Ok so ive seen several times on here about gutloading feeders but wat do uall recamend ive read where ppl use fruits and vigies and outher useing gutload from a can and of corse calcium with d3 w/o phosferous(i probly,miss spelled that) but I though it would help out ppl new to the hobbie (addicktion) that come here for info to read up on this.
Gutloading feeders
- Thread starter Jasonp85
- Start date
Ozymandias
New member
first off feeding you feeders fruits and veggies isn't actually gutloading them.to actually gut load you have to use a proper gutload as a food.
Crestie Chris
New member
Variety is the spice of life... *Awkwardly clears throat*
I find it is good to provide a nice mix of foods. For the most part a commercial gutload is used in conjunction with a source of water (usually water crystals or a moist fruit/veg such as orange/carrot). And then every now and again some nutritionally high veggies are put in (remember to remove any uneaten food the next day to prevent mould/moisture build up).
Hope this helped shed some light,
Chris
I find it is good to provide a nice mix of foods. For the most part a commercial gutload is used in conjunction with a source of water (usually water crystals or a moist fruit/veg such as orange/carrot). And then every now and again some nutritionally high veggies are put in (remember to remove any uneaten food the next day to prevent mould/moisture build up).
Hope this helped shed some light,
Chris
Crestie Chris
New member
Miner all is a supplemental powder which you use to dust the livefood before feeding to your rep. What you are after is something like this, there are probably several others on the market but as I'm in the UK that's the only one I know of that's available in the US.
It comes in a powder form and you feed it dry, water can be provided with a slice of carrot, orange or water crystals (as above).
Hope this helps,
Chris
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...rition/49403-feeder-insect-diets-gutload.html in the "Feeders, Food & Nutrition" forum has some recipes for various feeders.
PrettyInInk
New member
Actually, gutloading does mean feeding your feeders different fruits and veggies... I honestly don't like commercial gutloads since fresh is always better. I give my feeders, carrot, orange, butternut squash, apple, kale, dandelion greens, and boiled egg (source of protein) as the wet part of gutload (lots more I didn't mention, drawing a blank). Also to add, you can also make a dry gut load containing crushed nuts, bee pollen... Ect. I reccommend looking up a really good gut load online (i'm sure you already have) but just wanted to point out that feeding your feeders good fruits and veggies is considered gutloading. 
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Jason ~
This is what I use:
Nutrition for Leos
Feed crickets/roaches stuff that provides no more than 20% protein and no more than 5% crude fat. Some choices are:
Chicken Laying Mash (feed store)
Fluker Farms High Calcium Cricket Feed
Dry oatmeal
Alfalfa hay (for the 3 wo and older crix)
Collard greens (especially recommended for the high calcium-to-low phosphorous ratio)
Carrots (natural source of beta carotene)
and water (spraying or sponge source)
As mentioned above, Minerall is a calcium and/or vitamin powder.
This is what I use:
Nutrition for Leos
Feed crickets/roaches stuff that provides no more than 20% protein and no more than 5% crude fat. Some choices are:
Chicken Laying Mash (feed store)
Fluker Farms High Calcium Cricket Feed
Dry oatmeal
Alfalfa hay (for the 3 wo and older crix)
Collard greens (especially recommended for the high calcium-to-low phosphorous ratio)
Carrots (natural source of beta carotene)
and water (spraying or sponge source)
As mentioned above, Minerall is a calcium and/or vitamin powder.
Riverside Reptiles
Administrator (HMFIC)
I suggest reading the link that Hilde provided for a good comprehensive gut load recipe. Chicken mash, although very cheap, is usually nothing more than ground corn. Oatmeal, alfalfa, etc are all pretty nutritionally poor as well. Those types of foods may be ok for a daily diet for your feeders, but they don't make for a nutritional "gut load". The whole point of using a gut load is to pack the feeder with a high amount of nutritionally beneficial foods so that when they are consumed by the gecko, some of that nutritional value is transfered. It's the old "you are what you eat" philosophy. Again, I recommend reading the thread that Hilde linked to as well as perhaps reading some of the other threads in the "food and feeders" section.
Actually, gutloading does mean feeding your feeders different fruits and veggies... I honestly don't like commercial gutloads since fresh is always better. I give my feeders, carrot, orange, butternut squash, apple, kale, dandelion greens, and boiled egg (source of protein) as the wet part of gutload (lots more I didn't mention, drawing a blank). Also to add, you can also make a dry gut load containing crushed nuts, bee pollen... Ect. I reccommend looking up a really good gut load online (i'm sure you already have) but just wanted to point out that feeding your feeders good fruits and veggies is considered gutloading.
Technically this is incorrect. This is providing a nutritional diet, which is important and I like your style. However, gutloading is exactly as Ethan just said and is based on the idea that whatever you feed the insect directly prior to feeding is also fed to the gecko as there was insufficient time to digest it.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
@ Ethan ~ I full well realize that a little learning can be dangerous. In particular, how does alfalfa hay qualify as "nutritionally poor"? It was recommended by a former reptile vet of mine. The bag lists alfalfa hay as 18% protein and only about 1.5% fat.
Pro Geckos - Pro Gutload this is wat I found is it a good gut load?
Riverside Reptiles
Administrator (HMFIC)
That's great as far as fat and protein go. But what about other vitamins and minerals??? For day to day feeding of your insects, it's probably ok, but I don't think it would make for a very high quality gut load. Again, a gut load is not the same thing as what you feed your insects to keep them alive. A gut load is fed to the insects prior to being fed off. This is one reason why roaches are so far superior to most worms or other feeders...because they have much larger intestinal tracts that can hold the gut load for a much longer time. No single hay or grain is going to provide the nutritional levels that you want your geckos to receive (IMO).
Riverside Reptiles
Administrator (HMFIC)
That would probably work ok. I've not used it personally though. So I can't say from experience. I prefer to just make my own. That way I know exactly what my animals are getting.
You say this often enough that it's stuck in my head. But you seem to avoid saying what you use. So what do you feed your feeders?
Riverside Reptiles
Administrator (HMFIC)
Killin me...