Leopard Gecko Locusts: Can They Eat Them?

A leopard gecko locust meal is safe when the locust is captive bred, correctly sized, gut loaded and dusted with calcium. The University of Liverpool veterinary school lists locusts as suitable prey for Eublepharis macularius, alongside crickets, cockroaches, mealworms and superworms. Animal Diversity Web also names locusts among the insects fed in captivity.

Locusts are not a complete food on their own. This guide covers where they fit, how big they should be, how many to offer and what can go wrong. The full diet overview is on the leopard gecko diet page.

Is a Leopard Gecko Locust Meal Safe?

They can. The leopard gecko is an insectivore, and in the wild it takes scorpions, centipedes, spiders and beetles. A locust is a large, protein rich insect that suits an adult gecko well.

Two points limit how often you should use them. Locusts are very low in calcium compared with phosphorus, so every one needs dusting. They are also hard to find in some countries, which makes them a variety feeder rather than a staple for most keepers in the US.

Which Locusts Are Sold as Feeders

Two species dominate the feeder trade. The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) and the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) are both sold live, usually in several sizes from small nymphs to adults. Shops often label either one simply as “locusts”.

The two are not identical. In a food science study of adults, the desert locust held more protein and less fat than the migratory locust. Ask the seller which species you are buying, because the numbers below are species specific.

Availability in the UK and the US

Keepers in the UK commonly report that locusts are easy to buy from specialist feeder suppliers, and they are a routine feeder there. In the US they are much harder to find, and many keepers never see them for sale. This is a market observation, not a published statistic, so check local suppliers before planning around them.

If you cannot get locusts, other feeders cover the same job. The feeder insects guide compares the options.

Locust Nutrition

The Merck Veterinary Manual lists locusts in its reptile feeder table, with calcium at 0.1%, phosphorus at 0.75%, protein at 61.7% and fat at 19.4%. Its calcium to phosphorus ratio for locusts is 0.13. The manual does not name the locust species or the life stage.

A separate study measured adults of each feeder species, one week after their final molt. Values are per 100 g of dry matter.

All of these ratios sit far below 1. That is why dusting matters, and why the Merck manual says insects should be dusted with a high calcium supplement immediately before feeding. The figures come from adult insects, so nymph values may differ, and no source reviewed gives them.

No opened source gives composition data from leopard gecko feeding trials.

Diet changes what a locust contains. In migratory locusts fed grass, protein was about 633 g/kg dry matter and fat about 182 g/kg. Adding wheat bran or carrots raised the fat, and mineral levels shifted with diet and with life stage.

Choosing the Right Locust Size

A common keeper standard is to offer insects no wider than the space between the gecko’s eyes. This rule is not from a published veterinary source, but it fits the way a gecko swallows prey whole. Hatchlings measure about 85 mm in total length and adults about 220 mm, according to Animal Diversity Web, so the prey range is wide.

For a hatchling, a leopard gecko locust should be tiny. A big locust can injure a small mouth and may be refused or regurgitated. Adult locusts have long, strong hind legs, so many keepers remove the back legs or feed nymphs instead.

How Many Locusts to Feed a Leopard Gecko

No veterinary source reviewed sets a locust count or a feeding schedule for Eublepharis macularius. The Liverpool sheet says to gut load all prey and to give a calcium supplement with every meal. The numbers below are common keeper practice, so adjust them to body condition.

For a baby, count what the gecko eats in about 10 to 15 minutes and remove the rest. If it ignores them, go smaller. A rounded, thick tail base suggests you are feeding enough, and a thin tail base suggests you need more.

Mix locusts with other feeders instead of using them every time. Rotating insects spreads out the gaps in any single species. See the leopard gecko care guide for the wider routine.

Gut Loading and Dusting

A locust is only as good as its last meal. Because diet changes what a locust contains, feed it fresh grass, leafy greens and a little vegetable matter for at least 24 hours before offering it. The gut loading page explains the method in detail.

Dust right before feeding. Shake a few locusts in a cup with a pinch of calcium powder until coated. Supplement choices are covered in the calcium supplement guide.

One point in the locust’s favor: a Wageningen University review reports that migratory locusts can make vitamin D when kept under UVB, so suppliers who light their colonies may sell a slightly better insect. Do not rely on it. Dust anyway.

Calcium or vitamin D3 shortfalls cause secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism in insectivorous reptiles, according to Merck. A low calcium feeder fed without dusting adds to that risk. Insects generally contain little vitamin A as well, so a multivitamin once a week is recommended by Liverpool.

Risks of Feeding Locusts

• Bites and kicks. Locusts have chewing mouthparts and strong legs. Remove uneaten ones, because a leftover locust can nibble a sleeping gecko.
• Escapes. Locusts jump and adults can fly. Keep the feeder tub lidded and open it slowly.
• Wild caught locusts. Wild insects can carry pesticides and parasites, and the FAO notes that large quantities of pesticides are often used in desert locust control. Use only captive bred stock.
• Low calcium. Skipping dusting is the biggest nutritional mistake with this feeder.
• Odor and noise. A locust colony can smell and chirp, so most keepers buy small batches.

Bring a gecko to a reptile veterinarian if it refuses food, loses weight or passes abnormal stool. The Liverpool sheet lists those as reasons for a visit.

Keeping Locusts Until Feeding

Store them in a ventilated tub with dry egg carton for climbing. Keep them warm and dry, and give them fresh greens daily.

Remove dead ones promptly. Because locusts are warm climate insects, a cold room slows them down and reduces how long they last.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a leopard gecko locust better than a cricket?

Neither is clearly better. Merck gives locusts a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 0.13 and crickets a ratio of 0.31, and both need dusting. Locusts are larger, so they suit adults, while crickets are easier to find in the US.

Can a baby leopard gecko eat locusts?

Only very small nymphs. Hatchlings are about 85 mm long, so a first instar nymph is the largest sensible size. Most keepers start babies on smaller feeders and add locusts later.

Can I feed locusts I caught outside?

No. Wild insects may carry pesticides and parasites, and the FAO reports heavy pesticide use against desert locust outbreaks. Buy captive bred locusts from a feeder supplier.

Do locusts need to be alive?

Geckos hunt by movement, so live locusts get the best response. Dead ones are often ignored. If a gecko will not eat, a vet check is sensible.

Which locust species has more fat?

Adult migratory locusts measured 30.52% fat on a dry matter basis against 19.10% for adult desert locusts. Desert locusts were higher in protein. Fat matters for geckos that are already overweight.