Gecko Feeding Calculator
Feeding schedule and insect count from species and size.
About this calculator
Feeding frequency in this calculator is set almost entirely by Gecko Type, reflecting real dietary differences between species: leopard geckos are pure insectivores fed as often as daily as juveniles, while crested, day, and gargoyle geckos are omnivores that eat commercial crested gecko diet (CGD) or fruit puree as their staple, with insects offered only once or twice a week as a supplement. Gecko Type and Juvenile status both substantially drive how many insect feedings happen per week -- for a Leopard Gecko, for example, switching Juvenile status swings feedings per week about as much as switching between the four Gecko Type options does, so neither input alone dominates the other. Insects Per Feeding, by contrast, scales with Gecko Length and does not respond to Cost per 100 Insects at all, since insect quantity is a biological feeding-size question while cost only affects the dollar figures.
Juvenile status raises feeding frequency relative to adults of the same species -- roughly doubling it for crested and gargoyle geckos, by a smaller margin for leopard and day geckos -- and shifts calcium dusting to every feeding rather than every other one, reflecting juveniles' faster growth and higher calcium demand. Monthly food cost adds a flat CGD/fruit allowance for the three omnivorous species on top of insect cost. These are general husbandry guidelines drawn from common reptile care references -- always adjust portions based on your individual gecko's body condition and appetite, and consult a reptile veterinarian for any animal showing signs of over- or under-feeding.
Inputs
Results
Insects per feeding
16
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your gecko's length in inches and select its species (Gecko Type).
- Toggle Juvenile on for a gecko under 1 year old, then set Cost per 100 insects ($).
- Review the Insects per feeding result.
- Use Feedings per week and Insects per month to inform your decision.
How the result changes with Gecko length (in)
| Gecko length (in) | Insects per feeding |
|---|---|
| 4 | 8 |
| 6 | 12 |
| 12 | 24 |
| 20 | 40 |
What each input means
- Gecko length (in)
- Total length of your gecko in inches (snout to tail tip).
- Gecko Type
- Species determines insect size, feeding frequency, and whether CGD/fruit supplements the diet.
- Juvenile
- On for juvenile (under 1 year), off for adult. Juveniles need more frequent feedings.
- Cost per 100 insects ($)
- Cost per 100 feeder insects (crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms).
What each result means
- Insects per feeding
- Number of appropriately-sized insects per feeding session.
- Feedings per week
- Number of insect feedings per week.
- Insects per month
- Total feeder insects consumed per month.
- Monthly food cost ($)
- Estimated monthly cost for insects and CGD (if applicable).
- Calcium dustings/week
- Times per week to dust insects with calcium powder.
- D3 supplements/week
- Times per week to supplement with vitamin D3.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersGecko length (in) = 8, Gecko Type = 0, Juvenile = 0, Cost per 100 insects ($) = 10 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Insects per feedingInsects per feeding16 = 16
- Calculate Feedings per weekFeedings per week4 = 4
- Calculate Insects per monthInsects per month = insectsPerWeek * 4.33277 = 277
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators. Built by Paul Gunder, a software engineer, not a licensed financial, medical, or legal professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the biggest effect on how many insect feedings my gecko needs per week?
Gecko Type and Juvenile status together, roughly comparably -- neither one dominates the other. Leopard geckos are pure insectivores fed insects far more often than the omnivorous crested, day, and gargoyle geckos, which rely mainly on commercial diet or fruit puree and only get insects once or twice a week as a supplement, but switching Juvenile status on or off moves the weekly feeding count by a similar amount at the default species setting.
Does the cost of insects change how many I need to feed my gecko?
No. Insects Per Feeding is calculated from Gecko Length and Gecko Type alone -- it's a biological feeding-size question, not a cost one. Cost per 100 Insects only affects the dollar figures (Monthly food cost), not how many insects your gecko actually needs per feeding.
Why do crested and day geckos need fewer insect feedings than leopard geckos?
Leopard geckos are obligate insectivores -- insects are their entire diet. Crested, day, and gargoyle geckos are omnivores whose staple diet is commercial crested gecko diet (CGD) or fruit puree, with insects offered only as an occasional supplement, which is why this calculator schedules far fewer weekly insect feedings for them.
How does juvenile status change the feeding and supplement schedule?
Juveniles are fed more often than adults of the same species to support faster growth -- roughly twice as often for crested and gargoyle geckos, by a smaller margin for leopard and day geckos -- and this calculator also shifts calcium dusting to every feeding for juveniles versus every other feeding for adults, along with a higher weekly vitamin D3 frequency.
Does Monthly food cost only reflect insects?
No -- for the three omnivorous species (crested, day, and gargoyle geckos), this calculator adds a flat monthly allowance for commercial diet or fruit puree on top of the insect cost, since insects are only a supplement to their diet rather than the whole of it. Leopard geckos, as pure insectivores, don't get this additional allowance.
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