gutloading confusion.. help please
- Thread starter Kiefer
- Start date
So I've pondered, and I want opinions on if this will work: I feed my leo 8 crickets a day, he is 8-10 months old(I feed him everyday because he still waits for food like he's hungry and he eats all 8 
) If I do the same dusting schedule, but dust only 4 crickets on Monday and Thursday, would this work with out over doing the calcium w/D3?
) If I do the same dusting schedule, but dust only 4 crickets on Monday and Thursday, would this work with out over doing the calcium w/D3?
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
So I've pondered, and I want opinions on if this will work: I feed my leo 8 crickets a day, he is 8-10 months old(I feed him everyday because he still waits for food like he's hungry and he eats all 8
Keifer ~
Thanks for your offer to keep us updated on the beardie food as a dry cricket diet. My recommendations are based upon you using that all the time to feed your crickets.
Are you planning to use the Superload or not plus the beardie food?
Superload contains A acetate and D3. Here's what I would try.
0. I would NOT always feed Superload to your crickets. I would only use Superload 24 hours prior to the feeding 2x per week only, say for Mon and then Thurs feedings. Other than that I would feed your crickets Zoo Med's Natural Bearded Dragon Food Adult Formula.
1. I would NOT leave Superload in leo Emmillio's enclosure at all. Any crickets not eaten should be removed from Emmillio's vivarium.
2. I would use the Superload as per directions, but only 2x per week. Superload contains both D3 and A acetate.
3. I would ONLY use the Superload 2x per week with NO other dusting per week.
4. Do you know about urates: the usually white part attached to the feces? Generally the urates should be about 1/3 the size of the feces. Right now are the urates pure white?
5. Here are some signs that could indicate trouble from the beardie food or trouble from the Superload
---diarrhea (if the beardie food has too much fiber for your leo)
---yellowish urates
---change in poop appearance
---sluggish crickets
I will keep this thread posted if I hear from that member about his Superload experiences.
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
PS:
Please post a picture of Emmillio on this thread.
Thing is that Zoo Med's Reptivite should be used sparingly too.
Please post a picture of Emmillio on this thread.
Thing is that Zoo Med's Reptivite should be used sparingly too.
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
So far I haven't really been using the T-Rex Calcium Plus Food for Crickets that I have. Did use it a couple times in the beginning last summer.
I use calcium with D3 (Repti Calcium with D3, sometimes Rep-Cal's calcium with D3) roughly 2x per week and Reptivite without D3 about 2x per month.
I feed my crickets and dubia Albers' All Purpose Poultry Feed all the time. That contains A acetate plus other ingredients of course.
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The urates are pure white. So to make this clear, your saying to feed the crickets 24/7 with the beardie food, and replace dusting 2x a week with the superload? And than the week I don't use the superload, dust with calcium w/D3? Is the beardie food I'm guessing nutritious enough to be a diet/gutload?
cricket4u
New member
Elizabeth,
I just looked back at the initial post. He mentions the Juvenile bearded dragon food, not the adult.
Adult:
Crude Protein (Min) 16.0 % Crude Fat (Min) 2.5 %Crude Fiber (Max) 16.0 %Moisture (Max) 13.0 %Ash (Max) 10.0 Calcium (Min) 0.8 Calcium (Max) 1.2 %Phosphorus (Min) 0.4 %Sodium (Max) 0.3 %
Juvenile:
Crude Protein (Min) 24.0 %Crude Fat (Min) 3.0 %Crude Fiber (Max) 13.0 %Moisture (Max) 13.0 %Ash (Max) 10.0 Calcium (Min) 0.8 Calcium (Max) 1.2 %Phosphorus (Min) 0.5 %Sodium (Max) 0.3 %
My roaches get about 50% juvenile bearded dragon food (29% protein) and 50% fruits and veggies. (
Post #29
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm.../71101-arm-pit-bubbles-lets-talk-about-3.html
I bought the adult as you recommended for trial which the crickets were not very excited about.
Now the Juvenile: Look at the reviews, if the dragon does not eat it, I have to wonder how the crickets would react. Read the reviews.
http://reviews.petco.com/3554/10674...enile-bearded-dragon-food-reviews/reviews.htm
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Any chance of a new photo...a top down view?
Good urates!
I need to figure out these conversions for Superload:
vitamin D3 1,000 IU/lb = ? IU/kg
vitamin A 10,00 IU/lb = ? IU/kg
Thanks for asking.
No formal gutload (Repashy's Superfood, T-Rex Calcium Plus Food for Crickets) is safe to be used as a staple food all the time! The purpose of a formal gutload is to jack up the nutrients right before the cricket/dubia is consumed by the leo. Other dry diets should be fed the crickets/dubia on the other days.
so:
1. Feed Zoo Med's Natural BD Adult Formula to crickets/dubia all the time except when you gutload with Superload.
2. Set aside 8 crickets (your leo's full meal) on Sunday and Wednesday for the 24 hour gutload process. ONLY feed them Superload. Only provide water for a moisture source during those 24 hours. Feed those 8 crickets to Emmillio about 24 hours later.
3. At this time ONLY do the formal gutload 2x per week as above. No other dustings!
4. May also need to add some dusting with a Repti Calcium with D3 product, but not right now.
5. Watch for any poop changes.
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
How about taking another photo, this time looking down upon him? He can be in his cage.
The ZM NBD Food Adult Formula may work well as a staple diet for your crickets. Certainly the person who suggested it liked it. You say your crickets are eating it.
Check my edits of post #31.
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
cricket4u said:
Cricket4u ~ I understand that your crickets were unimpressed with the ZMNBDF Adult Formula.
How about marketing that custom insect food you use that is formulated by a friend or perhaps sharing the recipe? ;-)
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
/\ /\ That shows good body size. Next time how about the whole tail?
