What do geckos eat? List of common foods

Geckos are carnivorous animals, and they feed mainly on insects and small invertebrates. Depending on the species of gecko and the environment they live in, their diet may vary. Here is a list of common foods that geckos eat:

Common foods for geckos:

1. Cockroaches

• Geckos are natural predators of cockroaches, especially in a home environment.

2. Mosquitoes

• Geckos enjoy preying on mosquitoes and other small flying insects.

3. Flies

• Small flying insects such as houseflies and fruit flies are an important food source for geckos.

4. Ants

• Geckos also eat ants, especially in places where ants are active.

5. Moths

• Nocturnal geckos especially like to catch moths at night.

6. Spiders

• Geckos prey on common spiders in homes, and their hunting range includes corners and ceilings.

7. Small beetles

• Geckos prey on a variety of small beetles, such as ladybugs, weevils, etc.

8. Fly maggots

• Juvenile and small geckos will prey on soft-bodied insects such as fly maggots.

9. Grasshoppers and crickets

• These jumping insects are ideal prey for larger geckos.

10. Centipedes and Millipedes

• In the wild, geckos may also prey on small arthropods such as centipedes and millipedes.

Common foods for pet geckos:

1. Crickets

• As one of the most common food sources for pet geckos, crickets are rich in protein and easy to raise and provide.

2. Mealworms

• Mealworms are a common feed for geckos, and they can be used as a main food or supplementary food.

3. Dubia roaches

• Dubia roaches are a common and highly nutritious feed for pet reptiles, and geckos love them very much.

4. Waxworms

• Waxworms are a fat-rich food that is suitable for use as an occasional reward or supplemental food for geckos.

5. Jelly cups or special reptile jellies

• Some species of geckos (such as frugivorous geckos of the family Gecko) may eat special jellies or fruit purees specifically for reptiles.

Notes:

• Balanced diet: Although geckos mainly feed on insects, it is important to ensure a diverse diet as a pet, and vitamins and calcium can be appropriately supplemented according to the species.

• Provide live bait: Geckos prefer to chase live prey, so providing live insects helps simulate their natural hunting behavior.

In general, geckos mainly feed on small insects. Whether in the natural environment or as pets, it is necessary to ensure the diversity and nutritional balance of food.

Eating habits and preferences of geckos

The eating habits and preferences of geckos mainly depend on their species, habitat and size. Most geckos are insectivores, they prefer live prey and obtain nutrition by catching small invertebrates such as insects. Different species of geckos may have some differences in diet. The following is a detailed introduction to gecko eating habits and preferences.

Gecko eating habits:

1. Insectivore Dominance:

• Most geckos are carnivorous, especially preferring to prey on various insects, including mosquitoes, moths, cockroaches, spiders, ants and other small invertebrates.

• Geckos like to catch active prey. They usually hide in the dark and wait for prey to approach, and then quickly attack.

2. Nocturnal hunting:

• Geckos are usually nocturnal animals, and most species are active and hunt at night. They use their keen eyesight and sense of smell to catch insects in the dark.

• Flying insects at night (such as moths and mosquitoes) are one of the main prey of geckos.

3. Dietary Diversity:

• In the wild, geckos will eat a variety of small arthropods and insects, such as crickets, dragonflies, centipedes, beetles, etc.

• Some geckos, such as fruit-eating geckos (Rhacodactylus), will also consume some fruit or nectar, but such food is usually supplementary.

4. Reliance on Live Food:

• Geckos prefer live prey. When feeding, live insects (such as crickets, mealworms, Dubia cockroaches, etc.) can stimulate their predatory desire and simulate hunting behavior in a natural environment.

5. Intermittent feeding:

• Geckos do not eat frequently every day. Generally speaking, adult geckos can eat every 2-3 days, while young geckos may eat every day to promote growth.

6. Water requirements:

• Although geckos do not need to drink a lot of water, they will replenish water by licking water droplets, especially in the early morning or at night. When keeping, it is necessary to maintain proper humidity and provide a fresh source of drinking water.

Gecko's dietary preferences:

1. Insect preferences:

• Geckos prefer insects with strong mobility, such as crickets, moths, and ants, because these insects are more challenging and meet their hunting instincts.

• For some large geckos, Dubia cockroaches and large mealworms are extremely popular high-protein foods.

2. High-Nutrient Food Preference:

• In the wild, geckos prefer insects that are high in protein and fat, such as waxworms and mealworms. However, these foods should not be offered frequently due to their high fat content.

3. Fruit and Nectar Supplementation:

• Some species of geckos (such as the New Caledonian fruit-eating gecko) also supplement small amounts of fruit or nectar in nature. These geckos can be fed fruit puree or specially prepared reptile jelly.

4. Avoid rotten food:

• Geckos generally do not eat dead or rotten insects because they prefer fresh, live prey. Rotten food is unappealing to them and may cause health problems.

Dietary recommendations for feeding:

• Feed regularly: It is generally recommended to feed every 2-3 days, providing the gecko with live insects of appropriate size.

• Diverse diet: Providing different types of insects can ensure that geckos get a balanced diet while maintaining their interest in food.

• Nutrient supplement: When raising geckos, insects can be coated with calcium powder and vitamin powder to ensure that geckos get enough calcium and other necessary nutrients.

• Maintain humidity: Maintain the appropriate humidity of the breeding environment by spraying water mist, and provide fresh water to meet the gecko's drinking needs.

Summary:

Geckos mainly feed on insects and especially like to catch live prey. They are active at night and rely on their sensitive senses to hunt. Although their diet is mainly insects, some species of geckos will also consume small amounts of fruit or nectar. When raising geckos, you should provide a variety of live foods and ensure that the diet is nutritionally balanced.

What are the effects of a gecko's diet on health?

A gecko's diet has a vital impact on its health. A proper diet can promote the growth, health of the immune system and normal activity levels of geckos, while an improper diet can lead to a series of health problems, such as malnutrition, metabolic diseases and decreased immunity. The following are the specific effects of a gecko's diet on health and related precautions:

1. Protein and health

• High-protein diet: Insects are the main food source for geckos and are rich in protein. The right amount of protein is essential for the growth and development, tissue repair and muscle maintenance of geckos.

• Inadequate protein intake: If your gecko does not get enough protein, it may result in stunted growth, decreased strength, and weakened immunity.

• Too much protein intake: Long-term overfeeding of high-protein foods (such as large amounts of waxworms or mealworms) may cause your gecko to become obese or have digestive problems.

2. Calcium and Metabolic Bone Disease

• Importance of Calcium: Calcium is key for your gecko to maintain healthy bones and metabolic balance. Calcium-deficient geckos are susceptible to metabolic bone disease (MBD), a serious health problem caused by insufficient calcium or an imbalance in the calcium-phosphorus ratio.

• Calcium-phosphorus balance: Geckos need to maintain a calcium-phosphorus balance in their diet (usually 2:1 is recommended). If too much phosphorus is consumed and insufficient calcium is lacking, it will affect the health of the geckos' bones and teeth, causing bone softening, deformation or fracture.

• Calcium supplementation suggestions: It is recommended to sprinkle calcium powder on the geckos' insect food and ensure that the geckos have enough ultraviolet B (UVB) light sources to help the absorption and utilization of calcium.

3. The impact of vitamins on health

• Vitamin A: Vitamin A is essential for the health of geckos' eyes, skin and immune system. Long-term vitamin A deficiency can lead to eye problems, dry skin and decreased immunity.

• Vitamin D3: Vitamin D3 can help geckos absorb and utilize calcium effectively. If geckos lack D3 for a long time, it will cause bone diseases. Therefore, geckos need to take vitamin D3 through ultraviolet B irradiation or through diet.

• Moderate supplementation: When raising geckos, vitamin powder, especially vitamin D3 and A, can be added to the food regularly to ensure nutritional balance.

4. Overfeeding and obesity

• Control food intake: Overfeeding is a problem for manyCommon problems when feeding geckos too much, especially foods rich in fat (such as waxworms). Overfeeding geckos can easily lead to obesity, which can lead to other health problems such as fatty liver, decreased exercise capacity, and heart problems.

• Feeding frequency: Adult geckos are usually fed every 2-3 days, while young geckos need to be fed every day. Adjusting the feeding frequency according to the growth stage of the gecko can avoid overfeeding.

5. Single diet and malnutrition

• Importance of food diversity: Geckos will eat a variety of insects and invertebrates in the wild. If only a single type of insect is provided during the breeding process (such as only feeding crickets or mealworms), the gecko may develop unbalanced nutrition, which can lead to health problems.

• Risk of malnutrition: Long-term monotonous food may cause geckos to lack key nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. Diversification of food can ensure that geckos get comprehensive nutrition and promote health.

6. Water and dehydration risk

• Water intake: Although geckos mainly obtain water by licking water droplets, they still need to maintain a certain humidity and drinking water source. Lack of sufficient water will cause geckos to dehydrate and affect their metabolic function.

• Humidity control: When raising geckos, water mist should be sprayed regularly, especially for tropical gecko species. Appropriate humidity can prevent geckos from dehydration and respiratory problems.

7. Feeding inappropriate food

• Avoid poisonous insects: When raising geckos, avoid feeding some poisonous or inappropriate insects, such as fireflies, which contain toxic substances and may cause geckos to be poisoned or die.

• Refuse to eat dead prey: Geckos prefer live prey. If dead or rotten food is provided, it will not only reduce the gecko's interest in hunting, but may also cause indigestion or infection.

Summary:

The diet of a gecko is crucial to its health. A proper diet should include a variety of insects and appropriate calcium and vitamin supplements to maintain their bone health, immune system function and overall metabolic balance. An improper diet, such as calcium deficiency, vitamin deficiency or overfeeding, can cause a series of health problems. Ensuring that geckos get balanced nutrition, adequate water and appropriate ultraviolet light exposure can greatly promote their health and longevity.

animal tags： gecko