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I was just wondering whether anybody has ever done any scientific tests to see if gut loading crickets makes much of a difference. When I say tests, I mean, has anybody actually analyzed the nutrional value of crickets that were gut loaded as compared to regular.
I work in a lab and this is exactly what I do with a species of ant. I run assays on each ant and create a standard curve and then measure the proteins, carbs and lipids in each individual ant.
I was thinking unless this had already been done for crickets, that I could run an experiment to see if it makes a difference. I'm too busy with my project now, but I could probably start this summer.

Yeah its been done.. here's the charting for all sorts of inverts.

www.darkwaters.com/lucien/animals/Invert.doc

Might take a bit to load... so be patient.
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Lucien

1.1 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)(Sutekh and Isis)
2.2 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzards (Caine and Goliath), 1 het Blizzard (Lilith) and 1 Tangerine Albino (Tequila Sunrise ...Tiki for short))
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Kiros)
13 rats
1 Gerbil
2 Dogs (Loki and Storm)
2 cats (Sahara and Hercules)

That's a great table. I did, however, find one minor error. The bottom table that give a description for the abbreviations lists both Mg and Mn as magnesium while Mn is actually Manganese.

I don't usually catch this sort of thing but remember some of the elements from my days in the metallurgical lab!
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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

groups.yahoo.com/group/agamid/join
(click the link to join the agamid group on yahoo)

*laughs* I didn't create the table.. I just posted it on a server thats more likely to load properly than its home server to give people wider access... So all errors are the author's own *L* I didn't even catch that though.
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Lucien

1.1 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)(Sutekh and Isis)
2.2 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzards (Caine and Goliath), 1 het Blizzard (Lilith) and 1 Tangerine Albino (Tequila Sunrise ...Tiki for short))
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Kiros)
13 rats
1 Gerbil
2 Dogs (Loki and Storm)
2 cats (Sahara and Hercules)

Yep, this has been analyzed to quite some detail:

Hatt, J.M., Hung, E. & Wanner, M. (2003) The influence of diet on the body composition of the house cricket (Acheta domestica) and consequences for their use in zoo animal nutrition; Zool. Garten N. F.; 238-245.

Hop that helps

Ingo