A Neat Gutload Resource (with Ca:K calculator for veggies&fruit!)

[MissLissa]

Okay, so it's actually for guinea pigs and not for chameleons but the information still seems pretty good; I checked a few of their numbers with a secondary source as well as a few of their calculations, and they were spot on. I didn't check all of them, though. There are just too many.

The site has a bunch of lists, for example: the oxalate content of various veggies, base calcium amounts, and the Ca:K of a variety of foods that could be used for gutloads or fed directly if you happen to have hungry Veileds. There is even a calciumhosphorous (Ca:K) excel calculator! Now that is useful like whoa.

http://www.guinealynx.info/diet_ratio.html

 

[jpowell86]

Okay, so it's actually for guinea pigs and not for chameleons but the information still seems pretty good; I checked a few of their numbers with a secondary source as well as a few of their calculations, and they were spot on. I didn't check all of them, though. There are just too many.

The site has a bunch of lists, for example: the oxalate content of various veggies, base calcium amounts, and the Ca:K of a variety of foods that could be used for gutloads or fed directly if you happen to have hungry Veileds. There is even a calciumhosphorous (Ca:K) excel calculator! Now that is useful like whoa.

http://www.guinealynx.info/diet_ratio.html

This site was actually pretty thorough with their listings of ratios. This is great information for Veiled keepers but I also feel like this site is perfect for those of us who are wanting to gut load their feeders with the best source fruits/vegetables. I'm curious what the variance in these percentages would be if the testing were done on organic v. non-organic. Anyhow, thanks for the share....I really like how the calculator is in Excel formatting!

 

[MissLissa]

I'm curious what the variance in these percentages would be if the testing were done on organic v. non-organic.

There would be no appreciable difference between testing organic or non-organic produce, according to the vast majority of studies. A census of scholarly articles on the subject found that raising food organically does not change it's nutrient profile, except that some organic produce may have slightly more phosphorous than their traditionally-grown counterparts. The idea that organic food is more nutritious is an anachronism at best.

Here is a quote from Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Blog (emphasis mine):

"...researchers at Stanford University evaluated nearly 250 studies comparing the nutrients in organic vs. traditional foods (fruits, vegetables, grains, poultry, meat, and eggs), and the health outcomes of eating these foods.

The researchers discovered very little difference in nutritional content, aside from slightly higher phosphorous levels in many organic foods, and a higher omega-3 fatty acid content in organic milk and chicken."

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/...s-than-conventionally-grown-food-201209055264

 

[oneillchameleons]

So kale has a 2.4:1 Ca/K ratio and only .02% oxalic acid? I was always under the impression kale was only to be fed once in a while because of the high oxalic acid which inhibits the absorption of calcium. I'm going to do some more research because according to this site, kale should be a super food and can be used more often. Unless I'm mistaken and someone can give me more info?

PS it's really annoying that it automatically changes the proper symbol for the calcium phosphorous ratio to this

Anyone know how to turn that off?

 

[gotwqqd]

Superfood for people != Superfood for lizard

Soylent Green is people!

 

[KLowery88]

I love that Excel sheet. Thanks for linking this!

 

[WilcoxAE]

Dude, you wonderful nerd. What a lovely resource.

...Forget guinea pigs, though. This is beneficial for people, too! Since phosphorus plays an important role in the formation of bones, teeth, in how the body uses carbs and fat, in making proteins for the growth, maintenance, and repair of cells and tissues, and in making adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Handy that this list calls out the ratio of that to calcium, which is also important for bones. Man, this whole osteoarthritis bloom in people I can almost bet is because everyone gets their food out of bags than off a stalk.

Back on topic, SO USEFUL to help stave off that MBD in chams.

...guinea pigs are a pretty good protein source, too.

Mwa ha ha!

 

[MissLissa]

PS it's really annoying that it automatically changes the proper symbol for the calcium phosphorous ratio to this

Anyone know how to turn that off?

Ugh I know. It irritated me enough that I went Ca:K lol; K is potasstium, not phosphorus but hopefully people got what I was trying to say. In retrospect I could have just done "Ca : P" but that's what I get for being too eager to share something cool lol