Cricket Gutloading Question

[chamerina]

I've been using Cricket Total Bites from Nature Zone, which has spirulina (http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-3760883t300x300.jpg), Fluker's High Calcium dry cricket food (http://i.tfcdn.com/img2/xWf9gkAAY_q...UJSfUppcAmTou_mEgrCugYFxvGGVXlZBOgA*/fyVMtP8A), Fluker's yellow Cricket quencher (http://www.petco.com/product/9430/Flukers-Cricket-Quencher.aspx) along with some clementines, steam carrots and brocolli, and potatoes.

Is this a good enough gutload?

Also, funny thing. Depending on where I get the crickets, some have little or no interest to the fresh vegetables and just the Total Bites . Is it okay to gutload the crickets on just the dry food, Total Bites, and Quenchers?

Lastly, can someone tell me why dry food is also needed?

Thank you!

 

[nightanole]

Id ditch it all.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ferretinmyshoes/734-crickets-101.html

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/697-dry-gutload-mix-august-2012.html

https://www.chameleonforums.com/i-think-i-invented-dubia-crack-95938/

If you want the pre mix good stuff, get some bug burger, cricket crack, or dino fuel.

If you want Cricket quencher, make it out of water crystals. You can pick up a bag of non fertilizer miracle gro water crystals at home depot for $10-20 that will make 50 gallons of crystals.


your "wet" gut load looks pretty good other than the potato. They love carrots and clementines.

 

[redsfandrew]

id have to agree with night anole. you cant go wrong with bug burger. I just got a 64 oz bag of dry mix for 32 bucks. It should last me 6-8months.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Broccoli and potatoes are not good choices.
I would suggest you read these:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/697-dry-gutload-mix-august-2012.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...just-crickets-roaches-gutload-everything.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/659-green-leafy-goodness-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-nuts-seeds-healthy-part-perfect-gutload.html

 

[chamerina]

Thanks for the input everyone!

Forgot to mention that I only used a little bit of broccoli (mostly cause i only had a little) and was glad to read later that broccoli use should be limited. Didn't know about the potato though.

Will definitely use the vegetables listed in the links you guys provided

Is it okay then that I use all of the above as a supplement to fresh fruits and vegetables?

 

[ataraxia]

Hi, I would recommend reading Sandra's blogs. I do however have a different opinion on potato and your other choices for gut loading. What you have been using is just fine but should be used in moderation. Total bites are good but they will get expensive and same with the flukers gut load. Potato is not as bad as many want to make them seem. Yes, you have many more vegetables with much more nutrients than potato's, broccoli or clementines but they are ok to use. I use carrot and clementines a good bit. Just remember variety is best when it comes to gut loading your insects.

 

[sandrachameleon]

yes true - variety is best and the occassional use of potatoes or broc will do no harm.

Broc is high in oxalic acid and goitrogenic . I suggest you limit use of anything high in phytates/Phytic acid, Oxilates/ Oxalic Acid, Goitrogens - or compensate well for this.

Potatoe has much more phosphorous than calcium and not a heck of a lot of nutrients to offer besides.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/189-nutrients-raw-white-potatoe.html

 

[chamerina]

Got it! Thank you all again for the information. I'm sure this question has been asked a million times (many of which I researched) but I wanted to ask about my specific set up. I'll definitely limit the vegetables that are high in phytates/phytic acid, oxilates/oxalic acid.

Looks like variety is a theme here on the forums, and I have taken good note of it.