Locusts or Crickets?

[mrhellboy218]

Hi and Happy Holidays!! , so obviously from the title. Which is more nutritionally better for leos locusts? or crickets? I would think crickets cause they look like they've for meat. But I sort of prefer the locusts cause I can keep 'em in my room, they make no sound and also can locusts be used as staples?

 

[cricket4u]

Hi and Happy Holidays!! , so obviously from the title. Which is more nutritionally better for leos locusts? or crickets? I would think crickets cause they look like they've for meat. But I sort of prefer the locusts cause I can keep 'em in my room, they make no sound and also can locusts be used as staples?

Hi,

All insects have their pros and cons in regards to nutrition, so feeding both would be best. Locust are not available here in the US, therefore not an insect I have done much research on. A did a quick search and found this which provides at least a little info. I highlighted an important detail below.

the researchers noted that the cholesterol content in locusts is high, about 286 milligrams per 100 grams, which is higher than that found in meat or poultry.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/549444-the-nutritional-value-of-locusts/

 

[mrhellboy218]

thanks very much, but that high cholesterol worries me. So would locusts be ok as a staple? of course with a few few crickets fed maybe every so often

 

[pakinjak]

I think as long as you have your geckos cholesterol checked often, locusts are fine.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

That article about locusts and cholesterol is based on human needs and has nothing to do with the proper level for herps.

 

[cricket4u]

That article about locusts and cholesterol is based on human needs and has nothing to do with the proper level for herps.

High cholesterol is high cholesterol and causes the same damage to the reptiles such as atherosclerosis. It would be similar to feeding a very fatty diet. Fat may be very helpful for the reptiles in the wild due to times of fasting, however, in captivity they suffer from lack of exercise and the excess fat builds up around their organs, especially leo who are susceptible to Xanthoma and hepatic lipidosis.

Mrhellboy~ We do not have access to nutritionally complete insects, therefore a well varied diet is important.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

However, this is not comparing locusts to other insects, it's comparing locusts to meat.
What would be valid data would be how does that compare to crickets, roaches, etc.
And I didn't say that cholesterol isn't bad for geckos. What I said was that this article is based on what levels are bad for humans. Geckos obviously have different nutritional requirements than humans.

 

[cricket4u]

However, this is not comparing locusts to other insects, it's comparing locusts to meat.
What would be valid data would be how does that compare to crickets, roaches, etc.
And I didn't say that cholesterol isn't bad for geckos. What I said was that this article is based on what levels are bad for humans. Geckos obviously have different nutritional requirements than humans.

I'm not totally ignorant to the nutrition in locust, I'm simply not comfortable stating something unless it's fresh in my mind. I have looked at many nutritional values of insects and I can at least recall what is more ideal. I have read several articles such as:

http://jeb.biologists.org/content/205/1/121.full.pdf

Solitarious locusts showed a tendency to convert more
ingested carbohydrate to body lipid on the more balanced diets
than did gregarious nymphs.

In contrast to protein, body lipid levels were not strongly
regulated

I know I'm not always very clear and it's my fault. It's a combination of many things I've read, not just what I posted.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Unfortunately that doesn't answer anything about how they compare to other feeder insects, nor what proper levels should be for which species of geckos. So, although that might be somewhat useful I suppose, it really doesn't answer the OP's question. And, the article in question is still not valid information as it doesn't pertain to geckos at all.

 

[cricket4u]

I have compared nutritional values in different insects. Everyone is free do a search for comparison. I have already told the OP that all insects have their ups and downs, therefore variety is important. I don't believe in a staple feeder. Some fall short in some nutrients while others have nutrients in excess. The nutritional value of some insects do not increase much regardless of what you feed and as you know, they metabolize food differently. If I recall correctly Locust are a bit high in Iron which can cause a problem if fed in excess.

A great deal comes from experience which includes:

feeding different insects
monitoring bowel movements- consistency- color- overall health
comparing nutritional content of feeders
comparing how the insects metabolize certain nutrients


There's just so much to compare and a great deal of inconclusive information, hence the reason variety is the safest route. If you are one to live on the edge and are comfortable taking risk with your geckos, who am I to judge.