This thread is annoying. I can tell you as an experienced reptile owner what Ive seen and what I know. Not only I have had reptiles, but many people had them who were close to me, so I was able to see many different outcomes.

But let me start with this. In the wild, insects are able to get calcium, other vitamins etc from a ever revolving and complex ecosystem.

Which makes sense... We as human beings need calcium as well- and lots of it. Theyre always telling us to give our kids plenty of milk and vitamins. But where did we get it before we milked cows, and ate cereal with loaded vitamins? Simple fact is, our food is given low quality grain and thats all they eat. The cows themselves cannot live on that quality of food for so long, so they usually butcher it early. The cows are captive bred to us, like the crickets, roaches, and worms are captive bred to lizards. Back in the old times humans would probably eat some plant matter, fruit, a small cat or something, a deer- A huge variety in a complex ecosystem. How did we ever survive before? Well theres your answer, and same goes for reptiles. They need extra stuff if their food source is only being fed potatoes.

I have seen what happens to the reptiles that do not get fed quality crickets. Sure they may do fine for 1,2,3,4 whatever years, but they always have something wrong in the end. Maybe its kidney failure for incorrect balance of vitamins, or the ever famous MBD. One of the things that Ive seen in this thread too many times is that gutloading wastes money. Wow.... little tubs of flukers cost what... 2.50. And wll last for months... where the hell can I find a bigger cage, a helicopter, or a mansion with 2.50. What kind of world do you live in? Its not like they are trying to sell us some 20 dollar supplement and brainwashing us to think its necessary. Its 2.50. I don't necessary buy it myself, I do other things, but it does make it easy for the people to just pour it in there and not have to worry.

I do not breed crix, but I keep them in mass amounts. I do not need to breed them to know how to feed them to my lizards.

Sorry if I offended, its the truth, its common sense- dont listen to people, keep gutloading. Peace.

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