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Can Leopard Geckos Eat Freeze-Dried Grasshoppers?

can leopard geckos eat dried grasshoppers?

Sometimes, it is nice to offer your Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius) something a little bit different. But, when you’re not feeding an item often, it can be very inconvenient to buy a container of live feed. So, can Leopard Geckos eat freeze-dried grasshoppers (Acrididae spp.)?

Leopard Geckos can be fed freeze-dried grasshoppers as a rare treat. Due to the freeze-drying process, they contain very little moisture and may be dehydrating. They consequently contain very high levels of protein and are more likely to cause impaction.

That’s the quick answer. Read on to find out how freeze-dried grasshoppers compare to live feed, and why they shouldn’t be a part of your Leopard Gecko’s staple diet. 

Freeze-Dried Grasshoppers Are High In Protein And Fiber

Freeze-drying involves freezing something very quickly, and then placing it in a powerful vacuum. This process removes the moisture from the item, preserving it. Freeze-dried grasshoppers do not need to be thawed out. They contain no ice after going into the vacuum. 

As a result of this process, freeze-dried grasshoppers have very little moisture in them. Protein makes up a huge percentage of their weight. They are also very high in fiber per gram. 

Freeze-dried grasshoppers contain a moderate amount of fat. Unfortunately, the calcium to phosphorus ratio is not freely available information.

As a result, it is difficult to know how freeze-dried grasshoppers might impact the health of your Leopard Gecko with regard to metabolic bone disease. 

Nutritional Information For Freeze-Dried Grasshoppers Vs Live Feeder Insects

Freeze-Dried GrasshoppersLive Grasshoppers
(Phymateus saxosus) 		Locusts
(Schistocerca gregaria)		Crickets
(Acheta domesticus)
Moisture11%72%62%73%
Protein68%20%22%18%
Fat4.5%2%9%6%
Fiber11.5%5%4%2%
Ca:P RatioNot givenNot given1:61:9
Nutritional information: Fluker’s Freeze Dried Grasshoppers, ReptiFiles®, LLC, 2017

Freeze-Dried Grasshoppers Are Not Ideal For Leopard Geckos

Though their nutritional profile is not too bad, freeze-dried insects, in general, are not great for your Leopard Gecko. We don’t recommend you give them as staple feeder insects. 

They are extremely low in moisture, and Leopard Geckos take most of their hydration from their food. As a result, eating too many dried insects as opposed to live, is likely to cause dehydration. 

Also, think about how difficult would be to swallow down some dried orange without chewing, versus fresh orange. You are much more likely to choke!

Choking and further obstruction of the digestive tract is a major health risk for Leopard Geckos. 

Obstructions cause impaction. When this happens, your Leopard Gecko will be unable to digest food, unable to defecate, and will need veterinary attention to survive. Anything that could increase compaction risk is best avoided. 

We recommend that if you would like to feed freeze-dried grasshoppers, it is best to use them as an emergency backup food only.

Or, just give one as a treat now and then. But, be sure to pick one that is smaller than the width between your Leopard Gecko’s eyes, to reduce the risk of impaction. 

Also, leopard geckos are usually not interested in dead food. You need to find ways to make dead food more appealing to them if you’d like to feed them dried grasshoppers. We explain how to do that here.

Note: Live grasshoppers are a pretty good feeder insect for leopard geckos as we explain here.

can leopard geckos eat dead grasshoppers?
Leopard geckos should not eat dried grasshoppers on a regular basis.

How To Store Freeze-Dried Grasshoppers

To store freeze-dried grasshoppers, keep the lid tightly on the jar. Then put it in a cool, dry place. If moisture gets into the container, the freeze-dried grasshoppers will begin to mold. 

Where To Buy Freeze-Dried Grasshoppers

Freeze-dried grasshoppers are available in most pet stores that cater to reptiles. They are also available for purchase on Amazon from many companies. 

One of the biggest retailers of freeze-dried grasshoppers is Fluker Farms. This brand is carried by PetCo and Amazon, as well as popular suppliers such as Josh’s Frogs. 

Interestingly, freeze-dried grasshoppers are growing in popularity as a protein source for humans. As a result, they are sometimes available from health food shops and suppliers. 

But beware to only give your Leopard Geckos plain freeze-dried grasshoppers. These delicious curry-flavored grasshoppers might not be ideal for your pet!

Pierre And The ReptileCraze Team
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