Commercial Gutloads

Im frequently asked about commercial gutloads, especially in terms of as a back-up or in addition to providing veggies. While I personally make my own gutloads for the most part, there are Four commercial gutloads listed below which I have seen recommended and which seem pretty good, though I've not used all of them myself.

in no particular order:

Cricket Crack
Contact Steve (SSimsswiSS) here on the forum or buy from buycricketcrack.com or http://www.tikitikireptiles.com/products.php?id=48
Alfalfa, calcium, dehydrated milk, Canadian field peas, pearled barley, oat groats, safflower, maple peas, milo, rice cereal, lima beans, yellow split peas, dry fruit mix, spirirulina, white beans, pink beans, red beans, black beans, bee pollen, vitamin C, folic acid, and acidophilus.
Dino Fuel
http://kilgourschameleons.com/products.asp
Ingredients: Spirulina platensis, Bee Pollen, Hemp Seed, Turmeric, Rosehips ( Rosa canina), Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale), Brewer's Yeast, Wheat Germ. Directions: Sprinkle 1 tablespoon over rinsed vegetables
Dino Fuel Raptor Edition: Ingredients: Alfalfa, Marigold, Hemp Seed, Turmeric, Rosehips ( Rosa canina), Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale), Brewer's Yeast, Wheat Germ. Directions: Sprinkle 1 tablespoon over rinsed vegetables
Repashy Bug Burger
http://www.store.repashy.com/bug-burger-4-oz-bag.html
Alfalfa Meal, Flax Meal, Corn Meal, Potato Granules, Brewers Dried Yeast, Pea Protein Isolate, Dried Kelp, Calcium Carbonate, Carrageenan, Konjac, Carob Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Dried Krill, RoseHips, Cinnamon, Calendula Flower, Marigold Flower Extract, Phaffia Rhodozyma Yeast, Paprika Extract, Spirulina Algae, Turmeric, Salt, Potassium Citrate, Magnesium Gluconate, Canthaxanthin, Malic Acid, Calcium Propionate, Methylparaben, and Potassium Sorbate (as mold inhibitors), Lecithin, Rosemary Extract and Mixed Tocopherols (as preservatives), Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D Supplement, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Beta Carotene, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement).
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS: Crude Protein min. 20%, Crude Fat min. 5%, Crude Fat max. 8%, Crude Fiber max. 12%, Moisture max. 8%, Ash max. 10%, Calcium min. 5%, Calcium max. 6%, Phosphorus min. 0.5%.
Sticky Tongues Vit-All
http://www.stickytonguefarms.com/in...n=com_virtuemart&Itemid=81&vmcchk=1&Itemid=81
Alfalfa Meal, Dried Whey, Starch, Dextrose, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pollen, Beta Carotene supplement (Natural source of Vitamin A), Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Pyridoxine, Hydrochloride, Thimine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Calcium Pantothenate(source of Pantothenic Acid), Folic Acid, Biotin.
Guaranteed Analysis Per Kilo Vit-All, Not Less than:
Vitamin E 500 ID/kg Vitamin B-12 3 mg Niacin 2,500 mg Riboflavin 650 mg D- Pantothenic Acid 500 mg d-Biotin 1.4 mg Choline 6,000 mg Folic Acid 65 mg Thimine 850 mg Pyridoxine 800 mg Vit.C 5,200 mg

Of course, its easy to make your own too. Here are some useful links:
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/823-august-2013-dry-gutload-mix.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/697-dry-gutload-mix-august-2012.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blog...just-crickets-roaches-gutload-everything.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/443-superworm-substrate-gutload-one.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/659-green-leafy-goodness-gutloading.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/835-simple-gutload-bug-food.html
http://www.chameleonnews.com/05JunDescamps.html
http://www.chameleonnews.com/02SepDonoghue.html


If you know whether or not the WER gutload is still available anywhere, please let me know.

If you know about another gutload worth mentioning, please leave a comment with the details!

Comments

Great Info (as usual). :D I use the Repashy Bug burger as well as the Dino Fuel Raptor edition. With only one chameleon to feed, the regular gut load ingredients usually come from the stuff I am eating so it doesn't go bad. The dry ingredients have a much longer shelf life and I don't waste any. I have found that using the bug burger dry (not prepared according to the directions) works better for me. I simply sprinkle it over rinsed veggies like the Dino Fuel.
 
Some of the better commercial foods meant for Iguanas may be okay for using as part of your gutload, in combination with a healthy selection of fresh veg etc.

Walkabout Farm Iguana Growth Mix
Includes plants, carrot, kelp, no artificial flavours, or colours. The dried egg in it has had the fat removed.

Zoomed Soft-Moist Iguana food
Alfalfa, beans, collards, mustard greens, and kale, etc no artificial colours or flavours
 
intended for fish - undoubtedly controversial as a cricket gutload - the soy, wheat and fishmeal may be an issue, yet still possibly okay for occasional use as part of gutloading

HBH 8 Veggie Fish Food Flakes
ingredients: Spirulina, soy flour, pea powder, alfalfa leaf powder, wheat flour & starch, carrot powder, spinach powder, fish meal & oil, wheat germ, brewers yeast, kelp powder, zucchini powder, kale powder, beet powder, soybean oil, lecithin, wheat gluten, tocopherols (preservative), rosemary extract, vitamin c, vitamin a acetate, choline, vitamin e, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, thiamine, biotin, folic acid, menadione sodium, bisulfire complex, D3, B12, zinc, proteinate, copper, magnesium, iron, citric acid. 28% protein, 9% fat.
 
I have been asked a few times again recently about the Flukers gutload product. I personally do NOT recommend it. The ingredients list, last time I checked, had "grain products" as the primary item, which probably means cheap corn, maybe also wheat; neither of these are particularly desirable. I believe it also has non-specific animal protein, another undesirable. The phosphorus content is too high. And to quote Chris Anderson (http://www.chameleonforums.com/what-wrong-flukers-gut-load-49785/#post467428)
Chris Anderson;467428 said:
According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery in 2005, crickets fed the Fluker's High-Calcium Cricket Feed "contained no more calcium than those fed an unfortified diet and would likely be considered calcium deficient when used as food for insectivorous reptiles" (Finke et al. 2005).
Chris
Do a quick search of this forum on Flucker and you'll see that the overall opinion on this forum is not one of recommending the product.
Im sure its entirely adequate for keeping crickets alive, but gutloading isn't about the happiness of crickets, its about chameleons.
 

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