Insect breeding diet

[Whammo72]

I normally grow crix, dubias, and superworms - (silkworms dont count) on 16% breeder chicken food (the 16% being the protein content) combined with 50% total alfalfa pellets (all powdered).

Here is my issue. I am wanting to breed feeders for my local pet shops. To grow feeders en mass no matter how many i breed... feeders fed on spirulina and bee pollen would be like gold! lol.

I can breed them and then leave it up to the store and purchaser to gut load as applicable... my problem is.. i love my chams... lol

 

[Whammo72]

I dont want to supply any feeders that might be non benificial. HOWEVER, I am just supplying very supplemented always gut loaded insects. Isnt it up to the Cham owner to gut load his or her own herp as to their own specs?

 

[jdog1027]

I dont want to supply any feeders that might be non benificial. HOWEVER, I am just supplying very supplemented always gut loaded insects. Isnt it up to the Cham owner to gut load his or her own herp as to their own specs?

For the most part, I think it is up to the keeper to provide a good gut load regimine, but it would be superior for feeder breeders to provide a gut load diet for their feeders that they sell as well. However, if you are breeding enough feeders to sell in mass, I would think that it would be very costly to provide a good quality gut load to that quantity of feeders. This makes me curious as to the quantity of feeders you are producing on a weekly/monthly basis.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Sadly, I don't think many pet stores feed their crickets anything. Once the crickets get boxed up by the producer, crickets are on their own til bought buy the consumer. Pet stores are just the middle men. Average mom and dad buying feeders for little Johnny pet reptile have no clue, you have to feed them. So by time the end user gets his or her food, it's basically a air filled exoskeleton.

 

[Whammo72]

For the most part, I think it is up to the keeper to provide a good gut load regimine, but it would be superior for feeder breeders to provide a gut load diet for their feeders that they sell as well. However, if you are breeding enough feeders to sell in mass, I would think that it would be very costly to provide a good quality gut load to that quantity of feeders. This makes me curious as to the quantity of feeders you are producing on a weekly/monthly basis.

I am just beginning this project. We are moving to a new house so i have now an entire basement and garage to devote to my breeding project. In my area i have two of our biggest exotic reptile pet stores interested in my Dubias and Silkworms. Neither sell them yet and have expressed great interest.

 

[Texas Panther Man]

If your only going to sell roaches and silks. The silks cant really be gutloaded in a traditional way anyway. You only have two options: 1. mulberry leaves or 2. silkworm chow

The roaches, if it were me I'd feed them fruits and veggies and occasionally throw in some bee pollen and ground nuts for added protein. Its up to the end buyer to gut load their own feeders. I know if I buy feeders I gutload a min of 24 hrs before feeding them off. Just to let them expel anything theyve been eatting and to get something nutritious in their system.

 

[sdheli420]

Sadly, I don't think many pet stores feed their crickets anything. Once the crickets get boxed up by the producer, crickets are on their own til bought buy the consumer. Pet stores are just the middle men. Average mom and dad buying feeders for little Johnny pet reptile have no clue, you have to feed them. So by time the end user gets his or her food, it's basically a air filled exoskeleton.

ya its the same everywhere..some dry crix food and a slice of potato..at least throw a slice of watermelon or orange in there!!

and mine about 1000 crix i keep and breed..they eat a ton..they go throw salad, watermelon slices, orange really fast..the greens go the fastest..and the dry food the slowest..

 

[Whammo72]

If your only going to sell roaches and silks. The silks cant really be gutloaded in a traditional way anyway. You only have two options: 1. mulberry leaves or 2. silkworm chow

The roaches, if it were me I'd feed them fruits and veggies and occasionally throw in some bee pollen and ground nuts for added protein. Its up to the end buyer to gut load their own feeders. I know if I buy feeders I gutload a min of 24 hrs before feeding them off. Just to let them expel anything theyve been eatting and to get something nutritious in their system.

Well yes.. that is why I excluded Silkworms in my original post.

 

[Whammo72]

Well yes.. that is why I excluded Silkworms in my original post.

\I would too if i were to feed them to my herps!