Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Scott W · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:13 pm Post subject: Gut Loading.

I'm often asked what I gut load my insects on before feeding, so here's a run down...

Crickets, I keep my feeder crickets in large tubs (80litre) and have a layer of turkey rearing pellets, also slices of wholemeal bread, for water I use half oranges.

My locust are fed the day they are harvested from my breeding colony, so already have full stomachs, the colony is fed on Spring Greens and Bran.

Mealworms are fed on dog biscuit and water.

If I buy crickets in, I try to keep them 2 days to allow them to 'fatten up' before I use them.

I tend to breed most of my foods as I'm currently using 7000 - 12000 crickets per week, 1000 - 1500 5th's locust, plus about 800 - 1400 pinks / fluffs and hoppers per week, obviously this would cost far too much to buy each week Shocked

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JStroud · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:24 pm Post subject:

When I bred crickets I fed them on trout pellets for food and sliced potato for water, seemed to do quite well on this. I've heard of people going to extraordinary lengths to gut load with sliced carrot and a whole variety of foods but I don't think it really makes that much different as long as they've got the weight there in the first place Wink

juckiewicz · I'm new here... Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 13

romaine/kos lettuce for locusts

fish flake and romaine lettuce for baby crix

(lettuce is misted)

Jas · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:11 pm Post subject:

Scott W · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:25 pm Post subject:

that sounds like a real good mix Jas, any chance of sharing the full list etc?
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

Jas · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:56 pm Post subject:

I dont really use any fixed recipe.But with very few ingrediants you can virtually cover all the vitamins and minerals.It wouldnt hurt to grow some Parsley in the garden to throw in, this is an excellent source of Vit A,C,K
Sunflower seeds are good all rounders and high in E.Wheat germ or whole grains cover most of the B vitamins and Amino acids.And all these ingrediants are reall cheap to buy.

leonie · I'm new here... Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 12

dont know if ayone is interested but i have a list somewhere of the vit min levels in a load of different veg? iif you think it would be usefull ill try and get it scanned this week,

leo
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Scott W · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:22 am Post subject:

Insectsunlimited · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject: Feeding roaches.

Hi, Dave @ Insects Unlimited & I breed roaches to sell as feeders & mine all get a varied diet of fruit/veg (rotated),either wheatbran,porridge oats or popcorn (always available),raisins (ditto) & dried cat food (ditto). If using dried cat food...Avoid fish flavours.If extra calcium is required... Powdered milk is ideal sprinkled in bran or porridge oats. As omnivours, try roaches with whatever you think fit (but nothing with fish in). Dave
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Dave Messer @ Insectsunlimited.

It may be the early bird that gets the worm but it`s the 2nd mouse that gets the cheese.

varanus · Key Member Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 400

Bee pollen is excellent for gut loading unfortunately i dont have the room to breed my own food but I am about to get some roaches to suppliment with and will be offering them allsorts of vegitable matter and the odd bits of meat but I will also be getting some bee pollen to to throw into the mix as its somthing ive been meaning to do for some time not but keep forgetting to order it