times a week, calcium powder with additional vitamin D3 twice a week, and a mineral supplement once a week, before being fed to the gecko.
Insects can be provided to baby geckos in small shallow dishes into which geckos can climb to eat them. If a baby lizard is too small initially to climb into the dish, it can be hand-fed one insect at a time until it grows large enough to eat on its own. Only the number of insects a gecko will eat in one sitting should be offered at a time, or leftover insects may chew on the lizard’s skin.
In addition, geckos should be fed fresh water daily from a shallow dish from which they can drink. The dish of water will also help to increase ambient humidity as the water evaporates.
Crested geckos, like leopard geckos, also eat insects, but they can be fed a product called Repashy Superfoods Crested Gecko Diet as their main diet to reduce the need for insects. This diet is mixed with two parts of water, and the gecko is offered as much of this mixture as it will eat out of a shallow dish in one sitting three times a week. The mixed diet can sit in the enclosure for up to 24 hours before it should be removed. Crested geckos eating Repashy may be offered insects once a week along with small amounts of fruit (such as banana or mango) or fruit baby food from a jar as a treat.
How to Hold a Baby Gecko
Baby geckos can be very skittish, so handling them when they are little can help acclimate them to touch and make them less afraid. However, until they are at least three inches long, they can be injured when they are handled, so it is better to let them grow a bit before picking them up regularly.
Also, for the first two weeks after they are introduced into a new enclosure, it is best not to handle them so that they can adjust to their new home. After that, 5 to 15 minutes a day of handling should be enough to get them used to being held but not too much to stress them.
In addition, reptiles absorb bacteria, other germs, and toxic chemicals through their skin, so it is essential that anyone handling a gecko does so only with clean hands. Conversely, since reptiles carry disease-producing bacteria, such as Salmonella, on their skin that can be transmitted to people during handling, it’s also critical that individuals handling geckos wash their hands thoroughly after touching them.
Finally, since geckos naturally “drop” or release their tails to escape when their tails are grabbed by predators, geckos should never be handled by their tails, or they might break off. Many geckos will regrow their tails if they break off, but the area of the break is susceptible to developing infection, and the new tail may have a completely different color and shape than the original tail.
Therefore, it is better to gently hold a baby gecko in the palm of a flat hand while using the other hand to prevent it from jumping or running away.
The "hand walking" method, in which the gecko, sitting on one extended upright palm, is offered the other extended palm directly in front of it to allow it to hop or jump to the second palm, over and over (think Slinky), also can be used to encourage baby geckos to get used to handling.
What Illnesses Do Baby Geckos Get?
Unfortunately, too many gecko owners do not educate themselves about what their lizards require in terms of housing or nutrition before they bring them home. For example, gecko owners are often not aware they have to gut-load insects or dust them with vitamin and mineral supplements before feeding them to their pets. As a result, baby geckos (particularly those that are housed indoors without access to any UV light that aids in making vitamin D3 in the skin to help absorb calcium from food) can develop metabolic bone disease.
In this condition, the calcium to phosphorus ratio in the lizard’s body is typically less than the ideal 2 to 1 ratio. Consequently, their bones never ossify but remain soft and spongy and may fold or fracture. They become weak and stop moving and eating. When untreated, these animals often die.
Gecko owners who see any of these signs in their pets should bring them to the veterinarian as soon as possible to start treatment with calcium and vitamin D. With early therapy, these animals can make a full recovery.
Another disease common in baby geckos is life-threatening gastrointestinal (GI) impaction and obstruction with sand bedding. These little lizards inadvertently consume bits of sand as they ingest insects, and sand gradually accumulates in the GI tract until an obstruction ensues. These pets stop eating, become weak, strain to pass stool, and eventually stop passing it altogether. Lizard owners who see these signs should have their pets treated by a veterinarian immediately.
With subcutaneous fluids, enemas, and oral laxatives, many of these lizards can be saved.
A final disease that occurs commonly in baby geckos is retention of shedding skin from lack of humidity. Geckos that are kept at too low humidity get dehydrated and retain patches of skin around their toes (where it can constrict circulation, leading to loss of digits) and around their eyes (where it interferes with their vision and their ability to catch insects). As a result, they stop eating, lose weight, and often die. Early intervention by a veterinarian to extract shed skin stuck in eyes, to rehydrate the pet, and to start force-feeding until the animal eats on its own, can make the difference between life and death.
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What Do Baby Geckos Eat?
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Geckos are one of the most frequently kept lizard pets. Baby geckos may be a wonderful addition to any family, and when properly cared for, they can grow up to be resilient adults that live for many years.
The key is to learn as much as possible about them before acquiring them so you can set them up correctly from the start
Around the world, more than 2,000 different species of gecko exist, with diverse colors and skin patterns, and designs. Leopard geckos and crested geckos are among the most popular pet lizard species. Day geckos and Tokay geckos are two other less-commonly kept Gecko species.
Hatchling leopard geckos are generally 3 to 4 inches long when they emerge. Leopard gecko females reach a length of 7 to 8 inches while males grow to 8 to 10 inches in length. Adult male crested geckos average 4.5 to 5 inches in length, while adult female crested geckos range from 4.
It’s critical to know what to feed your new tiny gecko before you bring him or her home. Geckos, like most lizards, are predators that prefer a range of insects. The species, activity level, land age of your gecko will determine the specific species of insects eaten, as well as the feeding schedule, supplements used,
What Do Baby Geckos Eat?Baby Geckos are omnivores, eating both plants and other vegetable matter.
Mealworms and crickets are the insects that geckos consume in the wild. In the wild, crested geckos consume fruit in addition to insects.
Insects
An Insect: Food For The Baby GeckoMost geckos, whether or not they eat plant foods, eagerly consume insects and other small arthropods. Roaches and crickets are excellent staples, but you must also provide other bugs, such as roaches, super worms, mealworms, silkworms, wax worms, and soldier fly larvae. Because super-worms and mealworms have a greater fat content than roaches, crickets, and super-worms, they should be fed only in moderation, if at all.
Plants
PlantsFruits, nectar, blooms, and other types of food are all consumed by slinky snakes, paralysis, leopard geckos, crested geckos, day geckos, and a few other species. Carnivorous gecko species consume insects; as a result, you can offer these omnivorous species
Offer your reptile tiny portions of figs, papaya, and raspberries, all of which have the ideal calcium to phosphorus ratio.
Small pieces of grapes, mango, blackberries, watermelon, apples, pineapple, dates, strawberries, and pears are also acceptable snacks but have worse calcium to phosphorus ratios. Avoid feeding your gecko star, citrus, fruit, or avocado because these items might be hazardous to his health over time.
Fruits should make up no more than 10 percent of your pet’s diet. To prevent deterioration, remove all plant-based foods after 24 hours. Fruit flies and other pests may be attracted to old fruits and veggies.
Baby Food
Some hobbyists give their omnivorous geckos fruit-flavored baby foods. Some individuals like these meals. Offer a dab three times each week, if possible. However, be advised that baby food isn’t adequate nutrition for geckos in general.
In many cases, inexperience might be a hindrance to learning. Supplementing baby food with vitamins and minerals is common among experienced hobbyists as a method to overcome such shortfalls. However, because the nutritional requirements of most reptiles are poorly understood, most efforts amount to little more than semi-educated guesswork.
A paste-like diet made out of powdered gecko meals combined with water is similar to baby food. These products are claimed to be fortified to give a complete diet, which makes them more desirable than baby food. Several breeders have succeeded in raising several generations of lizards on this type of diet alone.
What Do Baby Geckos Eat in The Wild? A Baby Gecko in The WildBecause wild geckos are adapted to a wide range of environments, such as tropical rainforests, deserts, jungles, grasslands, and mountains, their diet varies depending on where they reside.
Some species of gecko are more popular as pets than others. The leopard gecko is the most common wild creature kept as a pet. Because there are so many distinct types of geckos, some are unsuitable for being chosen as pets because they may be at risk from habitat destruction or population pressure from other predators in the habitat.
A gecko in the wilderness will consume a wide range of foods, including creatures as tiny as apples and worms.
Worms, fruit, and other invertebrates, insects, plants, small rodents, and even other hatchling geckos are among the items that geckos will munch on.
In the wild, geckos seldom care for their young. They are born physically mature and behave as though they were miniature adults, except for minor body markings that differ among species. The hatchlings are able to move and react to their surroundings, as well as the adults. Because hatchlings are more likely to be prey in the wild than adults, they are more inclined to hide and make threatening noises and movements if confronted in order to surprise potential predators.
What Do Baby Geckos Eat During The First Week?After they’ve finished their initial shed, hatchlings don’t eat until after about 3 days. They require a climate as described above with regular misting throughout this time. Despite the fact that they don’t consume, they will continue to benefit from the yolk still in their bellies when they emerge.
They become more active, energetic, and purposeful around this time. They will molt more frequently, too. Around the age of shedding, they will also generate their first poops, which may be various hues than those of older hatchlings.
The hatchlings may be ready to eat after they’ve shed and emptied their bowels, usually on Day 3. Species that drink from a water dish should be given shallow bowls of water, tiny spoonfuls of fruit nectar for the fruit-eating geckos, and tiny live feeders.
Many geckos will not eat much for the first week or two, maybe just 1 or 2 prey items per day. Continue to monitor them to ensure they remain active and alert; don’t worry too much about whether or not they’re eating enough at this point. After the first two weeks, geckos may increase their food intake considerably, as can be seen from the size and number of their stools. Hand-feeding lizard hatchlings that do not eat much or at all after two weeks and who appear to be developing slowly may be necessary.
Hatching is an exciting time for any parent, and it’s particularly gratifying and successful if you know what you’re doing. With a little knowledge, forethought, and planning, hatching can be just as enjoyable as first seeing a new baby emerge from the egg.
What Are The Natural Predators of Baby Geckos?Geckos dwell in a wide range of climates. Some survive in the humid heat of the tropics, while others dwell in the arid regions of the desert steppe. Geckos consume small invertebrates that scuttle across the floor of these regions, but they are also revered by larger creatures. Geckos come in a variety of sizes and hues; nevertheless, for each species, there is a predator.
Goliath TarantulaA goliath tarantula is a big variant of the popular tarantula that generally dwells in tropical rain forests and jungles. The goliath, often known as the bird-eating tarantula, preys on small birds, lizards, insects, and sometimes mice.
The goliath tarantula, which is about the size of a human hand, will overpower the gecko and inject a flesh-eating venom with long, needle-like teeth. The tarantula’s venom paralyzes the gecko and causes the prey’s tissue to dissolve because it lacks chewing teeth.
Geckos are preyed on by snakes all throughout the world, including in tropical and subtropical areas. The Asian red-tailed rat snake is one snake that can be found in these regions and consumes tiny lizards. The banded ground snake may lie in wait for the gecko to be motionless, then pounce quickly and capture the lizard in its mouth. Other snakes, such as the African tree boa, will wrap the gecko securely inside its tightly wrapped body before squeezing it until it dies of suffocation.
BirdsSome species, such as the great horned owl and the red-tailed hawk, are exclusively meat-eaters. These birds will consume almost anything they can capture because of this fact.
The great horned owl and the red-tailed hawk are two such examples. When given a chance, these meat-eaters will hunt down lizards. Geckos in the same region as raptor birds may perceive them as a hazard. Many hawks and owls can be found all throughout North America, although they migrate south when the temperatures drop below freezing. In regions near South America’s warmer, humid climates, these raptors could prey on lizards that dwell there.
Tail loss is one of the most well-known gecko defense mechanisms. When a gecko’s tail is grasped, the tail detaches and continues to move on its own. The tail of the gecko is really crucial in keeping it safe, as shown by this story. As a result, when an attack on their tails occurs, they are sometimes able to escape because predators are distracted for long enough. The loss of the tail does not harm the gecko in any way except for some very minor blood loss.
The tail
To survive, some geckos can change colors to match their surroundings. This enables them to blend in with their environment and become almost unnoticeable to predators by changing colors at will. The leaf-tailed gecko from Madagascar is another example. Depending on the colors of the trees around him, he might shift from orange to green to brown to yellow.
Using Their SensesGeckos have excellent hearing, eyesight, and olfactory senses. These abilities are extremely beneficial when looking for food but can also alert geckos to the presence of a predator. Each gecko reacts differently when a predator is discovered. Some may run away at high speeds while others might remain motionless in order to avoid being detected.
And Some Teeth as WellSome geckos bite. Others are timid and avoid human or animal touch as much as possible. If other animals or human fingers approach too close, even if you don’t intend to harm them, other geckos will bite.
Tokay geckos, for example, seldom bite unless provoked. Leopard geckos, on the other hand, are calm and friendly and are considerably less likely to bite in order to protect themselves.
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what is important to know, gecko menu, feeding features
Published: 11/10/2020 Reading time: 6 min. 6176
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Contents
- Gecko Menu
1.1. Gecko Diet
1.2. Where to get food - Feeding Features of the Gecko
2.1. Frequency of feeding
2.2. Serving Size
2.3. Feeding time
2.4. Feeding conditions
The gecko is exotic in every way. From unique and sometimes strange appearance to living conditions and habits. But this reptile also has a very common trait. Like all living beings, he needs to eat fully in order to maintain health, activity and his "presentable" exotic appearance. Some geckos have become real pets and have many color morphs.
But, even the most "domestic" geckos need proper nutrition, mostly live food.
Gecko Menu
Before you buy a gecko, you should familiarize yourself with its gastronomic habits. This information may force you to change your choice in favor of a less exotic pet, because these reptiles prefer to eat live insects, and large species will not refuse small rodents and reptiles - mice or baby snakes.
But if such a menu does not seem repulsive, then it is useful to know other equally important nuances.
Gecko diet
A sample list of "meals" for a gecko that lives in captivity looks like this:
- cockroaches;
- crickets;
- earthworms and mealworms;
- larvae of any insect;
- grasshoppers and locusts;
- all Lepidoptera: butterflies, moths, moths;
- for some types - fruits and baby fruit purees.
Geckos are usually not picky and will eat anything they can fit in their mouths.
Of course, the gecko's diet should be varied - this will help prevent beriberi and metabolic disorders caused by a mono-diet. But if you do not have the opportunity to constantly get new pet food and you are limited to a rather meager assortment of a pet store (usually crickets and mealworms), then you should take care of vitamins in a different form. For example, in the form of a Reptilife feed additive, which includes a complex of the most important substances for reptiles.
Where to get food
Given that insects must be alive and active (this is the main condition under which a gecko will be interested in a grasshopper or a worm), you can get food for your pet on your own in the summer. But it's important to make sure you're getting insects from environmentally friendly areas that haven't been treated with pesticides so you don't feed your pet with toxins. So this option is suitable for very few. Another option is to grow cockroaches, crickets or other insects on your own in a separate terrarium.
But, given the appetite of the gecko, the most logical way out is a specialized store where you can buy reptile food. Captive-born geckos will readily eat even frozen insects. Don't forget to "feed the food" before giving it to your gecko! This will increase the benefits of mining several times.
Gecko Feeding Features
In addition to menu preferences, these reptiles have other nutritional “requests”.
Frequency of feeding
Excessively frequent meals should not be allowed under any circumstances. Digestion in reptiles is quite slow, so before the next meal they need to completely digest the previous portion. For small geckos, one feeding per day is enough, and large ones are recommended to be fed even every other day. Juveniles feed more often, depending on age. And do not forget to maintain the correct temperature in the terrarium, as it depends on how fully the gecko digests its lunch.
Serving size
You need to focus on the size of the reptile.
For example, 5-7 adult crickets are enough for a medium gecko, half a serving is enough for a small gecko, and double the serving for large species. One of the indicators that the pet is not starving is its tail. Fat and plump means your gecko is eating well and is definitely not starving. Too fat, which interferes with walking - that the pet is obese.
Feeding times
The main guideline is whether your gecko is diurnal or nocturnal. The first ones need to be fed during the day, closer to noon. And reptiles with a nocturnal lifestyle - closer to the night.
Feeding conditions
It's best if you let your gecko hunt crickets or cockroaches. But this is possible only if the terrarium has a tight lid, because not all insects are ready to dutifully wait until they are eaten. If instead of a cover there is a mesh, you can give food from tweezers, geckos quickly get used to the new food format for them.
Author: AVZ
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Geckos love tasty food.
They quickly get used to treats and may refuse healthy and healthy food. To prevent this from happening, you need to include a variety of dishes on the menu and adhere to the feeding regimen. We tell you how to do it.
Feeding objects
Gecko food objects are divided into basic and additional. The main ones should be in the lizard's diet from birth. Additional food items include treats that can be added to the diet after the pet is six months old.
Geckos feed on insects and do not refuse newborn naked mice. It is advisable to give your pet live food so that the instinct of the hunter does not disappear. If you choose this option, then remember that you also need to take care of keeping insects at home. They must be full and active.
Another way is to feed frozen food. In this case, it is enough to store food in the freezer, and defrost it immediately before feeding. If the food has lain at room temperature for about 2 hours, it will have to be thrown away.
You can not freeze insects again.
Menu
At home, the gecko should eat the same way as in the wild.
Ration
The main menu should contain:
- crickets;
- cockroaches;
- locust;
- grasshoppers;
- earthworms;
- butterflies, moths, moths.
You don't have to choose just one. A mono-diet can lead to beriberi and metabolic disorders. If it is not possible to diversify the diet, use ready-made feed additives. They contain the components necessary for proper development.
Where can I get food?
Food and vitamins for reptiles can be ordered in the online store. To grow food yourself, get a separate terrarium for it. Do not feed hungry insects to your lizard, as they bite and can feed on your pet's feces, which will negatively affect his health.
We do not recommend getting food for the gecko on the street. Together with wild insects, chemicals, helminth eggs, poisons of larvae, etc.
, can enter the body of reptiles.
Which food should I choose?
Crickets and cockroaches are the main diet of the lizard. Their share is about 70%. The remaining 30% are treats. For example, spotted leopard geckos love tobacco hawk caterpillars, mealworms, silkworm larvae, etc. Periodically change treats to create conditions close to the wild.
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Power Features
Feeding time depends on the type of lizard. Some are active at night, others during the day. For example, geckos hunt at dusk, at night and at dawn, so they prefer to eat early in the morning or late in the evening. By the same principle, feed currents, striped, viper geckos, etc.
Frequency
Geckos have a good appetite. In their natural habitat, they eat any prey that they manage to catch.
Do not overfeed - reptiles have slow digestion. It is important that before the next feeding they have time to digest the previous portion. Young lizards need to be fed more often than adults.
There are two approaches to feeding:
- 1 time in 3-4 days for 5-7 large insects. So the reptile will definitely not overeat, but will remain a little hungry.
- 1 time in 2-3 days, but until full, until the pet refuses to eat.
Babies under 2 months old need daily meals.
How to understand that the gecko is full and happy? Rate his behavior. The pet must be nimble during the period of activity. After overeating, lizards become passive, they have problems with the liver, reproductive system. The state of the pet is easy to determine by the tail. In starving geckos, it is thin, in overeating geckos it is large and interferes with walking. With proper nutrition, the tail looks natural in relation to the body, as in the photo below.
Portion sizes
Portions depend on the age and size of the geckos.
For a miniature adult animal, 2-3 large crickets are enough. A large lizard needs to eat 10-15 of the same insects. Newborn animals are fed from the 4th day of life 1-2 times a day with small crickets. After 12 months, the cubs switch to a common diet.
Choose the right food. Do not give the animal an insect that is too large for it, which is difficult to digest. We recommend that you follow a simple rule: the length of the insect should not be more than the distance between the eyes of the gecko.
Conditions
Lizards feel more alert if they can hunt. To create such conditions for them, purchase a terrarium with a tight-fitting lid. Then the crickets, cockroaches and moths will stay inside. But the gecko can live peacefully without hunting. Simply feed it defrosted insects with tweezers. The animal will be interested in such food.
What should not be fed to individuals?
Geckos should not be fed anything that they do not eat in nature.
Vegetables, fruits, yoghurts, berries and similar foods are not suitable.
Reptiles are not given dead insects. The latter are densely fed and frozen alive. A hungry cricket or cockroach is useless for a lizard. For the same reason, moulting crickets should not be given to an animal - they are always empty. They are easily recognizable by their white color.
Insects that glow in the dark are not suitable for food. These are fireflies and lightning beetles. A chemical that is toxic to geckos is responsible for the glow.
What must be in the diet?
Mineral and vitamin supplements should not be excluded from the menu. The first contains calcium. The gecko is happy to use it in the quantities needed for growth and healthy molting. Pour the powder into a small bowl and place on the floor of the terrarium.
Vitamin supplements must be dosed. They are dry and liquid. Dry roll a few crickets 1-2 times a week. For pregnant females, slightly increase the portion.
