Idea for gutload.... oppinions?

[AvandisFifth187]

So I was compiling ideas of what all to add to my gutload.... tell me what you think.

Buckwheat groats for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and phosphorous.

Dried banana for vitamins A and C.

Millet for B vitamins, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine and folate.

Flax seeds for omega-3 fatty acids and calcium.

Sunflower seeds (no shells) for Vitamin E, Magnesium, Copper, Iron, Zinc, and some Calcium.

All ingredients would be organic.

What do you guys think? I'm not sure if any of this is bad (my first time even thinking about making my own gutload), so that's why I'm asking your opinion.

Thanks!
Cody

 

[RoninSTi]

Are you going to try and control the calcium/phosphorous ratio? From what I've read, that tends to be high on the priority list when choosing gutload. I use the progecko gutload. It makes fat happy creepies

 

[AvandisFifth187]

Yes. All ingredients are going to be carefully measured in order to properly adjust the calcium to phosphorous ratio.

 

[Khrysty]

I couldnt help giggling at the idea of "fat happy creepies"

 

[RampantReptiles]

I couldnt help giggling at the idea of "fat happy creepies"

hehe I read right over that until I read your message and reread it.. that is funny.:main_laugh:

I am trying some new gutload mixes myself so I look forward to hearing how yours goes. I actually took some old organic cereal that has a bunch of stuff in it... and some nutty flax and ground that up in the blender. Been test feeding a small batch of mealworms with it and they seem to really like it. Its all organic stuff... rolled oats, agave nectar(this is a natural sweetener which im guessing is alright, progutload has molasses which is a byproduct of sugar), brown rice flour, soy oil, sunflower seeds(deshelled), oat syrup solids(no idea what that is), sea salt. A little weary on the salt. I dont plan to use this cereal over and over I just happened to have half a box that was going stale so.

 

[acpart]

One thing to beware of that I learned the hard way: watch the oil content of your gutload. I was making my own gutload a few years ago, going off a list from a now-defunct gecko site and having a great time in the bulk organic section of my food coop but then my mealworms started dying. The only thing I could figure out is that I went a bit high on amounts of nuts and seeds and their pores (or whatever) were getting clogged.

Aliza

 

[Khrysty]

The only thing I could figure out is that I went a bit high on amounts of nuts and seeds and their pores (or whatever) were getting clogged.

:inquisitive: ew :/

 

[RampantReptiles]

lol good to know... that is very useful information! Thank you.

 

[AvandisFifth187]

Thanks for the input everyone! I'm probably not going to be experimenting with the gutload until late summer to early fall, once I get the new rack and incubator built and get the rest of my money situations sorted out. Once I start to work on it, though, I'll let you all know how it goes.