Feeder Insect Breeding Guide for Leopard Geckos and West African Fat-Tailed Geckos | Cricket, Dubia, and Worm Management
Learn the benefits and methods of breeding feeder insects for leopard geckos and West African fat-tailed geckos. This practical guide covers cricket (two-spotted and house cricket) care, Dubia roach breeding, and mealworm cultivation, including enclosure setup, temperature management, and gut-loading.
Key Takeaways
Learn the benefits and methods of breeding feeder insects for leopard geckos and West African fat-tailed geckos. This practical guide covers cricket (two-spotted and house cricket) care, Dubia roach breeding, and mealworm cultivation, including enclosure setup, temperature management, and gut-loading.
Keeping leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) and West African fat-tailed geckos requires a consistent supply of feeder insects. While pet shop purchases are convenient, they're expensive and inventory can be unreliable. Breeding feeder insects at home solves these problems while also improving nutritional management for your geckos.
Benefits of Home Breeding
- Cost savings: Initial equipment costs are typically just a few thousand yen, often becoming cheaper than monthly purchases
- Fresh insects on hand: Eliminates the risk of dead or degraded quality insects
- Gut-loading control: You can feed insects nutritious food the day before feeding them to enhance their nutritional value
- Size selection: You always have the right size available for each growth stage, from hatchlings to adults
Cricket Breeding (Two-spotted Crickets and House Crickets)
Basic Setup
What you'll need: - A container (a plastic box of about 45 liters) - Several egg trays (cardboard is fine) for hiding spots - A heating device (heat panel) - Breeding container (a small plastic cup filled with soil) - Water dish (with cotton or sponge to prevent drowning) - Food dish
Temperature: 28-32°C is ideal (lower temperatures reduce egg-laying and hatch rates)
Breeding Process
- Place adult male and female crickets in the container (at a ratio of about 3:1)
- Set up the breeding container and allow them to lay eggs for 2-3 weeks
- Remove the breeding container and transfer it to a separate container, maintaining humidity and warmth for hatching (hatches in 10-14 days)
- Raise the hatchling crickets to adulthood
Important notes: Crickets are cannibalistic, so reduce density and provide plenty of hiding spaces within the container. Remove dead individuals immediately.
