Can Leopard Geckos eat fruit?

[vlad]

Im wondering if I can mix a little bit of fruit once a while. If leopard geckos can eat fruit, what kind?

 

[Allee Toler]

Nope. They won't eat it. =]

 

[cantbuytime]

Fruit!!

Geckos will eat fruit, just maybe not all geckos..

I have seen my oldest gecko eat cut up strawberries and other mashed up naturally sweet fruit.. Also my Giant albino ate some crushed pineapple and all of my geckos eat apple sauce at some time.. I only try the fruit in between feedings about 2 times a month. But what I wrote below is what they get everyday-

You can get baby food fruits, unsweetened applesauce, etc.. If u mix some calcium supplement, vitamin drops and honey with the baby food ,it last all day without going bad... I use old plastic soda bottle caps and gatorade caps to put the mixture in. And just replace it with a new one each day..

 

[Allee Toler]

Leopard geckos will also eat raw ground beef. Doesn't mean you should.

 

[cantbuytime]

what is wrong with feeding your leo fruit??

I really want to hear this one..

there is nothing wrong with feeding your geckos fruit unless its large chunks, it is also helpful cause it gives them a variety when they are getting bored with their regular food..

My oldest Leo is 6 yrs old, and even her original owner fed her strawberries and cantalope from time to time..

 

[Allee Toler]

what is wrong with feeding your leo fruit??

I really want to hear this one..

there is nothing wrong with feeding your geckos fruit unless its large chunks, it is also helpful cause it gives them a variety when they are getting bored with their regular food..

My oldest Leo is 6 yrs old, and even her original owner fed her strawberries and cantalope from time to time..

It's just not a natural diet. A lot of people here are against it. Same with feeding pinkies.

If you DO feed fruit, make sure it's nothing with high acid. Pineapples, oranges, and any other citrus should be avoided. Acid is bad for obvious reasons, and they can over dose on Vitamin C, so fruit containing high percentages should be avoided, (E.I. Strawberries, Oranges, etc.).

A safe bet is bananas and apples.

If you do want to vary the diet I would suggest CHICKEN baby food. High in protein and very good for them. Same goes with carrot baby food, high in vitamin A, great for geckos with vision problems. I feed pureed carrots to one of my leos who is blind in one eye and losing vision in the other. Her vision hasn't gotten worse since I started it. She's my only gecko who I feed anything un-natural to.

 

[cantbuytime]

Fruit

I apologize for not mentioning the low acid stuff..
Stay away from citrus fruit.

I mainly use banana, apple, cantaloupe, watermelon and pear.. I also use apple and sometimes pineapple.. A friend squash's grapes for his two Leo's but like i said its mostly a treat every 2 weeks..

As far as veggies go- I use just carrots , celery, broccoli or vegetable baby food..

these are used as treats, snacks and for extra nutrients..


Not trying to start a debate or anything here, just want to mention, you say its frowned upon cause its not natural..

But whats natural about spending their lives in glass tanks and plastic tubs, they are already completely out of their environment . Might as well give them some kind of options..LOL

FYI- I frown upon feeding of pinkies also.

ne ways, just my 2cents..

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Why in the heck would you WANT to feed your leopard gecko fruit? It's not appropriate, it's not healthy for them, they DON'T like it. If they eat it, it's because they either are looking for hydration from it or they're starving. If you want a gecko that eats fruit, get a crested gecko or other New Caledonia species. These aren't toys, they're real living breathing animals. Show some respect and treat them as such.

 

[OffshoreMetal]

I totally agree with Ethan ! They are Insectivorous , Meaning they DONT EAT FRUITS in the wild. Best way to keep a Lizard is to mimic their natura habitat, Offering them what they would eat , Temps and humidity that would be at in the wild. Yes they can eat fruits and vegies if you offer them , But in the wild , They managed to survive i dont know how much years but sure way over 2000 years without eating fruits. Do we feed meat to a herbivorous animal ? do we feed fruits and vegies to a 100% carnivorous animal ? Nope.
Leopard geckos are Insectivorous , Those should be feeded only in exeptional conditions , Like a really sick gecko that doesnt want to eat insects or like Allee said , Chicken baby food for her partially blind gecko...

 

[Allee Toler]

Why in the heck would you WANT to feed your leopard gecko fruit? It's not appropriate, it's not healthy for them, they DON'T like it. If they eat it, it's because they either are looking for hydration from it or they're starving. If you want a gecko that eats fruit, get a crested gecko or other New Caledonia species. These aren't toys, they're real living breathing animals. Show some respect and treat them as such.

Thanks. I didn't know how to word it without coming across as rude.

 

[cantbuytime]

Ok, i apparently upset someone cause they didnt read my post very well.. (Riverside Reptiles's).. Also back up a lil here, I find your post to be a lil over the top. So how about you show some respect..

Notice i put in my reply that these are used as treats from time to time!! not a replacement for their insect diet..Also i put some will eat it, not all..

What was asked(Im wondering if I can mix a little bit of fruit once a while. If leopard geckos can eat fruit, what kind?)

Seems the question was answered correctly..

there is no health concerns with feeding you gecko's fruit or veggies from time to time.. Why would you say something like that? Seems u are ill informed.. And ill informing people is bad too..


OffshoreMetal, U hit the nail on the head..Thanks

 

[Jheuloh]

Summary of the the statements about leopard geckos & frugivorism;

It seems as if, should the opportunity present itself, leopard geckos are at least partly omnivorous. Obviously not a creature that could exist soley on fruits like Rhacodactylus, be it as a pet, or in the wild, but perhaps an animal that could take occasional 'treat' fruits.

My own interpretation of the drama;

Probably no real right or wrong answer here, as long as insects are the primary source of food & nutrients. I've also read from the words of authors who work with tokay geckos; their animals will take whole jars of baby food, if offered. The answer to this question will probably only appear when a competent experiment is performed. I think the real question here is whether or not fruit can be effectively digested by a leopard gecko, before we start saying they should never be given fruits or saying that fruits can be used as an occasional treat.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

First, let me say @ can'tbuytime that you did not upset me and there is no drama to be found here. I have 18,000 members to deal with on these forums. I don't have time to worry about what one person does with their animal. You're certainly welcome to do as you choose with your animal. It's your pet, it's your choice. However, when you start giving improper advice to newbies, it's a different story. Leopard geckos are not frugivoris. Where in the wilds of Pakistan or Afghanistan are leopard geckos likely to encounter a pineapple??? You say that there's nothing bad about feeding them fruit...how can you make that claim? Based simply on the basis that they will consume it? Again, just because they WILL eat it, doesn't mean that it's ok. They'll eat waxworms and pinkies too...to the point of getting fatty liver disease and death. They're not the brightest of creatures and they do depend on you to provide a proper diet in captivity. Why you would even want to feed it fruit is beyond me.

@ Jheuloh...tokay geckos on the other hand come from a completely different environment. They're quite likely to encounter tons of various fruit items in their natural habitat and I'm willing to bet that they do indeed eat some portion of fruit in the wild. But a tokay and a leo are worlds apart... literally.

 

[Jheuloh]

@ Jheuloh...tokay geckos on the other hand come from a completely different environment. They're quite likely to encounter tons of various fruit items in their natural habitat and I'm willing to bet that they do indeed eat some portion of fruit in the wild. But a tokay and a leo are worlds apart... literally.

Indeed, as you said, tokays & leopards are worlds apart in a literal sense. I forget that part.

Now, I'm going off topic, but - I have a creeping suspicion that the thread is on the verge of spiraling into mud-slinging. :scratchhead:

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Now, I'm going off topic, but - I have a creeping suspicion that the thread is on the verge of spiraling into mud-slinging. :scratchhead:

No worries about that. We don't allow it on these forums. We have a zero tolerance for drama here.