Gutloading dubias

[GeckoLeen]

I have a garg, an e. agricolae, and a Cuban false chameleon who are eating dubias. What is the best thing to gutload the dubias with? I have been using bananas, fortified cereal, eggshells and some greens when available, in the roach food dish, but am wondering what is OPTIMAL. We go food shopping every other week, and it is hard to buy a variety of appropriate produce in such tiny amounts.

I bought some Grub Pie that none of the geckos seem to like. Would that be good to give to the roaches, so it doesn't go to waste, and would ultimately end up in the geckos anyway?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I feed my dubia colony finely ground Zoo Med's Natural ADULT Bearded Dragon Food 24/7.

(click to enlarge)

Grub Pie contains 40% protein dry weight. When mixed 1 part powder to 2-3 parts water, the resulting protein level is safe. I would NOT use it dry.

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"Lettuce (except dark, leafy greens) is just water and nutritionally irrelevant. People don't even give lettuce to tortoises and iguanas because it's worthless as food. The same could be said for potatoes. Fish flakes are very high in protein and this can lead to a build-up of uric acid in feeders/reptiles and end up causing gout. A little now and then is fine but this should never be the bulk of any gutload.

"A commercial gutloading food like Bug Burger or Superload (both by Repashy), Cricket Crack, Dinofuel, etc. is going to make your life easier AND provide a nutritious diet to your crickets at the same time. Avoid Fluker's gutloads, as they are super feeble in their formulas.

"If you opt for making your own gutload at home, here is a list of great ingredients to use:
Best: mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion flowers & leaves, collard greens, escarole lettuce, papaya, watercress, and alfalfa.
Good: sweet potato, carrots, oranges, mango, butternut squash, kale, apples, beet greens, blackberries, bok choy, and green beans.
Dry food: bee pollen, organic non-salted sunflower seeds, spirulina, dried seaweed, flax seed, and organic non-salted almonds.
Avoid as much as possible: potatoes, cabbage, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, corn, grains, beans, oats, bread, cereal, meat, eggs, dog food, cat food, fish food, canned or dead insects, vertebrates."