Crickets won't eat gutload

[chicklets]

Hello all! First off I want to thank everyone on this forum. I researched on here for months before I got my cham, and finally got him back in May (he's now 7 months old, male ambilobe). I have been stalking this forum, almost everyday, to find out as much to properly care for my little guy. I have already learned so much, and just wanted to make sure I said thanks to everyone who takes their time to share advice, warnings, and success stories.

Every time I had a question I was able to search and usually find multiple threads that related to my problem, but this time I have come up short. I am excited to be posting for the first time ( and a little nervous )!

So here it goes:
I made a gutload a few days ago, blended it, put in ice cube trays, sealed in ziplock bags, and froze it and I change a cube out every 2 days in the cricket tub. My problem is, I don't think that the crickets are eating it! I have over 100 crickets in there, and I NEVER even see them near it. There is a little dry gutload in their tub too (which I do see them eating usually).

My gutload contains:
Collard greens
Mustard greens
Kale
Escarole
Yellow Squash
Zucchini
Eggplant
Strawberry
Blueberry
Mango
Papaya
Kiwi
Potato
Apple

I don't understand why they aren't eating it up! Any suggestions?

 

[Carlton]

If you are putting the frozen cube in their bin they are probably avoiding the cold. Crix need temps slightly above room temp.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Do they (the crickets) have another source of water or moisture? Only thing I can think of is, if still frozen, crickets are going to avoid til mixture thaws out to room temp. Crickets like warm temps, so will avoid the cold.

 

[chameleongirl2]

well what i do is, i just put a carrot i there and the eat it its easie and they actually eat it, u should try it

 

[sandrachameleon]

well what i do is, i just put a carrot i there and the eat it its easie and they actually eat it, u should try it

just carrot is an inadequate gutload.

 

[sandrachameleon]

...I made a gutload a few days ago, blended it, put in ice cube trays, sealed in ziplock bags, and froze it and I change a cube out every 2 days in the cricket tub. My problem is, I don't think that the crickets are eating it! I have over 100 crickets in there, and I NEVER even see them near it. There is a little dry gutload in their tub too (which I do see them eating usually).

My gutload contains:
Collard greens
Mustard greens
Kale
Escarole
Yellow Squash
Zucchini
Eggplant
Strawberry
Blueberry
Mango
Papaya
Kiwi
Potato
Apple
I don't understand why they aren't eating it up! Any suggestions?

Most of what you include is palatable to crickets. How much of each thing is included? Some of the bitter items may be outweighing the tastier items.
You may be better off offering only one or two items per day, rather than mixing.
what temps are the crickets kept at?
I suggest you Remove the potato (no value)

 

[skittles22]

Gutload for Crickets

I am a newbie but i did a good amount of research and spoke to some reputible breeders on the whole gutloading crickets issue. What i decided and seems to be working pretty well is i dont blend the foods, but grate/shred or finely chop them. Also i alternate between the gutloading weekly. One week i will shred carrots and lettuce, the next week some sweet potatoes, mustard greens, etc. The hydration source i use for the gutloading is oranges, they provide a good water source and keep the odor down. I change out the shredded food every night to every other night. Hope this helps.

 

[KatiLemons]

The gutload I have gotten is from Chamalot Chameleons! It has over 35 ingrediants. .5 pound is only 3.99.

I have heard alot of people use Cricket Crack from TikiTiki reptiles aswell.

 

[Elizadolots]

My suggestion is to use the dry gutload in your main cricket container. Cull your feeders out 24 hours early and put them in a separate container where they will get the good wet gutload. Thaw your gutload cubes on a paper towel to both bring them up to room temperature and pull off excess water that was removed from the food during the freezing process (freeze drying...it's called that for a reason) before introducing them to the cricket enclosure.

 

[chicklets]

Oooohhh. I keep Todd's (the chameleon) room at 75-85 degrees so I never about them avoiding it because its cold. That makes sense though. I'll thaw before I put the next one in, hopefully that will work so that I can salvage the blend I already made. After that I'll try to use only a couple different foods and change them up each week. Thank you for all the help!!