Is this an okay gutload mix?

Vastra

I ate all your bees
Messages
27
Location
Oregon
I've been feeding my crickets an organic spring mix, as well as dandelions when I have them, carrots, a small amount of oats, and sometimes a chunk of cucumber or celery. Is this an okay feeding mix? Would a different greens mix be better?

The spring mix can contain small amounts of any of the following: green leaf, mizuna, green romaine, tango, green oak, green chard, baby spinach, arugula, frisee, tatsoi, mache, red chard, red leaf, lolla rosa, red romaine, red mustard, radicchio, red oak, beet tops.

If a few of these are no good I can take them out of the mix before feeding, or switch greens but I do prefer greens to fruits and the mixes are easier to keep.
They also get small scraps of organic fruits and root skins from time to time.


Also are there any birdseed mixes that make a good dry feed?


Crickets are dusted with Repashy before being fed to my leo.
 

indyana

Well-Known Member
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2,336
Location
Massachusetts, United States
That's an OK mix. There are some other nutritious things you could also feed. Some of the mix greens aren't great, so if you're getting ready to feed the crickets off in a day or two, maybe try to pick out a particularly good selection from the mix. Here are some ideas:
Much Ado About Chameleons: The Anatomy of Gut-Loading | Ingredients & Nutritional Info

Just keep in mind that gutload food is different from food to feed crickets to keep them alive long term. Not sure if you're keeping a lot of them for a while, but if so, you'll have to have a "regular" feeding mix and then just gutload some in a separate container before feeding off. In particular, crickets need protein to survive long term, and if you don't provide it, they'll start eating one another.
 

Vastra

I ate all your bees
Messages
27
Location
Oregon
Thanks for replying! That list is great. :)

I tried some kale and accidentally killed a bunch but this next batch I think I'll get either organic mustard Greens or escarole lettuce combined with dandelion greens (Are the flowers any good? ) carrots, and oats.

My gecko has a spotty eating pattern and I'm low on space so keeping crickets separate (And warm) is kind of a hassle, are there any foods I could put in with the gutload to keep them alive? Otherwise what should they be fed when not gutloading?

I'm planning on keeping a small colony of crickets but at the moment only keep about forty for two weeks at a time.
 

indyana

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,336
Location
Massachusetts, United States
You can feed dandelion flowers, but they aren't good as a staple like the greens are. Just be certain to wash everything well to remove any chemicals.

You can find a lot of great recipes for cricket food just through a Google search (I personally just buy, so I don't have a specific recipe for you, sorry!).
homemade cricket food - Google Search

Basically, regular bug chow is more grain with a bit of protein to help the bugs grow and breed, whereas when you're gutloading, you want to try to feed more vegetables, fruits, and things that have nutritional impact when they are eaten by your reptile (after eaten by crickets, haha).
 

Vastra

I ate all your bees
Messages
27
Location
Oregon
Thanks! :) I'm going to set up a small pot of greens to grow for them outside this year and maybe feed the crickets cereal (I don't see any examples of a good cereal for them yet), oats, and a couple carrots and greens when not gutloading.

I keep a birdseed mix year round, I gave them a small amount once and they loved it so unless there's a certain grain I should be worried about I may use that as the main food source instead of cereal.
 

DrCarrotTail

Moderator
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3,590
Location
Ridgewood, NJ
I don't raise crickets because of the smell and chirping but I do raise mealworms, superworms and dubia roaches. I feed all of them a lower protein organic chicken feed and oatmeal. I mix a bit of milk replacer into it for added calcium and sugar as well as some other vitamins and probiotics. They also get fruits and veggies as a water and vitamin source.
 

Vastra

I ate all your bees
Messages
27
Location
Oregon
How many superworms can a leo eat and can I give them a leaf or two with carrot+oats? I just got my gecko some medium ones (I'm hoping the size isn't a problem, he seemed to eat them fine) and he loves them but I don't want him getting stuffed up..
 

DrCarrotTail

Moderator
Messages
3,590
Location
Ridgewood, NJ
I feed the large supers to all my leos over 30g and they do just fine with them. I usually give them 2-4 depending on how chunky they look. The fatter and older they are the less they get. I would change up the veggies a bit from time to time but for the most part carrots and oats should be fine.
 

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