cricket size vs. quantity- what's better?

[Franquixote]

All other factors being equal (same gut load etc.) what's your opinion on feeding 4 month old panthers crickets - more small crickets or fewer larger sized crickets?
There must be some nutritional differences.

 

[Panthro413]

I feed mine medium sized. Small occasionally. I switch it up. He eats both. Will be 4mnths nxt week. I let some free roam, but do have a cup feeder in there as well.

 

[Tortdad]

I would think fewer crickets of the largest size it can safely eat would be better than muiltiple smaller ones. I say this for 2 reasons

#1 bigger crickets have longer intestinal tract for better gut loading. Even if the smaller ones are eating the same quality of gut load the larger crickets should have more of it in thier system, thus giving your cham more vitamins.

#2 one medium cricket will have less exoskeleton to digest as compared to two small crickets.

 

[jamest0o0]

I feed as large as I can(safely)

 

[Panthro413]

I would think fewer crickets of the largest size it can safely eat would be better than muiltiple smaller ones. I say this for 2 reasons

#1 bigger crickets have longer intestinal tract for better gut loading. Even if the smaller ones are eating the same quality of gut load the larger crickets should have more of it in thier system, thus giving your cham more vitamins.

#2 one medium cricket will have less exoskeleton to digest as compared to two small crickets.

Good points

 

[kinyonga]

What about taking into consideration the difference of the nutritional value of the insect at different stages of its life?
http://www.geckotime.com/nutritional-value-of-commercially-raised-insects/

I used to buy ones that were on the small size often as well as the "proper" size. I did it though because I had different sized reptiles and it served to feed both lizard sizes when I did this.

 

[JacksJill]

@kinyonga I was hoping you would cite that analysis. I couldn't remember where I'd seen it.

 

[kinyonga]

There are a few of those sites out there.

 

[Ceycham]

I wish someone had the nutritional breakdown for the adult soldier flies.