My attempt at home made gutload CRITICISM VERY WELCOME :)

[djfishygillz]

I figure first off I should say what I dust with, so I have calcium with d3 and calcium without d3, along with the multivitamin all made by exo-terra.

Next what I was gutloading my roaches and crickets with was flukers high-calcium cricket diet.

Now what I bought at the supermarket after reading I think her name was sandra's blogs.

First off is baby foods-Gerber-Apricot with mixed fruit(apricot puree, apples, pear, banana), this contained vitamin A so I don't know if it is the bad kind that is preformed or what so I am asking if I can gut-load with this.

Next is baby food- Gerber-Garden Vegetables- contains peas, carrots, water, spinach, I know only so much spinach is a good thing so I was weary about using this blend. This contains iron and zinc and a lot of vitamin A. Once again I do not know if this is preformed or what not.

I then bought dried Seaweed that is in flat rolls. I am not sure if it is treated with any odd stuff or what not so once again I am very open to criticism before using it as a gut load.

Next I bought brewers yeast, not blended or fortified and has nothing added. Hope it's the right kind of yeast. It seems very beneficial.

Next sesame seeds

Raw sunflower seeds

Soy Protein but it is pure soy and kind of like chunks like it is cereal.

Please help me I want to make sure I am not going to harm my chameleons in anyway. I have done a lot of research but just want to make sure I am doing this all right.

Thanks!

 

[djfishygillz]

I would also like to know the best way to prepare all these ingredients/supplements for my feeders.

 

[drcrossfire]

It kinda sounds like you would have a high phosphorus ratio in this mix.

needs more calcium-- puree some mustard/turnip greens and throw um in if you can.

 

[djfishygillz]

i would still be using the flukers which is high in calcium as the main ingredient but what ingredients have the high phosphorous exactly?

 

[pssh]

Any fruits and veggies would have only proformed vit A (which is good) unless a preformed type was added. Fresh and ripe veggies/fruits are best but I find that dried and freeze dried and frozen are also good alternatives. Sometimes they are more nutritious than "fresh" veggies from the store because of various factors (time being the biggest one.)

Don't give them too much soy if any at all. Any soy they get is going to be from silkworms fed on the mulberry chow. (at least their old Chinese chow was based on a good amount of soy, not entirely sure of the European supplier, but I think it's very likely.)

As for the dry part, I would throw out the flukers stuff all together. A better addition would be cricket crack or Dino fuel or possibly even bug burger. Brewers yeast is great to add. If you could get ahold of some bee pollen and spirulina it would be even better. If you use dinofuel its made up of mostly spirulina and other superfoods. The raw sunflowers and sesame seeds are good, but don't use too much. Seaweed is good too, especially if you can get a few different kinds.

Don't forget that you don't have to feed these all at once. Cycling different ingredients is okay too.

Overall, I think it's a great start. Much, much better than what many reptile owners use.

 

[djfishygillz]

Any fruits and veggies would have only proformed vit A (which is good) unless a preformed type was added. Fresh and ripe veggies/fruits are best but I find that dried and freeze dried and frozen are also good alternatives. Sometimes they are more nutritious than "fresh" veggies from the store because of various factors (time being the biggest one.)

Don't give them too much soy if any at all. Any soy they get is going to be from silkworms fed on the mulberry chow. (at least their old Chinese chow was based on a good amount of soy, not entirely sure of the European supplier, but I think it's very likely.)

As for the dry part, I would throw out the flukers stuff all together. A better addition would be cricket crack or Dino fuel or possibly even bug burger. Brewers yeast is great to add. If you could get ahold of some bee pollen and spirulina it would be even better. If you use dinofuel its made up of mostly spirulina and other superfoods. The raw sunflowers and sesame seeds are good, but don't use too much. Seaweed is good too, especially if you can get a few different kinds.

Don't forget that you don't have to feed these all at once. Cycling different ingredients is okay too.

Overall, I think it's a great start. Much, much better than what many reptile owners use.

I am going to look around on the spirulina as I have heard great things about it. I may still keep the flukers as I don't want to sound cheap but I can't afford to always have these great ingredients all the time for my crickets and roaches, but it will only be used in moderation. I also like the high calcium content. I would like to order cricket crack but I would like to research it more first.

thanks for the suggestions they are greatly appreciated

 

[pssh]

Blending the dinofuel and cricket crack together would make a good, easy to find/make gutload.

Here's a link to cricket cracks ingredients if you need it

http://www.chameo.org/journal.html

 

[sandrachameleon]

flukers high-calcium cricket diet isnt the best gutload option. okay in a pinch, but its great that you are now adding other stuff to improve the nutrients being provided.

the Gerber Apricot with mixed fruit and garden veg pureed baby food is okay - you'd save money and get a better nutritional range through using fresh vegetables specifically choosen for the nutrients they offer.

Instead of the baby food, consider Choosing dandelion leaves, mustard greens, rocket (arugula), butternut squash (lightly steamed then cooled), oranges, papaya, yam (lightly steamed and cooled), carrot and a little kale.

Consider also using some dried alfalfa

Dried Seaweed is a good choice, as it provides iodine, calcium, magnesium and more.
some Brewers yeast is a good choice - B vitamins.
Sesame seeds are also good - calicum, iron, copper, magnesium, maganese, selenium
Raw sunflower seeds are decent to add some of too.

dont use too much soy

 

[djfishygillz]

flukers high-calcium cricket diet isnt the best gutload option. okay in a pinch, but its great that you are now adding other stuff to improve the nutrients being provided.

the Gerber Apricot with mixed fruit and garden veg pureed baby food is okay - you'd save money and get a better nutritional range through using fresh vegetables specifically choosen for the nutrients they offer.

Instead of the baby food, consider Choosing dandelion leaves, mustard greens, rocket (arugula), butternut squash (lightly steamed then cooled), oranges, papaya, yam (lightly steamed and cooled), carrot and a little kale.

Consider also using some dried alfalfa

Dried Seaweed is a good choice, as it provides iodine, calcium, magnesium and more.
some Brewers yeast is a good choice - B vitamins.
Sesame seeds are also good - calicum, iron, copper, magnesium, maganese, selenium
Raw sunflower seeds are decent to add some of too.

I also am not sure where to get the Alfalfa? From a pet store? Or where is the safest place to make sure it has to additives?
dont use too much soy

Awesome just what I needed to hear. Luckily I like all those fruits and vegetables so I thing I am in luck there.

Thanks very much for the help

 

[tkilgour]

I also am not sure where to get the Alfalfa? From a pet store? Or where is the safest place to make sure it has to additives?
dont use too much soy

Awesome just what I needed to hear. Luckily I like all those fruits and vegetables so I thing I am in luck there.

Thanks very much for the help

DinoFuel Raptor Edition's main ingredients are Alfalfa and Marigold. However, it also has Hemp Seed, Turmeric, Rosehips ( Rosa canina), Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale), Brewer's Yeast, and Wheat Germ. It's totally organic and has lots of good stuff!