What Do Geckos Eat? Complete Gecko Feeding Guide
🦎 What Do Geckos Eat? A Complete Feeding Guide for Happy and Healthy Pets
When it comes to caring for geckos, one of the most important things to understand is their diet. Whether you’re keeping a crested gecko, leopard gecko, or day gecko, knowing what they eat — and how often — can make all the difference in their health and happiness.
🥦 1. Insectivorous Geckos
Most geckos are insectivores, meaning they primarily eat insects. Common food options include:
- Crickets – A staple food rich in protein.
- Mealworms – Great for adding variety but should be fed in moderation.
- Dubia roaches – A nutritious and clean alternative to crickets.
- Waxworms or superworms – High in fat, best as occasional treats.
💡 Tip: Always gut-load insects (feed them nutritious food) 24 hours before offering them to your gecko. This ensures your pet gets all the essential vitamins and minerals.
🍓 2. Frugivorous and Omnivorous Geckos
Some species, such as crested geckos and day geckos, enjoy fruit-based diets in addition to insects. They love soft fruits like:
- Mango
- Papaya
- Banana
- Fig
- Peach
You can also provide them with commercial gecko diet powders, which are formulated to give balanced nutrition — simply mix them with water for an easy meal.
💧 3. Hydration Matters
Even though geckos don’t drink large amounts of water, hydration is essential. Always keep a shallow dish of clean water in the enclosure and lightly mist the habitat to maintain humidity — this also allows geckos to lick water droplets from leaves and glass.
☀️ 4. Lighting and UVB for Digestion
Proper lighting and UVB exposure help geckos absorb calcium and digest food efficiently. For species like day geckos, UVB lighting is especially important to prevent metabolic bone disease.
At LuminPacific, our reptile lamps are designed to provide balanced UV output and natural-spectrum lighting that support your gecko’s health — just like they’d experience under real sunlight.
📅 5. Feeding Schedule
Juvenile geckos: Feed daily.
Adult geckos: Feed 3–4 times per week.
Always remove uneaten insects after 15–20 minutes to maintain cleanliness.
❤️ Final Thoughts
Feeding your gecko isn’t just about providing food — it’s about creating a balanced, enriching environment that keeps them active and thriving. Combine a nutritious diet with the right lighting, temperature, and humidity, and your gecko will live a long, healthy, and happy life.
Looking to create a more natural habitat for your gecko?
Explore our collection of UVB reptile lamps and LED systems designed to mimic real sunlight and help your gecko live its best life.
