Feeder Nutrition & Gutloading

It is important to feed the prey insects well, in such a way as to ensure they provide the correction nutrients for your chameleon. This process is called gutloading the insects.

The "wet" portion of the gutload, which should be your principle gutload, can includes things like (switch it up with a different couple of items every other week): dandelion leaves, squash (butternut, spaghetti), hibiscus leaves and flowers, grape leaves, orange, papaya, carrot, alfalfa sprouts, mustard greens, romaine, spearmint leaves, arugula (rocket), basil, apple, mulberries , clover, garland Chrysanthemum, chickweed, cilantro, okra, a few blueberries, small amounts of raspberries, very small amounts of cooked quinoa, peas, sunflower sprouts, small pieces of steamed (then cooled) yam, leek bulb, Fuki, ... Fruits and veggies such as these are important both for the nutrients they give (via the insect) to your chameleon, and also because well hydrated prey results in a better hydrated chameleon.

The dry portion (the lesser portion) of a gutload can include (blend/grind fine with a coffee grinder or food processor): spirulina; dried seaweed/kelp/dulse; bee pollen; dried alfalfa; organic raw sunflower seeds; sesame seeds; flax seed; hemp seed; poppy seeds; fennel seed, dehydrated cranberry powder; beet powder; zucchini powder; dried Mulberries; fig powder; ground dried hibiscus; ground almonds; small amounts of ground brazil nuts; small amounts of ground/chopped beechnuts; small occassional pieces of oak leaves; small amounts of kale powder; small amounts of quality whole grain breakfast cereal (especially fortified, like GM whole gran Total); barley /oats / cracked rye /wheat germ / stabalized rice bran; small amounts of quality monkey, avian or ignuana food (read the ingredients, be cautious of too much Vitamin A or animal fat).

Limit your use of grains and other items higher in phosphorous than calcium (a little can be very good, a lot is not unless you compensate to fix the ratio). Good grain choices are stabalized rice bran and crushed whole barley.
Limit use of broccoli, beans (phytic acid), cabbage, bok choy, beet leaves, parsley, cassava, watercress, kale, collard greens, spinach, swiss chard, Soy/edamame , bran, buckwheat, almonds, rhubarb, sesame seeds, pine nuts, apricot, figs, kiwi, asparagus (anything high in phytates/Phytic acid, Oxilates/ Oxalic Acid, Goitrogens). Some is fine, possibly beneficial. Just not as a regular item.

Avoid dog food, cat food, fish food, and other prepared foods that are heavy sources of animal protien and/or fat and may provide excessive preformed vitamin A and also D (a little now and then is okay, but too much can lead to gout and other issues). Similarily avoid/limit milk, meat, eggs, etc.

Bug nutrition http://www.chameleonnews.com/02SepDonoghue.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/nutritional-analysis-2522/#post171073
http://chamownersweb.net/insects/nutritional_values.htm
http://www.geckotime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/table-large.png
http://www.phish3r.com/feederinfo2.htm
http://www.organicvaluerecovery.com/studies/studies_nutrient_content_of_insects.htm
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/Misc/insectnutrition.html
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html(scrolldown to mixed list of feeders, fruit, veggies)
http://doubleds.org/newfeederpg.html
http://bamboozoo.weebly.com/the-feeders.html
http://www.planetscott.com/babes/nutrition.asp
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/zoo/WholePreyFinal02May29.pdf
http://www.nagonline.net/Technical Papers/NAGFS00397Insects-JONIFEB24,2002MODIFIED.pdf
http://www.organicvaluerecovery.com/studies/studies_nutrient_content_of_insects.htm
general http://webhome.idirect.com/~chameleon/owners/chapter4-sub1.html
http://www.ivanalfonso.com/2011/04/what-exactly-is-gutloading/
http://www.chameleonsonline.com/feeding.php
Nutrition values of Fruits, veg, seeds, etc
http://www.chameleonforums.com/nutritional-values-variety-common-gutload-items-33543
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/nutritional-information/
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/215-oxalic-acid-content-vegetables-g-100-g.html
http://www.nutritiondata.com/tools/nutrient-search
http://www.greenigsociety.org/foodchart.htm
http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/cnf-fce/search-rechercher.do?lang=eng
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/fiche-nutri-data/index-eng.php
Calciumhosphorus rartio chart for veggies:
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blog...sphorus-ratios-common-good-gutload-foods.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/diet_ratio.html
More about Gutloading: http://www.chameleonnews.com/05JunDescamps.html
http://screameleons.com/gut-loading/
http://www.chameleonforums.com/gutloading-tips-new-owner-15262/
http://www.chameleonforums.com/gutloading-recipes-1803/
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/394-dry-gutload-recipe-january-2010.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/cereal-gutload-whole-grain-20880/
http://www.adcham.com/html/husbandry/gutload.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/57-gutloading-links.html
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/zoo.10082/abstract
List of commonly used Feeders and info about each:
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
Where to buy feeders: http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/171-where-buy-feeders-online.html
Calorie Info:
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/518-calories.html
Supplements:
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html

dry gutload recipies:
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/697-dry-gutload-mix-august-2012.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/575-january-2012-dry-gutload-recipe.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/425-may-2011-gutload.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/394-dry-gutload-recipe-january-2010.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/443-superworm-substrate-gutload-one.html

If you found this blog entry useful check back now and then, as I do update/add to it occassionally