leopard gecko eating canned crickets?

[gecko attack!]

i have a young leopard gecko, and awhile ago my grama brought home some canned crickets ( already deceased) to see if my gecko would eat them and to my supprise she did. we have been feeding them to her for some time now along with her supplements and so far no health problems, but i was wondering if this could backfire in the long run and harm my gecko or is this alright? all the care sheets i have read say live food items but she seems to enjoy the canned crickets alot.

i just want to do whatever is best for my gecko and any feed back will be appreciated, thank you

 

[Allee Toler]

The issue with canned crickets is they're dehydrated to some degree. Like any wild animal they get a majority of their water from their food. You can see your gecko drink water but that doesn't mean he/she is getting all he/she needs causing long term dehydration along with health issues associated with dehydration. Being canned they're clearly packed with preservatives or their bodies would decompose rapidly. From being alive to being on the shelf is what, a week? A good example is look at our own food. Green beans for instance loses almost 50% of it's nutrition after 3 days of being picked. Green beans on the market shelves are minimal 4 days old (unless your store is more specific on getting same-day produce). Which means we'll need to seek those nutritional properties in other places. Geckos cannot do this, as their owner it's up to us to give them the proper nutrition they need.

All in all- fresh kill is better for nutrition and overall health.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Your geckos need live prey items to live a happy healthy and LONG life. What might seem to work in the sort term could significantly shorten the overall life span. It's obviously more work, but it's the right thing to do. There's a reason that ALL of the care sheets say to feed live prey.

 

[countb]

My old female leopard gecko, Spot, ate canned crickets from the time I got her till when she died. I had her for 15 years. She was fat active and happy till the day she passed away. I was always sure to provide her with drinking water and did proper supplementation. It is an option you can definitly explore.

 

[Allee Toler]

Leopard geckos can live 20+ years.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

My old female leopard gecko, Spot, ate canned crickets from the time I got her till when she died. I had her for 15 years. She was fat active and happy till the day she passed away. I was always sure to provide her with drinking water and did proper supplementation. It is an option you can definitly explore.

I get tired of saying it but...just because something CAN be done, doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done. I know someone that raised an iguana on macaroni and cheese (seriously). But that doesn't make it right.

 

[countb]

Well while I dont really like my care for my late leopard gecko being compared to something as irresposible to feeding a large omnivorous lizard mac and cheese. I understand the issue. There is no question that feeding live food is best and the more natural way to go. I personally feel that variety in a captive reptiles life is very important to overall long term health. I feed my current leopard geckos: Dubia Roaches, mealworms, crickets and occasionally waxworms and butterworms.