Gutloading Schedule?

[LizardLurkin]

So, you have to feed your reptiles every other day, but the insects can take 48 to 72 hours in order to reach the optimal gutload. How do you manage to gutload your roaches, if that's your staple bug, but also keep your guy feed every other day? Do you have shorter gutload length insects on a backburner, gutloading for 24 hours, while prepping your roaches at the same time for the next meal? Am I overthinking this?

 

[LizardLurkin]

I'm thinking, bear with me.
So. The first day you get your bugs, say that's a feeding day...Do you just feed them the bug (dusted with supplements of course), or do you hastily feed the bugs something nutritious and then feed them to your lizard?

Should you gutload the bugs even though they don't have time to digest the food before feeding them off? Is it beneficial nutrition regardless?

 

[Gloriawood]

I'm thinking, bear with me.
So. The first day you get your bugs, say that's a feeding day...Do you just feed them the bug (dusted with supplements of course), or do you hastily feed the bugs something nutritious and then feed them to your lizard?

Should you gutload the bugs even though they don't have time to digest the food before feeding them off? Is it beneficial nutrition regardless?

Some bugs come gutloaded I believe. Depends where you order from. But don’t quote me on that. I make gutload ‘cubes’ and freeze them. I make a big batch and just feed my bugs on the days I don’t feed my Cham.

 

[MissSkittles]

I don’t bother with gutloading by the definition. Instead, I just keep my insects well fed at all times. I also have bearded dragons, so every day when I’m making their little salads, I’ll put aside some extra for the bugs. Then I make the rounds of my bug bins and give them fresh food and remove the old. Depending on the bug, I’ll periodically clean the bins. The crickets are filthy little beasts and need to be kept clean as the gases and what not from their own waste kills them. My cricket bins also have lots of ventilation.

 

[Sticktongue]

I think we often confuse gut load with general healthy feeding.

IMO, we should be feeding our bugs a lot of good foods everyday.

Gut load through to me is, literally that. Loading their gut full of something in particular that we’re wanting to make sure makes it into the Chameleon. If you’re waiting for it to be digested, it’s not getting the same effect as feeding the bugs the gutload like and hour or so before feeding them off.

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s how I think of it.

 

[Beman]

I have attached the gutload image for you. Essentially though it just comes down to feeding the insects a healthy diet all the time. If you feed them the right stuff then they are always ready to be fed off.

 

[LizardLurkin]

Thank you for all the advice! Okay, so just keeping the buggies on a healthy and mutually beneficial diet sounds like the way to go. I was going to employ the gutload ice cube tactic too, since I have a food processor that sees no other usage.

I'll see about ordering pre-gutloaded critters at the very least, so they're healthy to serve as soon as they arrive.

 

[Sticktongue]

Thank you for all the advice! Okay, so just keeping the buggies on a healthy and mutually beneficial diet sounds like the way to go. I was going to employ the gutload ice cube tactic too, since I have a food processor that sees no other usage.

I'll see about ordering pre-gutloaded critters at the very least, so they're healthy to serve as soon as they arrive.

Food processor works great for that, I do that most of the time. Easy to make a huge batch and not worry about it.

Don’t worry about finding pre gut loaded bugs.. if you feed them off the day you get them but they don’t have food in them, it’s not that big of a deal. 1 feeding isn’t going to make a big difference just find a good supplier that works for your budget and good customer service.

 

[insectovore]

I have little cups I move the mealworms into 48-72 hours before I feed them (those cups have superload in them and a tiny piece of vegetable). The roaches/crickets go into a critter keeper for 48-72 hours. I feed them vegetables, superload. The other stuff doesn't have a special gutload and randomly use silkworms, waxworms, spikes, earthworms and whiteworms(salamanders), fruit flies, etc. If you're feeding every other day it doesn't require too much thought. I know about how much food my lizards and salamanders will go through.

 

[Jeevesieb]

Thank you for all the advice! Okay, so just keeping the buggies on a healthy and mutually beneficial diet sounds like the way to go. I was going to employ the gutload ice cube tactic too, since I have a food processor that sees no other usage.

I'll see about ordering pre-gutloaded critters at the very least, so they're healthy to serve as soon as they arrive.

I ended up finding a little candy mold (ironically it's heart shapes) at a craft store and I freeze my gutload in the candy mold, then transfer the frozen hearts to a freezer safe container. That way can thaw small or large amounts as needed so I don't waste any. All the buggy love. Haha.

 

[LizardLurkin]

I ended up finding a little candy mold (ironically it's heart shapes) at a craft store and I freeze my gutload in the candy mold, then transfer the frozen hearts to a freezer safe container. That way can thaw small or large amounts as needed so I don't waste any. All the buggy love. Haha.

Heartshapes, that's so cute!

I imagine you must get super used to bugs in general, huh? Thanks for all the advice, and I'm glad I don't have to stress about the bugs being eaten on the day of their arrival.

 

[Jeevesieb]

Heartshapes, that's so cute!

I imagine you must get super used to bugs in general, huh? Thanks for all the advice, and I'm glad I don't have to stress about the bugs being eaten on the day of their arrival.

I won't lie. The only ones I won't touch with my fingers are super worms. They are AGGRESSIVE. Haha. I started out freaked out by the roaches and the worms. It was nightmare fuel. Now I'm picking black soldier flies up by the wings, holding silk worms/horned worms/larvae on my hand (the horned worms WILL bite though) and I stopped freaking out when a roach climbs on me. My husband? Still not touching a single bug. Haha. The things we do for chameleon love.

 

[LizardLurkin]

I think I'm fairly tolerant of most bugs, but the thought of touching crickets in particular gives me pause. It's the fear they'll just hop a million miles away, probably.
But silkworms and horned worms are so pleasant looking I'd be a-okay with building up a chameleon's trust with those.
Mealies have a lot of fight in them, and only get spicier with age

 

[MissSkittles]

I think I'm fairly tolerant of most bugs, but the thought of touching crickets in particular gives me pause. It's the fear they'll just hop a million miles away, probably.
But silkworms and horned worms are so pleasant looking I'd be a-okay with building up a chameleon's trust with those.
Mealies have a lot of fight in them, and only get spicier with age

I have never been a fan of bugs and some send me running away and screaming like a little girl (palmetto bugs!), but I’ve not only gotten used to them, but find them super interesting in their icky lives and have tried breeding many of them. Crickets are particularly nasty but don’t bother me. It’s the roaches that have been the hardest to adjust to. I don’t mind the little baby nymphs - they’re kind of cute in a buggy way. But the adults are a big nope. In the 5 years I’ve been keeping a breeding colony, I’m yet to touch an adult and have special little tongs when I have to move them. Silkworms are my favorite. So soft and gentle…totally harmless and whenever I hatch out some eggs, the itty bitty babies make me soo happy. If allowed, they’ll cocoon and become the most adorable little moths. I always feel bad when I feed them to my animals, but it’s a very quick ending for them.


* I do have to add that mealworms aren’t good feeders for chameleons.

 

[LizardLurkin]

Ugh, moths are so cute. I think I read a thread of your rabbit hole on breeding them. I was surprised watching a video and how loud their wingflaps are, but aww look at their fluffy, well, everything

Oh yeah I'm aware that mealies aren't a main food at all! They're like. Lizard potato chips.

 

[Jeevesieb]

I have never been a fan of bugs and some send me running away and screaming like a little girl (palmetto bugs!), but I’ve not only gotten used to them, but find them super interesting in their icky lives and have tried breeding many of them. Crickets are particularly nasty but don’t bother me. It’s the roaches that have been the hardest to adjust to. I don’t mind the little baby nymphs - they’re kind of cute in a buggy way. But the adults are a big nope. In the 5 years I’ve been keeping a breeding colony, I’m yet to touch an adult and have special little tongs when I have to move them. Silkworms are my favorite. So soft and gentle…totally harmless and whenever I hatch out some eggs, the itty bitty babies make me soo happy. If allowed, they’ll cocoon and become the most adorable little moths. I always feel bad when I feed them to my animals, but it’s a very quick ending for them.
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* I do have to add that mealworms aren’t good feeders for chameleons.

Their little antennae though!

 

[MissSkittles]

I was surprised watching a video and how loud their wingflaps are,

It’s just the males that frantically flap their wings until they join with a female. I’m not sure why it is, but every time I have a batch of cocoons, there’s always far more males than females that emerge. They can get a bit obnoxious with each other. Here’s a couple of males.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

It’s just the males that frantically flap their wings until they join with a female. I’m not sure why it is, but every time I have a batch of cocoons, there’s always far more males than females that emerge. They can get a bit obnoxious with each other. Here’s a couple of males.

Nice video. Memmories.

I have not bred silk worms in a long while. That is since silk worms became commercially available.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[Pickle-cham]

So, you have to feed your reptiles every other day, but the insects can take 48 to 72 hours in order to reach the optimal gutload. How do you manage to gutload your roaches, if that's your staple bug, but also keep your guy feed every other day? Do you have shorter gutload length insects on a backburner, gutloading for 24 hours, while prepping your roaches at the same time for the next meal? Am I overthinking this?

You have to be careful gutloading roaches as any excess in protein they store as uric acid. Also gutloading locust and not providing a source of heat they wouldn't partially digest.

Pollen is a good one to gutload last minute before feeding off

 

[LizardLurkin]

You have to be careful gutloading roaches as any excess in protein they store as uric acid. Also gutloading locust and not providing a source of heat they wouldn't partially digest.

Pollen is a good one to gutload last minute before feeding off

Oh! What do you gutload your roaches with in particular?
Locusts seem pretty niche/hard to find, but if I do come across any, do you mean to not provide them with a heat source? Or that providing them with a heat source makes them partially digest the food?

Thanks for your insight!