Blue Bottle Flies. Gut loading?

[SilverWolf]

Well hello there everyone! I have a 4 month old (5 months as of June 7th) jackson chameleon. He primarily eats crickets right now, only had a few flies (accidentally, lol) that flew into his enclosure. This was quite a while ago though, and he has no problems. I've read that jacksons LOVE flies, from several sources. So I am considering getting some blue bottle flies. But I am wondering, can I use this is as a sort of treat and just, not worry so much about actually gut loading them? If I do have to, what do I feed them and how do I feed them?

Eitherway, basically how do I take care of them? I have no experience with blue bottle flies. I do gut load my crickets. I am trying to get some turnip and mustard greens for them, but right now the crickets just have carrots and cilantro. Sometimes apples, but hardly ever. I want to get some flies for my chameleon, I just need to know how to take care of them, whether or not I truly NEED to gut load them, and if so, what and how?

 

[CarlC]

You can gut load them with bee pollen and dried honey. If you do plan on keeping them around for a few days make sure they have access to water also.

Most people just feed them off as they hatch.

Carl

 

[Rodcham]

I have never tried gut loading them, I keep them cool and split into batches. Then feed as they hatch. I take containers out the fridge every 3-4 days.

 

[pigglett79]

I feed them with the fly food from mantispets.com which includes bee pollen as one of he ingredients. I also mist lightly to provide some water. I like to fatten them up before feeding off.

 

[SilverWolf]

flatten them up? The flies or food for the flies?

 

[SilverWolf]

Oh fatten, nevermind lol

 

[Fogerty]

I use honey to feed my flies ,I get a hatch every 3 or 4 days , I dust them with the supplements between the freezer and the cage ,whatever is due, calcium or the reptivite, it is a good way to insure that they get their vitamins every two weeks because the flies don't get the dust misted off of them by the mister because they disappear so quickly. I have also taken the calcium and vitamin dust that is left over from my dusting cup and mixed it with the honey so the flies eat it which essentially gutloads the flies with calcium and vitamins, it has not hurt the flies, and must be good for the lizard he loves them like no other feeder.

 

[Psychobunny]

I use honey mixed with repashy's bug burger (dry powder) and add a pinch of brewers yeast and spirulina powder.