Want to try a new feeder insect

I want to try some new food items for my leopard geckos. Currently, they each have a fresh bowl of regular mealworms in their cages at all times which is changed daily. I also give them crickets (which they love), superworms, and sometimes waxworms. I use Mulberry Farms most of the time, and I was thinking about trying the silkworms when they get them back in stock, and the tomato hornworms.

I've tried butterworms with them, but that wasn't a very pleasant experiance. Every gecko that ate the butterworms regurgitated the next day.

I'm scared to death of cockroaches. Like really, really, disturbed by them. That isn't even an option.

Phoenix worms were a big dissapointment. Everybody LITERALLY spit them back out at me.

I just want to offer them as much of a variety as I can. Any kind of advice is much appreciated.

Sorry to hear about your issue with the roachs. I have been using them for a while, and my Leo's LOVE them. It sounds like you have tried all the standards. If you mix it up with the bugs you can handle you really should be fine. Be careful with the butters. They are high in fat, and can be addictive. Give them few and seldom. I have not tried silks or horns on my Leo's. Let us know how they work for you.

Good Luck.

I have heard lots of good things about roaches. However, I have never been able to even get near one...at all.

Do they fly? That would be a major issure if they did. And, what kind of surfaces are they capable of climbing? I'd hate to open a box of roaches I ordered, only to have them all escape. I can picture the situation to a tee: they all jump out at me with their big giant wings and long hairy antennae, I scream, pee, and then run and take cover in my walk in closet with a door, only to realize that cockroaches are REALLY good at hiding and scaring people that don't want anything to do with them.

I do have a pair of long forceps that I use for feeding. If I wasn't so scared of the damn things escaping and reproducing in my house, I think i'd try it...

I scream, pee, and then run and take cover in my walk in closet with a door, only to realize that cockroaches are REALLY good at hiding and scaring people that don't want anything to do with them.

LOL ... too funny

Roaches are a great feeder. Check into Blaptica dubia roaches. AKA Orange Spotted or Spotted Orange or something like that.

I just call them Dubia's. Bugs don't bother me, but as roaches go they're pretty near perfect for the anti-roach herp keeper. They're non-climbing, non-flying (even though males do have wings; females don't. Rendering them easy to sex as well), virtually no odor and long-lived. Females are live-bearers, so there are no egg pods to contend with. And they don't bite.

I've been using them for years for my chams and dragons .. and although I have no particular qualms about insects as feeders, I sure as hell don't want them invading my house! I have no worries there with Dubia's. (And have enough problems keeping the little fire ants, scorps, spiders escorted out when cooler weather approaches)

I find far more escaped crickets than roaches in my house, lol.

I have used discoid's my self for a few years now. Much like the dubia's that Laura mentioned, they don't climb smooth surfaces, have wings but don't fly, bear live, and live a long time. Since both have wings they are not as easy to sex but still not that tough. That would only be an issue, though, if you were looking to set up a group of breeders for your self. But judging by your post I guess that isn't something you have given serious thought to. Thats ok though it isn't the kind of thing that everyone is up for.

Originally Posted by LauraB

LOL ... too funny

Roaches are a great feeder. Check into Blaptica dubia roaches. AKA Orange Spotted or Spotted Orange or something like that.

I just call them Dubia's. Bugs don't bother me, but as roaches go they're pretty near perfect for the anti-roach herp keeper. They're non-climbing, non-flying (even though males do have wings; females don't. Rendering them easy to sex as well), virtually no odor and long-lived. Females are live-bearers, so there are no egg pods to contend with. And they don't bite.

I've been using them for years for my chams and dragons .. and although I have no particular qualms about insects as feeders, I sure as hell don't want them invading my house! I have no worries there with Dubia's. (And have enough problems keeping the little fire ants, scorps, spiders escorted out when cooler weather approaches)

I find far more escaped crickets than roaches in my house, lol.

I agree with everything Laura wrote!
First time I saw them I wanted nothing to do with them as well, until my firiends convinced me to hold a little one, no problem they're more like big Potato/Rolly pollys than roaches. "shucks" I don't even need to give them to my Cresties, but I do just to liven it up for them and maybe get a little extra calcium in them ( I dustem up').