Feeding Guides
What to feed, how much, and how the answer changes as an animal grows.
Feeder choice, size and frequency depend on the species you keep and where it is in its life. A hatchling and an adult of the same animal can need different insects at different intervals, and the gap between the two is where most feeding problems start.
These are the six animals we are asked about most.
A dragon's diet shifts more over its life than almost any other common reptile: insect-heavy as a hatchling, mostly greens as an adult.
An insectivore for life, with no plant component to fall back on. That makes feeder choice, size and supplementation the entire diet rather than part of it.
Largely kept on a prepared diet, with insects as a supplement rather than the base. The useful questions are which insects, and how often.
Visual hunters that respond to movement, with little tolerance for oversized prey and a genuine need for variety.
Opportunistic predators that span spiderlings to large adults, so prey size changes enormously over a life. Molting is where feeding goes wrong.
Enthusiastic eaters that will happily overeat. Portion control, gut-loading and supplementation matter more here than appetite does.
| Animal | Feeders and their role | How often | Judging size | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bearded Dragon |
Discoid roaches staple Crickets staple, for movement Hornworms treat |
Growing dragons eat more often than adults, and greens become the bulk of an adult's diet; judge by body condition | No wider than the space between the eyes | View guide → |
| Leopard Gecko |
Discoid roaches staple Crickets staple Mealworms convenience, in a dish Hornworms occasional, for hydration |
Growing geckos eat more often than adults; judge by body condition rather than by a schedule | No longer than the width of the gecko's head | View guide → |
| Crested Gecko |
Small crickets supplement Small discoid roaches supplement Mealworms once in a while |
Alongside a prepared diet, as a supplement rather than the base; judge by body condition | Keep them small; drop a size when in doubt | View guide → |
| Veiled Chameleon |
Crickets base Discoid roaches base Hornworms hydration, rotation Mealworms occasional treat |
Growing chameleons eat more often than adults; judge by body condition rather than by a schedule | No wider than the space between the eyes | View guide → |
| Tarantula |
Banded crickets staple Discoid roaches staple Hornworms occasional, for moisture |
Varies with species, age and time since the last molt; spiderlings more often than adults | Sized to the individual spider; never offer prey during premolt or a molt | View guide → |
| White's Tree Frog |
Banded crickets staple Discoid roaches staple Mealworms rotation Superworms adults only Hornworms occasional variety |
Juveniles more frequently than adults; judge by body condition rather than appetite | Sized to the individual frog, not to what it can swallow | View guide → |
Size is judged by the animal eating the feeder, not by its age. The Feeder Size Guide explains how.
Feeder Size Guide · Care & Storage · Feeder Insect Nutrition · Shipping & Live Arrival
Feeding & care note: The information provided here is general feeder-insect care guidance. Dietary needs vary by species, age, size and health. Follow husbandry and feeding recommendations appropriate for your individual animal.