Whats the point it gutloading
- Thread starter Rune
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jdog1027
Avid Member
Gutloading is very important. Your crickets shouldn't be dying in a day or two. They may either be; Too hot ( 80-85F is optimal), Too cold (Below 60F and they'll start to die), Too cramped ( They need really good ventilation) and there is the possibility of the cricket virus. It wiped out our local cricket farmer. Look up some of Sandrachameleon's blogs on gutloading. Ferritinmyshoes has some good gutload info as well.
bigcappa
Avid Member
Gut loading is for your chameleon and not just the crickets, so yes it is really important. As jdog mentioned there is something going wrong somewhere that is shortening the life of your crickets. Check out these gut loading post! (https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html) (https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/425-may-2011-gutload.html)
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
You know that saying "you are what you eat?" Well, it's true. We wouldn't do very well if all we ate was cardboard or junk food, and the same applies to our animals. In the case of crickets, the ratio of meaty goodness to shell is very low, so your guys end up eating a lot of cricket exoskeleton and not much else. Plus, the ratio of calcium to phosphorous in crickets is also pretty bad. So knowing all this, the best way to make crickets nutritionally better is to gutload them and then put supplements on them.
When your insects (crickets, roaches, etc.) have their stomachs full of healthy veggies and such that's all going into your chameleon indirectly. So now the cricket has a lot more goodness to shell ratio. And when gutloaded with high-calcium veggies and foods, you raise the ratio of calcium as well.
Like Jdog said, your crickets really shouldn't be dying that fast. Some will, but not all of them. Where are you buying your crickets from? How are you keeping them? I get mine in bulk (500 at least) from an online supplier and keep them in a large plastic bin and they will last me a few weeks, depending on how big (old) the crickets are. The ones I get from the pet stores don't last me very long either, and you end up paying way more per cricket.
Hope that helped!
When your insects (crickets, roaches, etc.) have their stomachs full of healthy veggies and such that's all going into your chameleon indirectly. So now the cricket has a lot more goodness to shell ratio. And when gutloaded with high-calcium veggies and foods, you raise the ratio of calcium as well.
Like Jdog said, your crickets really shouldn't be dying that fast. Some will, but not all of them. Where are you buying your crickets from? How are you keeping them? I get mine in bulk (500 at least) from an online supplier and keep them in a large plastic bin and they will last me a few weeks, depending on how big (old) the crickets are. The ones I get from the pet stores don't last me very long either, and you end up paying way more per cricket.
Hope that helped!
Johnny909
New Member
A gutload can kill off your crickets within a few days. It depend what you are gutloading with.
Are you using some sort of concentrated commercial gutload? I know from my own experience that if you only feed super rich gutloads like repashy superload has a staple, the crickets will die of over nutrition. Thats why they suggest separating your next group of feeders 24 hours for gutoding before being offered to the animal.
Are you using some sort of concentrated commercial gutload? I know from my own experience that if you only feed super rich gutloads like repashy superload has a staple, the crickets will die of over nutrition. Thats why they suggest separating your next group of feeders 24 hours for gutoding before being offered to the animal.
Rune
New Member
Thanks! I am feeding them orange cube and carrots. I will add more food today.
I have them in a small cricket keeper, I buy about 15 crickets from petco, and Im in dallas, Texas. They are pinhead crickets for my baby cham. Thanks again!
Texas Ranger
Avid Member
Thanks! I am feeding them orange cube and carrots. I will add more food today.
I have them in a small cricket keeper, I buy about 15 crickets from petco, and Im in dallas, Texas. They are pinhead crickets for my baby cham. Thanks again!
When you are ready to get a larger amount of crickets. There is a reptile show in Arlington. The next one is in July. (Lonestar reptile expos). Mullberry farms in the sponser. You can buy crickets in bulk form them at the show and not have to pay shipping. And it is ALOT cheaper than buying a few at a time from a petstore. They have all sizes you will need. They are who I get mine from. But I go threw a lot and have to order them between shows.
And I agree with the others. You need to be using other things besides the Orange cubes. Think of crickets as empty "Pill capsuls". Fill them up with good foods for your cham.
The Fluker's cubes are an extremely inadequate source of proper nutrition. They are good for hydration and that's it. As others have said, good gutloading involves fresh fruits and veggies that are high in calcium and other nutrients. Collard greens, mustard greens, dandelions, and turnip greens should be the staple to your gutload, with things like butternut squash, sweet potato, mango and papaya included in smaller portions. Things to really avoid are romaine or iceberg lettuce, broccoli, spinach, and dog/cat food.
SSimsswiSS
Avid Member
Pinhead crickets can be a little hard to keep. You have to keep them a little warmer (80+), with a contant source of moisture, or they will dry up and die. But not too moist, as they can get stuck / drown. A real balancing act.Thanks! I am feeding them orange cube and carrots. I will add more food today.
I have them in a small cricket keeper, I buy about 15 crickets from petco, and Im in dallas, Texas. They are pinhead crickets for my baby cham. Thanks again!
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