Crickets??

[Pablothecow]

I was wondering the types of food used to gutload the crickets u guys use? wet or dry. i use fluckers cricket food, that orange gel like stuff. but i was told that that wasnt enough. the crickets seem to really like grapes but thats about all they get to eat from me...

 

[sdheli420]

I was wondering the types of food used to gutload the crickets u guys use? wet or dry. i use fluckers cricket food, that orange gel like stuff. but i was told that that wasnt enough. the crickets seem to really like grapes but thats about all they get to eat from me...

ok..can of worms here..

this is what i use right now (i switch it up every 2 months)

bug burger (allen repashy's)..it is a wet mix

super load(allen repashy's)..this is a dry mix

vit-all (sticky tongues farms) this is a vite mix dryload (use sparingly)

and of also a "salad mix" this consists of what i have on hand at the time that has been deemed good (by forum members that specialize in the gutloading department) its: carrots, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, greens (collard greens, mustard greens) dandelion, bee pollen, wild lettuce's, watermelon, oranges, strawberries ect ect..

seems to be working for my lil buddies..

im sure you will hear alot of different gut loads..write down all the stuff you can find easily, and stock up in the fridge..your chams will love you for it

 

[sandrachameleon]

I was wondering the types of food used to gutload the crickets u guys use? wet or dry. i use fluckers cricket food, that orange gel like stuff. but i was told that that wasnt enough. the crickets seem to really like grapes but thats about all they get to eat from me...

grapes and the orange cubes isnt going to do a good job of gutloading. Check out this link for helpful info:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html

 

[SpartyTessy]

just rememeber that whatever your feeders eat your Chams eat. Check out Sandrachameleon's blog on gutloading.

 

[ISA my Veiled]

I use Mangos(which is a staple fruit you can use according to sandras blog) and I also mix it up between beans and Potatoes.

 

[tkilgour]

I would start adding a lot of organic vegetables and seeds to the list. Grapes and orange cubes just do not have enough nutritional value. Do your research and stick to the stuff that is organic. Use the search feature on this forum and type "best gutloads".

 

[Pablothecow]

thanks

thanks one last question, if u feed the crickets vegetables or the dry mix stuff, do u still have to supply them with water so they dont die?

 

[tkilgour]

I go through well over 5,000 crickets a month and do not put a water source in any of the bins. Opinions vary of course. Basically, the crickets get water from the fresh vegetables that are provided daily. After rinsing a vegetable, I leave it kind of wet and toss it in the bins. I will also put a dry gutload over the veggies. It is pretty easy, just be sure to clean up the waste.

 

[lysinlight87]

I got a tub of that gel water to hydrate my crickets, but it just goes moldy & I don't use it anymore. They don't need if you're giving fresh veg.

I use butternut squash, courgette, apple, carrot, rocket, asparagus, pepper, basil leaves (they particularly like these)

Spinach and brocolli are ones to avoid using, as they reduce the absorption of calcium in your cham.

I use Bug Grub for dry gutload, and just sprinkle a thin layer in the tubs. I hear Sandra's dry gutload recipe is particularly good though

 

[Pablothecow]

yeah i looked at sandras and its really good and helpful. thanks guys! yeah i have to go to the store like twice a week for crickets. she gets 5 or 6 a day and i get like 48 a week cuz so many of them die

 

[SpartyTessy]

You should start your own self sustaining colony. It for sure pays off. What you are feeding them is most likely the reason they are dying off and probably dehydration. Out of 200 adults I may loose one or two every other day.

 

[Pablothecow]

You should start your own self sustaining colony. It for sure pays off. What you are feeding them is most likely the reason they are dying off and probably dehydration. Out of 200 adults I may loose one or two every other day.

i think its because some of them are dead when i get them. there will b one or two dead ones when i get them. the ones that are alive stay alive until my cham eats them. i would start my own colony thing but i dont have the time or space or money.

 

[SpartyTessy]

i think its because some of them are dead when i get them. there will b one or two dead ones when i get them. the ones that are alive stay alive until my cham eats them. i would start my own colony thing but i dont have the time or space or money.

You want to make sure that the ones you feed your Chameleon are properly gutloaded. If for example you just let them sit in the cage for a couple days(not saying you do) its not only bad as they could start biting your Chameleon at night when they sleep but then they loose most of their nutrition. That is why it is important to gutload them for 24 hours before feeding and the crickets your Chameleon doesn't eat that day take out and make sure they feed again.

Buying and maintaining a cricket colony is not that much time, money, and does not take that much space. Really you just need two bins, one for the adults and one for the babies. Some organic dirt for them to lay the eggs in and some organic food. You can just cut holes in the sides of the bins covering with screen and you can stack them. It will end up saving you a lot more $$ and plus you can even make money as they will have TONS of babies you could even sell. JMO

 

[Pablothecow]

You want to make sure that the ones you feed your Chameleon are properly gutloaded. If for example you just let them sit in the cage for a couple days(not saying you do) its not only bad as they could start biting your Chameleon at night when they sleep but then they loose most of their nutrition. That is why it is important to gutload them for 24 hours before feeding and the crickets your Chameleon doesn't eat that day take out and make sure they feed again.

Buying and maintaining a cricket colony is not that much time, money, and does not take that much space. Really you just need two bins, one for the adults and one for the babies. Some organic dirt for them to lay the eggs in and some organic food. You can just cut holes in the sides of the bins covering with screen and you can stack them. It will end up saving you a lot more $$ and plus you can even make money as they will have TONS of babies you could even sell. JMO

hmm. thanks. ill keep that in mind. my moms not too thrilled about having any crickets in her house to begin with, so starting a colony might not go well with her, and she is the source of money for things for my cham so i dont want to make her mad but when i move out and get another cham in a few years when i get out of college, i will definitely think about doing this. thanks