Oranges to Feeders?

[Ben0918]

i breed dubia roaches and always use to give them oranges. when i got my pair of jacksons, the breeder i purchased them off of said to never feed your jackson's feeders oranges? i have other reptiles besides jacksons (a bearded dragon) and have fed oranges to the dubias and then to the dragon. he has never shown problems and i've done this month after month. should i stay away from oranges for my jacksons? i know when you give dubias oranges they breed faster so please help

 

[carol5208]

my panther breeder who has been breeding for 32 years told me to use oranges for hydration instead of water cubes. This is for a panther now, but I don't know what the difference would be for a Jackson's. I use them all the time for my crickets.

 

[Swayne8998]

They are a stimulating fruit for breeding feeders, and as Carol said, great for a water source. It's not that they SHOULDN'T be used, but that they don't offer very much nutritional value.

 

[Ben0918]

so this is safe right? like i said i've used it for my dragon and never saw problems. but the breeder told me not to and i just want to see if other people do this and see no problems

 

[Swayne8998]

so this is safe right? like i said i've used it for my dragon and never saw problems. but the breeder told me not to and i just want to see if other people do this and see no problems

Yeah you're good. Just make sure you offer lots of other nutritional foods, like carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, etc. See sandrachameleon's blog, she has lots of fantastic info on gutloading.

 

[pssh]

Maybe they recommend against it because of the acidity? Maybe you should ask why they don't recommend it.

 

[Swayne8998]

Maybe they recommend against it because of the acidity? Maybe you should ask why they don't recommend it.

Yeah I've heard of people saying not to feed acidic foods to chams but maybe they meant directly... Cause I would think the acid would be digested in the feeder.

 

[pssh]

That's what I was thinking. I know with my guinea pigs the acidity can cause sores in the mouth, so I wouldn't feed any directly to my chameleon either, but I don't see why not with the feeders.

 

[AlecWade]

I've used oranges, watermelon, and lettuce to help hydrate feeders at it seems to work well. I wonder why the breeder advised against using the oranges. I was also wondering if lemon can be used to hydrate feeders. Although if acidity really is harmful then I'm guessing this wouldn't be a good choice.

 

[Swayne8998]

I've used oranges, watermelon, and lettuce to help hydrate feeders at it seems to work well. I wonder why the breeder advised against using the oranges. I was also wondering if lemon can be used to hydrate feeders. Although if acidity really is harmful then I'm guessing this wouldn't be a good choice.

I wouldn't go with lemons because they are VERY acidic, and I think may harm the feeders or imabalance the nutrition in them.

 

[carol5208]

I highly respect Kammerflage Kreations(the breeder where I got Romeo from). They have made it in the business for over 30 years. They gotta be doing something right!! Whatever advice, they give me, I follow...

 

[ataraxia]

I would say 90% of my feeders hydration comes from oranges. Despite what people say. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals and everything in between. Excellent choice to hydrate your feeders.

It is safe to feed these same feeders to montanes.

 

[Ben0918]

yea the breeder told me because they can't digest it? but if the insects digest it then the jacksons should have no problem? and yes i feed my dubias a big variety of food.

 

[ataraxia]

who is the breedeR?

 

[warpdrive]

I would say 90% of my feeders hydration comes from oranges. Despite what people say. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals and everything in between. Excellent choice to hydrate your feeders.

It is safe to feed these same feeders to montanes.

I'm down to just one Quad, and about to get two panthers.
I've fed oranges to my feeders for hydration and vitamins for 4 years now. My Quads and panthers never complained in the past. Lol

Harry

 

[Ben0918]

She wasn't a business breeder she lives like 45 minutes from me but trust me she is no dummy at Jackson's. She's been breeding them successfully for 5 years. So when she told me this I was shocked. But if all of you guys are saying its fine then I'll go with your word. Thank you everyone

 

[DanSB]

I always cut the orange so it is mostly rind with a little of the sweet juicy part. The rind is where a huge proportion of the vitamins of an orange are stored. A nutritionist once told me if I just eat the fruit I'm missing out on most of the goodness of an orange. That thick white part between the actual fruit and the peel, don't eat the peel it is gross.

Either way I figure if it is better for me to eat it is also better for my feeders. Another bonus is that it has less acid than the actual fruit... assuming that matters.

Edit to add: i cut a section from the side so it looks like a shallow bowl with a little of the juicy part and also use this to place other gut load like greens, carrots, bug burger etc on. It makes for a handy disposable and cheap feeder bowl for bugs.

 

[SpartyTessy]

I always cut the orange so it is mostly rind with a little of the sweet juicy part. The rind is where a huge proportion of the vitamins of an orange are stored. A nutritionist once told me if I just eat the fruit I'm missing out on most of the goodness of an orange. That thick white part between the actual fruit and the peel, don't eat the peel it is gross.

Either way I figure if it is better for me to eat it is also better for my feeders. Another bonus is that it has less acid than the actual fruit... assuming that matters.

Edit to add: i cut a section from the side so it looks like a shallow bowl with a little of the juicy part and also use this to place other gut load like greens, carrots, bug burger etc on. It makes for a handy disposable and cheap feeder bowl for bugs.

That is a GFI(great freaking idea) with using the orange as a bowl. I love these forums. Always getting good ideas.