Total Bites for Crickets

[agavrysh]

Is it OK if I only gut load my crickets with only Total Bites? Or I need to add some raw veggies do their diet? Thanks

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

The total bites are mostly water and preservatives with not much balanced nutrition or vitamins/minerals. Fresh veggies are a must! You can use the bites for hydration, but veggies should be the staple.

Here is some more info on good nutrition: The Basics of Gutloading

 

[K9Luvn]

I'm with Ferret on that. I thought about it before and once I checked it out more I decided it was made more for hydration. I am not one to feed my reptiles preservatives either... and if I gut load with preservatives then I am feeding my reptiles with preservatives.

 

[Captive Creations]

i use orange cubes from flukers and still throw veggies in there for them lol just makin sure

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Yep, the orange cubes are on the same level as the green cubes. Fresh veggies are cheap and so much better for them!!

 

[agavrysh]

Thanks, will do

 

[agavrysh]

I remember i saw a list somewhere in this forum that shows what veggies are good for gutloading, but can't find it now...

 

[agavrysh]

Is cauliflower, jicama, cucumber or dill weed would be good gutload veggies? Also have anyone tried give some walnuts?

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

None of those are very good for gutloading. Here's some info for you:

The Basics of Gutloading

Gutloading is the process of working through the food chain to feed the prey animals the nutrition that your insectivore pet needs to replicate what they would eat in nature. Crickets are basically just water and chitin (not very nutritious or digestible) and the pet stores only feed them cardboard, or potato at most, so feeding crickets directly after you get them from the pet store or vendor is not providing much in the way of nutrition to your pet. Supplementing with a calcium and/or multivitamin powder is important, but not sufficient alone for proper nutrition in any species. Gut loading can't be done in all feeders but is very easy in crickets and super worms - two common feeder bugs.

How do you chose what to use? Gutloading ingredients should be chosen that are higher in calcium than phosphorus. High phosphorus levels in the food impedes calcium absorption. Inadequate dietary calcium leads to metabolic bone disease. Commercially available gutloads (such as Fluker Farms Cricket Food) are not balanced or sufficient for good nutrition in any species. Ideally there should be a wet and dry component to your gut load:

Good Wet Gutloading Ingredients: dandelion leaves, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, escarole lettuce, butternut squash, carrots, mango, alfalfa sprouts, oranges, blueberries, raspberries, sweet potato, strawberries, hibiscus leaves and flowers, papaya

Good Dry Gutload Ingredients: bee pollen, alfalfa powder, kelp powder, brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, raw uncooked sunflower seeds, raw uncooked pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, small amounts of whole grain cereals, spirulina algae, tortoise pellets

Foods to AVOID: Broccoli, spinach, beets, and parsley, have large amounts of oxalic acids which bind calcium absorption. Lettuces and cabbage do not have any significant nutritional value. Also, avoid things like dog food, cat food, and fish flakes which are high in animal proteins which can cause kidney damage. Feeding such things like pinky-mice, fuzzies, and feeder anoles that are extremely high in fat and protein content is harmful to your chameleon's health, bones and organs that can lead to serious illnesses like gout, edema, organ failure and fatality.


This site has nutritional info on many commonly available fruits and veggies to help guide you in choosing good gut loading ingredients: http://www.greenigsociety.org/foodchart.htm
Sandrachameleon has many more blog entries on gut loading and nutrition!

That link at the bottom is a great list!

 

[agavrysh]

Thanks, good info. However I am still a bit confused. On that website it says to feed with spinach, parsley and etc. occasionally (which is right after staple food) and on the same level as carrots. On the other hand, spinach and parsley is in avoid list....
I just rarely buy greens and squashes, but "occasion food" is often in my fridge.

Also will crickets eat onions?

 

[DragoLikesReptiles]

Haha, I just noticed this list says tortoise pellets and I just got a tortoise.

 

[ridgebax1]

I am not sure what you mean by "on the same level as carrots". All of the occasional foods are high in oxalates. This substance binds with calcium to form calcium oxylate which are tiny crystals that sort of get "stuck" in the tubules that make up the kidney causing renal damage. And by binding to the calcium it decreases the free calcium that the animal needs for healthy bones. The risks posed by these veggies just aren't worth it in my opinion and best to avoid them all together. I doubt that the crickets care that much.