How Many Insects to Feed a Leopard Gecko: Feeding Chart by Age
I've kept leopard geckos long enough to know the number one care mistake is overfeeding. They are obligate insectivores with surprisingly small stomachs, and getting the amount right prevents both obesity (extremely common) and underfeeding. This guide gives exact quantities for every age, the per-feeder breakdown, and the body-condition checks I actually use.
Leopard Gecko Feeding Chart by Age
Size the insect to the gecko: nothing wider than the space between the eyes. Frequency drops as the animal matures, because adults simply do not need daily food.
| Age | Insect Size | Amount Per Feeding | Frequency | Weekly Insects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchling (0-2 months) | Tiny (~1/4 inch) | 5-7 | Daily | 35-49 |
| Juvenile (2-6 months) | Small (~3/8 inch) | 5-8 | Every other day | 17-28 |
| Sub-adult (6-8 months) | Small-medium (~3/8-1/2 inch) | 5-8 | Every 2 days | 15-24 |
| Adult (8+ months) | Medium (~1/2 inch) | 4-8 | Every 2-3 days | 10-24 |
| Overweight adult | Medium | 3-5 (lean feeders only) | Every 3-4 days | 6-12 |
Amounts by Feeder Type
Different feeders do different jobs. Roaches carry the protein, BSFL carry the calcium, silkworms add lean variety, and hornworms are a hydration treat. These are adult portions.
| Feeder | Per Feeding (Adult) | Per Week | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discoid roach nymphs | 4-6 | 8-18 | Primary staple, 2-3 feedings/week. Dust with calcium. |
| BSFL | 5-10 | 5-20 | Calcium supplement, 1-2 feedings/week. Do not dust. |
| Silkworms | 3-5 | 3-10 | Low-fat variety, 1-2 feedings/week. Dust with calcium. |
| Hornworms | 1-2 (small) | 1-2 | Hydration treat, 1x/week. Size carefully; large hornworms can be too big. |
| Mealworms | 3-5 | 3-5 | Backup only, 1x/week max. Poor Ca:P (~0.04:1). Dust heavily. |
A quick accuracy note worth understanding: most feeder insects are phosphorus-heavy and need calcium dusting to be safe long term. The one real exception is BSFL, which are naturally calcium-rich, which is exactly why they earn a no-dust line above.
The Tail Test
A leopard gecko's tail is the single best read on body condition. Check it weekly.
- Healthy: tail about as wide as the body at the base, plump but not bulging, with a smooth taper.
- Overweight: tail wider than the body and bulging at the base, with visible fat pads in the armpits. Cut feeding frequency and switch to lean feeders like silkworms and BSFL.
- Underweight: tail thin and stick-like with no smooth taper. Increase frequency and offer protein-rich roaches.
Let the tail, not the calendar, fine-tune the portions over time.
Feeding Time Matters
Leopard geckos are crepuscular, most active at dusk and dawn. Feed in the evening, roughly 6-9 PM, for the strongest feeding response. Many geckos ignore food offered midday but hit it eagerly at dusk. If yours refuses food during the day, switch to evening feedings before you assume there's a health problem.
Sample Weekly Schedule (Healthy Adult)
- Monday evening: 5 small discoid roach nymphs (calcium dusted).
- Wednesday evening: OFF.
- Thursday evening: 8 BSFL (no dusting) plus 3 small silkworms.
- Saturday evening: 5 discoid roach nymphs (calcium, with D3 on a bi-weekly schedule).
Three feeding days, two off days, rotating across protein (roaches), calcium (BSFL), and lean variety (silkworms). Keeping a stable roach colony makes this easy; my discoid roach keeping guide covers that staple.
Common Feeding Amount Mistakes
- Feeding adults daily. Adults need food every 2-3 days. Daily feeding is the fast road to obesity.
- Leaving unlimited mealworms in a dish. Geckos will overeat mealworms badly. Portion control matters.
- Prey too large. Nothing wider than the space between the eyes; oversized prey causes regurgitation or impaction.
- Not tracking intake. Note any feeding where the gecko ate nothing. Repeated refusals can signal illness, a temperature problem, or an oncoming shed.
For sizing and supplementation context across species, the Merck Veterinary Manual on reptile nutrition is a reliable non-commercial reference. To stock the staple feeders, browse All Angles Creatures live feeder insects.
See also my silkworm feeding chart and BSFL feeding chart, plus the full exotic-animals guide hub.