Gutload salsa and mortality rate for crickets

[JoshCrane1]

many of you know i use a multi-ingredient salsa gutload for my crickets along with a grain mix; and after a few months of testing ive concluded that:

gutload salsa increases mortality rate dramatically among crickets. ive done comparisons with wet paper towels, water crystals, and all in one moisture and gutload products.

all in one moisture product: approx: 15-20%
wet paper towels: approx. 15% die off within 3 days
water crystals: approx. 25% die off within 3 days
frozen stored gutload salsa: 3% die off within 3 days.

even though many speculate that frozen veggies lose significant nutritional value when frozen, the salsa still keeps almost all of the crickets alive and fat far better than alternatives.

all testing was accompanied with same temps and grain gutload alternative(cricketfood.com).

the comparison was shocking and thats what inspired me to do more tedious testing.

hope this helps with your crickets mortality rates.

 

[Dave]

Very nice study bud! Makes me want to give this frozen gutload a try. Where can I find it?

Thanks for spending the time and effort on the study

-Dave

 

[SSimsswiSS]

At what age where the crickets, in this test? Mortality rate at how many weeks old?

 

[JoshCrane1]

testing was done with full grown or just about full grown crickets.

my mix:ahh i dont have my list in front of me but off the top of my head it includes:
collard greens
mustard greens
endive
kale
asparagus
baby carrots
alfalfa sprouts
watercress
romaine
... and the last couple elude me.

i food process all of them seperately and mix into a large container, then ration into freezer bags. all of the above will cost you around 20bucks and will last you a couple of months.

that with the cricketfood.com grain mix and my crickets are supercharged food vending machines. lol

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Just a thought, but try the same experiment with medium, or four week old crickets. My reasoning is that the crickets where on the tail end on their life cycle. And some of the die off could be attributed to natural die off.

 

[millionsofchameleons]

you wrote: gutload salsa increases mortality rate dramatically among crickets. ive done comparisons with wet paper towels, water crystals, and all in one moisture and gutload products.

did you mean that it decreases mortality rate. according your to your number the salsa only had 3 percent die off so that would be a lower mortality rate right?

 

[JoshCrane1]

Just a thought, but try the same experiment with medium, or four week old crickets. My reasoning is that the crickets where on the tail end on their life cycle. And some of the die off could be attributed to natural die off.

good point, and i will test the age more specifically; but i dont think natural death skewed the results too much. the tests were done over dozens of batches of crickets and the results were consistent.

you wrote: gutload salsa increases mortality rate dramatically among crickets. ive done comparisons with wet paper towels, water crystals, and all in one moisture and gutload products.

did you mean that it decreases mortality rate. according your to your number the salsa only had 3 percent die off so that would be a lower mortality rate right?

ur right but i think you know what i meant anyways.lol

 

[millionsofchameleons]

just confused me abit, i was looking at the numbers at the same time thinking this thread was talking about how salsa is killing crickets faster. so i just wanted to check if it was just a mistake or i was having a major brain fart. so this salsa, did you write where you get it?do you have a link where you can get it and is it made for feeding feeders?

 

[JoshCrane1]

home-made salsa with ingredients from you local grocery store. pretty much all of the ingredients are a few posts up. defrosted rations will last a lil under 2 weeks. i also use this salsa to gutload my superworms.

note: make sure to strain excess fluids from salsa prior to feeding or some crickets will drown.

 

[millionsofchameleons]

ohhhhhhhh, i gotcha, thank you

 

[littleliz]

Wow that is really cool! Very impresive results. Do you use the exact same salsa mix every time or do you vary it depending on what is available? In some gutloads such as the one at adcham they use all kinds of stuff egg, powdered milk, nuts etc (presumably to get the mix of nutrients right. Have you ever used any of these in your gutload with good/bad results or do you only use the veg?

 

[JoshCrane1]

just used the veggie salsa, but planning on trying some new mixes soon; as soon as i run out of this batch in the next month or so.

keep yall posted on further testing.

 

[EmanSami]

I laughed when i first read the title and thought, "i imagine the mortality rate for crickets is high if you use actual salsa"

cool recipe, im going to try it, hopefully moisture isnt an issue

 

[Ace]

Awsome thread...i plan to try this out....also quick question ...when you mean salsa- you ownly mean a liquid mixture of veggies...not using any "spices"?...corrrct?...cuz i hear debates about chiles , spices etc...except the occasional bell peppers are good i hear...

 

[laurie]

I have been using a frozen gut load for close to a year. But mine is much different than yours. Mine varies each time based on what I can get, Some of my staples for each time are collard greens, mustard greens, Kale, sweet potato, squash, fresh green beans, carrots, bee pollen, calcium, apples, cantaloupe, oranges, berries as available & what ever else is handy. I run all of my items through the food processor, adding water to keep it wet, then I fill about 30 ice cube trays and put them in the freezer. My roaches alone eat over 2 ice cube trays full per week. My 30 trays will last between 5 & 6 weeks. This gutload is given to all my crickets from pin heads, to 5/8 inch. I do lose a few but over all I have nice moist crickets. The last 12 hours prior to feed off they are also given cricket crack so they are good to go when they get to my chams. I think the crickets and roaches are a lot moister as you should see them squirt when eaten.

 

[sandrachameleon]

just confused me abit, i was looking at the numbers at the same time thinking this thread was talking about how salsa is killing crickets faster. so i just wanted to check if it was just a mistake or i was having a major brain fart.

I had to read it twice too! I also got momentarily confused with the data showed the opposite of what was stated.

Im glad to see your experiment shows that fruit and veg are good for keeping crickets alive and healthy. I've always thought so.