Can Leopard Geckos Eat Waxworms?

Can a Leopard Gecko Eat Waxworms?

Yes — a leopard gecko can eat waxworms, as an occasional treat rather than part of the regular diet.

Waxworms are 15–25% fat and 15–18% protein — among the fattiest feeder insects available. That is the whole story of how they should be used: they are a treat, a tool for putting weight on a thin animal, and a way to tempt something that has gone off its food. They are not a staple for anything.

How Many, and How Often

1–2 waxworms once a week, and never as a way to get a reluctant gecko eating long-term.

The Risk That Matters for a Leopard Gecko

Leopard geckos are the species most prone to holding out for waxworms. A gecko that has learned waxworms exist will refuse crickets and roaches for days waiting for the good stuff, and geckos store fat in their tails where it is easy to overshoot.

What to Feed Instead

The staple should be discoid roaches. Waxworms sit alongside a proper diet or they sit in the fridge — they do not replace anything.

When Waxworms Are Genuinely Useful

Three jobs, and they do all three well: putting weight on an underweight animal, tempting one that has stopped eating, and conditioning an animal before breeding. Outside those, there is usually a better feeder for the same meal.

See the full waxworm care and storage guide for keeping them alive once they arrive.