Best gut load

[CaliChameleon]

I know you guys get this a lot but what is the best gutload for for chameleons I am getting a Veiled soon I uses to have a panther but he passed cause of a horrible burn near his face ( but I fixed the problem and my new baby won't hurt himself but anyways what would be the best thing to give my crickets and other feeders? Thanks

 

[Whatcamo]

Sandrachameleon has a good blog about gutloaded and I make some killer stuff too! I also like raptorfuel, dinofuel, and repashy superload

 

[Kate]

I have just sourced all ingredients and now have a container full of green powder that should last a long time!

 

[Psychobunny]

I also very highly recommend Repashy Bug Burger. It have EVERYTHING in it!

The Kammer's also recommend this.

No bug gutload is complete w/o it!!

 

[Kate]

It depends where you are located. Repashy products are not readily avalable in uk. They need to be sought out on line. Just received mine today.

 

[AngieL]

It depends where you are located. Repashy products are not readily avalable in uk. They need to be sought out on line. Just received mine today.

You can get repashy in the uk now. Search 'repashy uk' and I think the site is lillyexotics. I got bug burger from there!

 

[CaliChameleon]

I am in California and I checked out the forum and I am a little confused on what to get

 

[Swayne8998]

I am in California and I checked out the forum and I am a little confused on what to get

There are many gut load brands that you can use. Bug Burger by Repashy works great. Don't use any crap by Fluker's like the orange cubes, cricket dust, etc. Cricket Crack is another good gut load. But you should also use some fresh veggies and fruits to gut load, such as collard greens, mustard greens, kale, sweet potatoes, carrots, fruits, etc.

 

[Drago]

May not be "THE BEST" but I use Cricket Crack. It get's a lot of good reviews and it's easy. I also add carrots and romaine lettuce for hydration along with always having water crystals in the cricket bins.

 

[Swayne8998]

May not be "THE BEST" but Cricket Crack is good and easy. I also add carrots and romaine lettuce for hydration along with always having water crystals in the cricket bins.

Be careful about romaine lettuce and cricket crystals. Romaine should only be offered every once and a while, forget reason but you're not supposed to. The cricket crystals expand when they are introduced to water, so not a good idea if the cham ingests them. I've heard stories where chams eat bugs with dried crystals in there mouth, and the crystal expands in their gut and slowly kills them. So be careful with crystals; carrots, potatoes and fruits will provide as much moisture.

 

[Drago]

Be careful about romaine lettuce and cricket crystals. Romaine should only be offered every once and a while, forget reason but you're not supposed to. The cricket crystals expand when they are introduced to water, so not a good idea if the cham ingests them. I've heard stories where chams eat bugs with dried crystals in there mouth, and the crystal expands in their gut and slowly kills them. So be careful with crystals; carrots, potatoes and fruits will provide as much moisture.

All I mentioned is ONLY in the cricket bin, not in the chams habitat. Also, the water crystals are only put into the cricket bin after being fully hydrated. But I like the fact that you pointed that out for members that may not know

All that said, I never thought about a dried out water crystal in the cricket bin where a bug may carry one and in turn, get eaten by a cham where it can expand to a dangerous size internally.

My crickets typically don't out last the hydrated crystals. I can go through a couple of batches of crickets and then it's time to clean the cricket box out anyway and the crystals are still pretty well hydrated.....but it's something I had not considered so thank you for that <thumbs up>.

 

[mrfixit01]

All I mentioned is ONLY in the cricket bin, not in the chams habitat. Also, the water crystals are only put into the cricket bin after being fully hydrated. But I like the fact that you pointed that out for members that may not know

All that said, I never thought about a dried out water crystal in the cricket bin where a bug may carry one and in turn, get eaten by a cham where it can expand to a dangerous size internally.

My crickets typically don't out last the hydrated crystals. I can go through a couple of batches of crickets and then it's time to clean the cricket box out anyway and the crystals are still pretty well hydrated.....but it's something I had not considered so thank you for that <thumbs up>.

I don't know how big the cricket crystals are but Miracle Gro makes Water Storing Crystals which contain no chemicals just swell and store water. Their crystals are very small, about like coarse salt crystals and only swell up a small amount and they crush, break apart, very easily. Anyone here try them?

 

[Swayne8998]

All I mentioned is ONLY in the cricket bin, not in the chams habitat. Also, the water crystals are only put into the cricket bin after being fully hydrated. But I like the fact that you pointed that out for members that may not know

All that said, I never thought about a dried out water crystal in the cricket bin where a bug may carry one and in turn, get eaten by a cham where it can expand to a dangerous size internally.

My crickets typically don't out last the hydrated crystals. I can go through a couple of batches of crickets and then it's time to clean the cricket box out anyway and the crystals are still pretty well hydrated.....but it's something I had not considered so thank you for that <thumbs up>.

Well yeah, I wouldn't put dry crystals in the cricket tank either. LOL. They dry out over a certain amount of time, it's just a liability. I use the crystals once and a while if I'm gut loading without any wet foods.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I know you guys get this a lot but what is the best gutload for for chameleons I am getting a Veiled soon I uses to have a panther but he passed cause of a horrible burn near his face ( but I fixed the problem and my new baby won't hurt himself but anyways what would be the best thing to give my crickets and other feeders? Thanks

the best gutload choices will vary depending on what type of feeder prey you are feeding.
Usually, its best to use fresh vegetables and fruits as listed here:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html for hydration and nutrition, rounded out with a dry gutload such as dino fuel, cricket crack or make your own:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/575-january-2012-dry-gutload-recipe.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/394-dry-gutload-recipe-january-2010.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/425-may-2011-gutload.html
Repashy bug burger is okay too, for crickets and roaches, though I definatley wouldnt rely on it as the only gutload option.

more useful links:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...just-crickets-roaches-gutload-everything.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-nuts-seeds-healthy-part-perfect-gutload.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/659-green-leafy-goodness-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/215-oxalic-acid-content-vegetables.html

 

[CaliChameleon]

What about Arugula, Basil and Yam?

 

[Sun]

I love rapashy bug burger with their calcium plus dust for crickets its just me but it also keeps smell down it provides water and food in one bonus I think but just do your own research see what works for you

 

[sandrachameleon]

What about Arugula, Basil and Yam?

Yes, Yes, and Yes
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/485-arugula-rocket-eruca-sativa.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/517-basil-ocimum-basilicum.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/637-yam-nutritional-values.html

 

[CaliChameleon]

Wow you guys are the best I am glad I have this forum to help me out I hope my new veiled will be good and gets the vitamins he needs thank you guys you are the best

 

[Adam Harrelson]

i would agree with swayne that you do need to put vegetables and also something to that i would use all the gut loading items these are dry gut load such as dinofuel or cricket crack,veggies such as carrots,and fruits such as oranges.

 

[Nuclear Cham]

Do you actually see your crickets eating it?

I love rapashy bug burger with their calcium plus dust for crickets its just me but it also keeps smell down it provides water and food in one bonus I think but just do your own research see what works for you

And if so, did you raise them on it, and have you fed them other gutload to see if they eat less of the Bug Burger?

It smells great and I was really excited to get it because of the convenience. Unfortunately, the crickets can't stand it. I've tried using it several times, with different batches of crickets, and have even changed the consistency of how wet I make it and I've tried heating it up, but the crickets only eat just enough to stay alive...at least most of them do, as I experience some die off when using it where as I have virtually zero die off when making my own gutload. When using gutload that I make myself, the crickets eat constantly. With the Bug Burger, I rarely see any crickets around the stuff.

I think if crickets are raised on Bug Burger from birth it might be alright to use, but for people that order half inch crickets once a month like I do, there seems to be a problem. I have heard the same complaint from many others as well. Apparently roaches really love it though. The only other thing that I can think of as to why some people don't have a problem and some do, is that maybe specific types of crickets don't like it and others do. I always get my crickets from LLLReptile.