I know this isnt the right forum for something about crickets but I wanted to know specificlly what you guys feed your crickets. Anything specific since you give them to uros? I give mine a mix of greens and sometimes when I feed my uromastyx they get some of the seeds I give them. I have heard different things about some like potatos can cause issues and same with fish food. When I first got into the hobby when I was like 15 (now 29) I fed dog food but stopped that early. Just wanted some ideas, thanks.
Crickets for uros gut loading
- Thread starter Saurian
- Start date
cricket4u
New member
It will be best to stop the oatmeal as it does not provide a good balance. feed the chicken mash alone and follow the % listed on Elizabeth's caresheet.
Feeding crickets and roaches
Feed crickets/roaches food that provides no more than 20% protein and no more than 5% crude fat. Some choices are:
Chicken Laying Mash (from feed store): The label reads 16-18% minimum protein and 3% minimum fat.
***Dry oatmeal -- Am rethinking this recommendation due to the phosphorus content......
Alfalfa hay -- for the 3 wo and older crix
Collard greens -- especially recommended for high calcium-to-low phosphorous ratio & high lutein
Carrots -- natural source of beta carotene
Whole grain TOTAL -- General Mills dry cereal
Winter squash
NigelMoses
New member
My go to vegetable is Dandelion Greens. I also used sweet potato, repashy gut load and repashy super pig.
thorrshamri
Moderator/The French Viking Moderathorr
Potatoes and tomatoes (all parts) are toxic for vegetarian reptiles so I wouldn't use them to gutload insectivorous geckos' preys.
I use a layer of dog pellets, oranges, apples, greens except lettuce (toxic too) thoroughly rinsed off with clear water, papaya, figs (both rich in calcium), carrots...You might find it useful to place juicy fruits in cups so as to avoid the pellets to get soaked, it attracts tiny flies which are a real plague to get rid of
I use a layer of dog pellets, oranges, apples, greens except lettuce (toxic too) thoroughly rinsed off with clear water, papaya, figs (both rich in calcium), carrots...You might find it useful to place juicy fruits in cups so as to avoid the pellets to get soaked, it attracts tiny flies which are a real plague to get rid of
NigelMoses
New member
Potatoes and tomatoes (all parts) are toxic for vegetarian reptiles so I wouldn't use them to gutload insectivorous geckos' preys.
I use a layer of dog pellets, oranges, apples, greens except lettuce (toxic too) thoroughly rinsed off with clear water, papaya, figs (both rich in calcium), carrots...You might find it useful to place juicy fruits in cups so as to avoid the pellets to get soaked, it attracts tiny flies which are a real plague to get rid of
Are you referring to all potatoes, I have never heard of any issue with feeding sweet potatoes/yams to crickets.
thorrshamri
Moderator/The French Viking Moderathorr
I am referring to Solanum tuberosum, tubercules and leaves are all very toxic, not only to reptiles but to other animals as well, some rodents and insects for example. About sweet potatoes, we don't have them here so I could not tell you
cricket4u
New member
There are several reasons. Be careful with high in oxalates and goitrogens foods. Sweet potatoes is high in phosphorus. There is always pesticide risk as well. Here is some info:
http://www.greenigsociety.org/foodchart.html
Top 10 Fruits And Vegetables To Buy Organic
thorrshamri
Moderator/The French Viking Moderathorr
Personal experience: the water gel for crickets sold by several companies will never replace fresh peeled fruit
Cabbage is to be used with care as it does contain oxalates. Melons and watermelons are of little nutritional interest.
Cabbage is to be used with care as it does contain oxalates. Melons and watermelons are of little nutritional interest.
cricket4u
New member
Personal experience: the water gel for crickets sold by several companies will never replace fresh peeled fruit
Cabbage is to be used with care as it does contain oxalates. Melons and watermelons are of little nutritional interest.
You know it's a NO WIN situation. :biggrin:
thorrshamri
Moderator/The French Viking Moderathorr
Why are you saying this?
thorrshamri
Moderator/The French Viking Moderathorr
Of course, and from your posts I noticed you have a lot of valuable knowledge, which I respect. It was in no way my intentions to start a childish forum fight, just to make answers as clear and exhaustive as possible
cricket4u
New member
Precision Geckos
New member
Carrots, Kale, Mustard greens, and Collard greens. Been keeping Uros for about 8 years and always gut load my crickets the same way. Oh almost forgot I give them oarnges also.
NigelMoses
New member
Some believe carrots and oranges are calcium inhibitors meaning that they will block stored calcium from being used properly does anyone believe there is any truth to this? If so it seems that would be extremely counter productive for Uroplatus.
thorrshamri
Moderator/The French Viking Moderathorr
The sources I have in French say the contrary, oranges are a good source of calcium and are among the few fruit which have a Ca/P ratio beyond 2 along with figs, papaya and mangos, as for carrots they are less rich in calcium but do bring Vit. A and I am not aware of such inhibiting effects. You know, soon some people will say crickets are bad for geckos :biggrin:
cricket4u
New member
This should be helpful in understanding all the warnings.
List of food - UroWiki
List of food - UroWiki
NigelMoses
New member
I am enjoying this thread. I had always questioned those that had told me that carrots and oranges did more harm than good towards the use of calcium. I had never seen any hard evidence to support the argument I mentioned. It would be interesting to hear more opinions on the matter. I to side with you.