Leopard Geckos are insectivores and their diet usually consists of crickets, mealworms, and some fatty worms as treats. Unlike other geckos, Leos are not omnivores, which means they can’t eat fruits and vegetables. This is why it’s very important to feed them the right type of food to remain healthy and happy.
In this article, we’ll talk about how Leopard Geckos react to fruits and what their diet is supposed to look like.
Can Leopard Geckos Eat Fruit? What Types Are OK?
Leopard Geckos cannot eat fruit and most of them don’t like them at all. But some curious ones might like to nibble on a piece of fruit from time to time or simply lick a slice of mango. It’s up to the owner to decide whether their gecko can have a small piece of fruit or not. You need to know exactly how healthy your gecko is before giving it something that can cause complications.
These geckos lack the specific body part that is used to break down fruits and vegetables. This means that the gecko will go through a pretty painful digesting period after eating a big piece of fruit. Their bodies are simply not designed to deal with fruits. More than that, fruits are too high in sugar and acids to be consumed by Leos frequently.
In the wild, the only reason why a Leopard Gecko will eat fruit is if it’s starving and it doesn’t have another option. But there are also very few geckos that simply like the taste of some fruits. If you want to offer yours a bit of fruit, you will have to find out what it likes first. But this needs to be done over the course of a few years.
The best fruits for Leopard Geckos are mangos, bananas, peaches, raspberries, pears, apples, etc. But these fruits should only be given in very small quantities.
No matter what type of fruit your gecko might like, don’t ever give it to them in big pieces. You should chop them very well or slice them into very thin and small slices. But the best way to offer a Leopard Gecko fruit is to take a small piece and mix it until it turns into a puree. Then add a teaspoon of fruit-flavored baby food to the puree and mix very well.
This mix can be given to your gecko on a plate. The Leo will lick it slowly and the digestive process won’t be nearly as painful as eating big pieces of fruit. Another thing you need to keep in mind is that you should never give an insectivore gecko this mix more than one teaspoon a month.
Can Leopard Geckos eat strawberries?
Leopard Geckos actually love berries and strawberries are among the favorite. If your pet is one of those that love to try a bit of fruit from time to time, half a strawberry should be more than enough. Mix it with strawberry-flavored baby food to make it even more enjoyable.
Bananas
Tropical fruits are easily the best fruits for omnivore geckos, and the insectivore ones that like to try fruits should be given the same type. You can place half a banana inside the enclosure and watch the gecko lick it a little bit, but stop it if it tries to bite the fruit. Once your Leo gets bored of it, take it out.
Apples
Apples are not typically the first choice among gecko keepers but they’re definitely OK in extremely small pieces. If you placed an apple in a smoothie maker, you can give your gecko a teaspoon of the apple puree before you add anything else to it. Don’t give it to your Leo if you already placed yogurt in it.
Peaches
Peaches are also adored by a few Leos and they’re easy to mix into a puree or cut into very thin slices. Just make sure you’re only offering the inside part that you’re also eating. And if your gecko prefers to lick the peach, instead of actually eating it, then it’s even better.
Watermelon
Watermelon is very easy to digest by almost anyone, which makes it a bit safer for Leos. But it should still be offered in small rations and only occasionally. If you have a dehydrated gecko that likes fruit, offering it a bit of watermelon can do more good than harm.
Pineapple
Pineapple is another tropical fruit that some Leos might like. You can mix it with baby food or something similar, including a few drops of pineapple juice, but only if it’s 100% natural. But only give this fruit in extremely small quantities as it’s high in acids. If you have other options, you can just avoid this fruit altogether.
Passion Fruit
Passion fruit should only be given to adult geckos, especially if you know they like to eat it. The younger Leos might have trouble swallowing the pieces. But if they’re licking a little bit off your hand is perfectly fine.
Mango
Mango is an excellent fruit for Leopard Geckos as well. It’s one of the most used tropical fruits in an omnivore gecko’s diet and a few insectivore geckos are known to love it as well. But if yours doesn’t like any fruit, don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal.
Kiwi
Kiwi can be offered to younger Leos that love fruit as well. The seeds are very tiny and if the fruit is cut into fine pieces, a juvenile can enjoy a few bites.
Oranges
Oranges are very high in acids and they should be avoided. They can cause some serious pain to your gecko if it actually ends up eating a piece. But almost no Leopard Gecko will eat an orange.
How much fruit can you give a Leopard Gecko daily?
Small Leos need to be fed between three times a day and once a day until they turn one year old. Then you can start feeding them once every two or three days. But this only includes insects and worms. Since Leopard Geckos don’t have the necessary mechanism to break down fruits, it’s best to avoid giving them any type of fruit daily.
If you only give them a very small amount of fruit mix, you can give it to them once a week. And if you only let them lick bigger fruits under your supervision, you can also do this once a week. But otherwise, it’s best to pick one day a month to give your Leo a tasty teaspoon of fruit puree.