The leopard gecko is a great pet for beginners and experienced reptile owners.Feeding your gecko from your hand is a great way to bond and play with it.Before you jump in, make sure you know how to do it.
Step 1: Pick up an insect to eat.
Feed your lizard 1 insect at a time.Hold the cricket by the back legs.If you're feeding your worms, place them on your body instead of holding them.Make sure the lizard can reach the food.If the cricket moves around too much, be careful and remember that the legs can come off.Feed your food close to the space between the eyes of the gecko.
Step 2: If you want to eat, hold the food in front of your lizard.
If you want to avoid being bitten, be sure to hold the food in front of it and give yourself enough space.It will let go of your nails if you face them towards the gecko.As long as possible, keep feeding your lizard.If you want to avoid using your fingers, use tongs.If your lizard nips at you, always keep the food between your thumb and forefinger.
Step 3: The lizard's stare is intense.
When your gecko is about to bite, it will look like it is focused on the target and likely to eat it.Feed your gecko if it walks away.Don't force-feed it.
Step 4: Make your lizard work for it's food.
Make your lizard work for the food by moving it around.It's important to make sure it doesn't get bored or understimulated.It's important to let your gecko chase and hunt.
Step 5: Wait until the gecko is done eating.
If you put your hand near a reptile, it may bite you.Remove any leftovers and throw them away.Live leftovers should be put in its storage container.
Step 6: When your gecko is more than 6 in (15 cm) long, feed it from your palm.
It's not a good idea to handle leopard geckos frequently.Once they are large enough, sit on the floor and allow them to crawl into your fingers and over your hands for about 10 to 15 minutes daily.You can start hand-feeding when they are comfortable enough for you to handle them.Don't grab your lizard's tail.
Step 7: You can buy live insects to feed your reptile.
Mealworms or crickets are the best food for lizards.Dubia Roaches, silkworms, and hornworms can be added to their diet.Don't give your animals food.If you want, you can feed your lizards wax worms once a week.Don't let the insects be bigger than the width of your lizard's head.
Step 8: It's a good idea to coat your insects with vitamins a week before feeding them.
If you want to provide your gecko with vitamins and minerals, lightly coat the insects with calcium powder 3 times per week, a mix ofcalcium powder andvitamin D3 2 times a week and a mineral supplement.Put the dusting powder in a tin can or plastic bag with your insects and shake it up.Buy vitamins from health and fitness stores.For at least 1 week, follow this schedule.
Step 9: Before feeding your lizard, Gut-load your insects for at least 12 hours.
The process of feeding your insects a healthy diet can be passed on to your gecko.Place your insects inside of a tub of gut-load diet.Adding a piece of potato to the tub will give insects access to water.Commercial gut-load diet can be purchased from a feed store.Fruits and oats are also great.