What Do Geckos Eat? Gecko Diet and Feeding Tips

The gecko is a mainly carnivorous reptile that preys primarily on live small insects. Common foods include mosquitoes, flies, moths, cockroaches, spiders and various small beetles. They mostly come out at night to forage, relying on keen eyesight to spot prey and then catching it with a quick lunge and bite.

It is worth noting that geckos basically do not eat plant-based foods, show little interest in insects that are motionless or already dead, and prefer movable prey when hunting. Because they are good at preying on indoor pests such as cockroaches and mosquitoes, they are often regarded among the general public as animals that are beneficial to humans.

When keeping geckos in captivity, you can feed them easily obtainable feeder insects such as mealworms, crickets and superworms. The size of the food should match the gecko's body size, avoiding pieces that are too large and cause difficulty in swallowing. At the same time, you can appropriately supplement the feeders with calcium and vitamins, and provide clean drinking water to help it maintain balanced nutrition.

In daily care, pay attention to keeping the ambient temperature suitable; when the temperature is too low, a gecko's food intake will drop noticeably. If it refuses food, first check whether the environment is quiet and whether the temperature is appropriate, and try to feed live insects to stimulate eating. There is no need to drive away a gecko you occasionally encounter at home; it generally will not attack people on its own, and letting it help control mosquitoes and insects is actually more beneficial.