Cricket Gutload

[AReptile]

I'm about to go out and get more crickets for my cham and I was wondering what were the best gutload for crickets that I can get at any food store that is worthwhile for the cham to be getting from the crickets

 

[sandrachameleon]

papaya, dandelion Greens, romain, collard Greens, carrot, beet Greens, mustard Greens, oranges, limes, raspberries, yam
... dried alfalfa pellets

Aim for one green leafy veg, and one of some other bright colour. Switch it up so you try something different each time you shop.

more info: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html

 

[SSimsswiSS]

papaya, dandelion Greens, romain, collard Greens, carrot, beet Greens, mustard Greens, oranges, limes, raspberries, yam
... dried alfalfa pellets

Papaya scraps is what my bugs got this morning. I tossed two big chucks in with the dubia's and all was eaten in a matter of minutes.

 

[meganm85]

can i get the veggies/fruits and put in in a food processor and mash it up and feed it that way....i usually just throw the veggies/fruits in the tub and leave em at it....or doesn't it really matter?

 

[pssh]

My crickets don't like mashed up stuff...

 

[meganm85]

My crickets don't like mashed up stuff...

ok..thanks

 

[SpinyFranky]

What I learned with parrots is that you can prepare veggies, blend em in large quantities and then ration it off. Say for example you make cricket chow - my own fave blend.

Carrots, Romaine, Endives, Cactus, flukers cubes,honey, water.

I put all that in the food processor and just let it go until it gets down to a salsa-ish thickness. I then take it all out and prepare rations using plastic wrap.

Take a cupcake pan and line each hole with plastic wrap all the way to the lip. Spoon in the cricket chow until you get about an inch up the cup. Removes the plastic wrap from the cupcake pan and wrap it up nice and tight. Stick it in the freezer.

I only keep about 100 crickets at a time, and so one of those little plastic wrap servings is good for nearly three days. On day two I remove a new one from the freezer ( in the evening ) and let it defrost in the fridge. Morning of day three I throw the old one and clean out the cricket keeper. Put the new chow in and your good to go.

I am planning to start purchasing 500 + crickets at a time, so I am thinking I will need to start making each plastic wrap a little larger, but you get the idea.

With Freezing, most of the veggies only loose a small portion of the nutrient contents, blending also does a wonderful job of releasing the nutrients.

And hey, the crickets go nuts for it.

S.F

 

[meganm85]

i did that with fruit for our raccoon...sugar glidder and jenday conure ...i know they loved it....i didnt mash it, just cubed it and froze it....

 

[Sir Spiral Tail]

i thought i saw bananas on here as a gutload...would that be a reasonable idea?

 

[SpinyFranky]

I would think bananas have too much sugar for your chams. The crickets will go nuts for it though.

I add the honey because its good for everything, and the added sweetness makes the chopped up veggie mush much more appealing to the crickets.

 

[sandrachameleon]

i thought i saw bananas on here as a gutload...would that be a reasonable idea?

Roaches enjoy banana, but it is not your ultimate best choice nutritionally (more Phosphorus than calcium)
Check this blog entry to learn what's in a banana:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/191-nutrients-small-banana.html