Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone, future Leo owner here.

1) Just wondering your opinion on feeding a Leo Live Crickets versus Canned Crickets. Actually I never even knew there were canned Crickets.

I use to have to feed live Crickets a few years back, and wasn't too crazy about it because of the occaisional lost cricket, and chirping, etc...

2) Are Live Crickets essential to Leo's, or are Meal, Wax, Super Worms, and canned Crickets sufficient?

Appreciate opinions and facts from this group, Thanks!

I've never tried canned crickets, but I doubt my leo would eat them, as she doesn't seem interested in things that aren't moving. Even waxworms have to be squirming a bit or she's typically not interested. I suppose it might be possible to train leos to eat dead prey similarly to getting snakes to eat frozen/thawed rodents, if you really wanted to work at it.

As far as the crickets vs worms in a dish issue goes, you'll get lots of opinions. My take on it is that crickets are the best staple, simply because they do run around. This has two distinct benefits over worms in a dish. First, it causes your leo to get at least a little bit of exercise chasing its dinner. Second, I think that chase is psychologically beneficial to the leo. They're predators, and hunting is part of their nature. Walking up to a dish and chowing down, while they'll do it, seems like it would train them to be lazy.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents on the subject, I'm sure others will provide contrasting opinions, and you can decide what is best for you and your geckos based on your evaluation of what all of us say.
-----
0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko - Tigger
0.1 Crested Gecko - Pooh-Bear

Most leos will have nothing to do with canned insects.

As far as live feeder insects go - while crickets are the main staple that many keepers choose to raise leos on, you can definately use other feeders as well.

Mealworms, silkworms, roaches and pheonix worms all make great staples. A variety is best. A roach colony is an easy thing to do - and roaches are extremely nutritious, and dont make noise or jump (provided you pick the correct species) the way crickets do. Silkworms are great, but are a little harder to breed. Mealworms are extremely easy to breed and keep.
-----
1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog