The Ultimate Guide to Feeding Reptiles (2026)
Matt Goren
The Ultimate Guide to Feeding Reptiles (2026)
This is the definitive guide to reptile nutrition — covering every feeder insect, every major pet reptile species, supplementation schedules, gut loading, and common mistakes. Bookmark this page as your go-to reference for feeding decisions.
The Four Premium Feeders Every Keeper Needs
Modern reptile nutrition is built on a four-feeder rotation that covers every nutritional need:
| Feeder | Role | Frequency | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discoid Roaches | Daily protein staple | Daily or every other day | 20% protein, 7% fat, gut-loadable |
| Silkworms | Low-fat premium supplement | 2-3x per week | 1% fat, zero chitin, serrapeptase |
| BSFL | Calcium supplement | 1-3x per week | 9,340 mg/kg calcium — no dusting |
| Hornworms | Hydration treat | 1-3x per week | 85% moisture, 3:1 Ca:P |
Each feeder fills a specific nutritional niche that the others cannot. Roaches provide the protein foundation. Silkworms provide ultra-low-fat nutrition with zero impaction risk. BSFL provide calcium without any dusting. Hornworms provide hydration and appetite stimulation. Together they create the most nutritionally complete feeding program available for captive reptiles.
Complete Nutrition Data for Every Feeder
| Feeder | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Ca (mg/kg) | Ca:P | Chitin | Dust? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discoid Roach | 20% | 7% | 65% | 200 | 0.77 | Mod | Yes |
| Silkworm | 9% | 1% | 83% | 340 | 0.77 | None | Yes |
| BSFL | 17% | 14% | 61% | 9,340 | 6.92 | Low | No |
| Hornworm | 9% | 3% | 85% | 460 | 3.07 | Min | Opt |
| Dubia Roach | 23% | 7% | 61% | 200 | 0.74 | Mod | Yes |
| Cricket | 15-21% | 6% | 73% | 140 | 0.13 | Mod | Yes |
| Mealworm | 20% | 13% | 62% | 30 | 0.04 | High | Yes! |
| Superworm | 20% | 18% | 58% | 100 | 0.16 | V.High | Yes |
| Waxworm | 14% | 25% | 58% | 80 | 0.13 | Low | Yes |
Feeding by Species
We have created detailed species-specific feeding guides for every major pet reptile:
- Complete Bearded Dragon Diet Guide
- Complete Leopard Gecko Diet Guide
- Complete Chameleon Diet Guide
- Complete Dart Frog Diet Guide
- Best Feeders for Blue Tongue Skinks
- Best Feeders for Monitors and Tegus
- Best Feeders for Crested Geckos
- Best Feeders for Tarantulas
- Best Feeders for Pacman Frogs
The Five Pillars of Reptile Nutrition
- Varied feeder rotation: Minimum 3-4 feeder types to prevent nutritional gaps and feeding boredom
- Proper supplementation: Calcium + D3 at most feedings, multivitamin weekly, BSFL for natural calcium
- UVB lighting: T5 HO bulb for calcium absorption — non-negotiable for most species
- Gut loading: Feed calcium-rich greens to roaches 24-48 hours before offering to your reptile
- Appropriate sizing: No wider than the space between your reptile's eyes
Common Feeding Mistakes
- Cricket-only diets: Smell, noise, bites, poor Ca:P. Switch to discoid roaches.
- Mealworm-only diets: 13% fat, worst Ca:P (0.04:1), impaction risk for juveniles.
- Overfeeding adults: Most adult reptiles eat every other day, not daily.
- Ignoring vegetables: Adult beardies and BTS need 50-60% vegetables.
- Waxworm addiction: Highly addictive at 25% fat. Avoid or use very rarely.
- No UVB: Without UVB, calcium supplements are largely wasted.
- No variety: Single-feeder diets cause deficiencies regardless of which feeder you choose.
About All Angles Creatures
We are a dedicated feeder insect breeder operating from a climate-controlled facility in Florida. Premium feeder insects and bioactive microfauna are all we do — and we do them better than anyone. Every order ships with insulated packaging and our no-questions live arrival guarantee.
Browse our complete feeder insect selection and give your reptile the nutrition it deserves.
— Matt, Founder, All Angles Creatures
Published · last updated