There's no single reptile diet; what keeps one species healthy can slowly harm another. Getting the diet right, with the correct supplements, is one of the most important parts of reptile care. Here's a practical guide by feeding type.
First, Know Your Reptile's Feeding Type
- Carnivores: eat whole prey (most snakes)
- Insectivores: eat insects (leopard geckos, many small lizards)
- Herbivores: eat plants (tortoises, adult green iguanas)
- Omnivores: eat a mix of insects and plants (bearded dragons, blue-tongue skinks)
Feeding Carnivores (Snakes)
Most pet snakes eat appropriately sized rodents, roughly the width of the snake's body at its widest point.
- Feed thawed frozen prey, never live (live prey can injure your snake)
- Feed frequency depends on age and species: hatchlings more often, adults every 1–2 weeks
- Whole prey is nutritionally complete, so supplements usually aren't needed
Feeding Insectivores and Omnivores
For insect-eaters, the quality of the insects matters as much as the insects themselves.
- Gut-load insects: feed crickets, dubia roaches, and locusts nutritious food for 24–48 hours before offering them
- Dust with calcium at most feedings, and a calcium-with-D3 / multivitamin supplement on a schedule
- Match insect size to the reptile, no wider than the space between the animal's eyes
- Offer variety; mealworms and waxworms are treats, not staples (too fatty)
💡 Pro tip: Calcium and vitamin supplementation prevents metabolic bone disease, the most common diet-related illness in captive reptiles. Don't skip it.
Feeding Herbivores (Tortoises)
- Base the diet on leafy greens, weeds, and flowers (dandelion, kale, spring greens)
- Avoid fruit for most species; it can cause digestive upset
- Provide a calcium source such as a cuttlebone
- Avoid high-protein foods, which cause shell deformities in tortoises
Universal Rules
- Always research your exact species; needs vary enormously, even between similar animals
- Provide fresh, clean water appropriate to the species
- Don't feed prey or insects that are too large; this is a common cause of choking and impaction
- Adjust portions and frequency with age, season, and activity
Find reptile food, supplements, and feeding accessories in our Reptile range.
