How do you guys gutload?

[MangoTango]

hey !! how do you guys gutload? do you have a whole container of just say, dubias, and feed them all, and then take the dubias when you need them, or, do you only gutload the few that will be the next meal? curious! lmk!

 

[jamest0o0]

I usually just keep eating them until I’m stuffed because I’m a glutton.

 

[jamest0o0]

On a serious note, I always preferred to give my colonies a nutritious range of food, but a little more general for cost purposes. Then I’d have a feeder bin that I’d keep about a months worth of roaches and super worms in that would get the more specialized foods.

For example, main colonies got veggie/fruit scraps+all natural whole ingredient horse chow mix

Feeder bins got some of that, but also more specific things like blended gut load cubes, fresh store bought/garden veggies, occasional supplements I wanted targeted to my animals, etc… basically just gave me more control of knowing exactly what was going into my reptiles.

There is evidence showing insects increase in nutritional value from being raised on good foods. So it definitely worth it to keep the colony healthy even if you’re not immediately feeding off. Hell, mealworms can even be pretty damn nutritious if raised properly.

 

[MangoTango]

On a serious note, I always preferred to give my colonies a nutritious range of food, but a little more general for cost purposes. Then I’d have a feeder bin that I’d keep about a months worth of roaches and super worms in that would get the more specialized foods.

For example, main colonies got veggie/fruit scraps+all natural whole ingredient horse chow mix

Feeder bins got some of that, but also more specific things like blended gut load cubes, fresh store bought/garden veggies, occasional supplements I wanted targeted to my animals, etc… basically just gave me more control of knowing exactly what was going into my reptiles.

There is evidence showing insects increase in nutritional value from being raised on good foods. So it definitely worth it to keep the colony healthy even if you’re not immediately feeding off. Hell, mealworms can even be pretty damn nutritious if raised properly.

I love this thank you so much !

 

[jamest0o0]

I love this thank you so much !

Of course, you’re welcome!

 

[jannb]

You need to gut load the feeders with greens they are excellent. You can use collard greens, kale, bell pepper, carrots, butternut squash apple and orange. You can also buy a premixed dry gut load such as Cricket Crack to use along with the greens, fruits and veggies.
https://www.fullthrottlefeeders.com/product-page/cricket-crack

 

[suprdude]

Dumb question: Why not just always leave insects with fresh food all the time? Do people usually starve the insects, then gut load them before feeding to your cham?

 

[EmilioTheAnkify]

Dubias love carrots and dandelion greens. They really love repashy bug burger and the superload.
I usually make a salad with all that on a Styrofoam plate the day before feeding. I also sprinkle a mixture of cricket crack and highlighter gutload on top. So usually every 2-4 days.
They will eat everything every single time. But the more frequent you feed them the faster and bigger they grow.

 

[MangoTango]

Dumb question: Why not just always leave insects with fresh food all the time? Do people usually starve the insects, then gut load them before feeding to your cham?

that’s what I was asking. I give them food all the time, but does the cham get more nutrients if they’re gutloaded right before feeding?

 

[MissSkittles]

that’s what I was asking. I give them food all the time, but does the cham get more nutrients if they’re gutloaded right before feeding?

I keep my bugs well fed at all times. They all should have full buggy bellies and be healthy at all times, and therefore nutritious.

 

[jamest0o0]

Dumb question: Why not just always leave insects with fresh food all the time? Do people usually starve the insects, then gut load them before feeding to your cham?

Read my post above. It answers your question 🙂