Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I'm currently debating making my own gut load versus ever having to buy the flukers brand (or anything flukers for that matter)ever again but I'm wondering, before I begin the hunt for all the ingredients a quality homemade gut load requires, if there were any downfalls or trip-ups to gutloading my crix w/ just pellets.
Would the crickets thrive and live a normal length of time? Or do they need a more nutricious diet?

It seems you could kill two birds w/ one stone, but i've never seen or heard it mentioned so I figured i'd ask here.

Ray

I find that pellets make a good gutload, and I know a few other people here do it too. But I don't use pellets alone, I also throw in stalks and leftover greens when I making salads.
-----
Amanda
------------
2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
1.0 pictus gecko (Nicodemus)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
0.0.1 tarantula (Calcifer)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

there is not much of a difference between gutloading and just feeding to raise them up to a size or to keep them from dying until they are fed. gut loading is only so effective and in my opinion over rated. crix tummies are very small and their matabollism is very fast so they are not going to hold much in there. A good diet high in moisture will make them nice and plump over the long run and is more important. I have found feeding leftover greens and pellets the best and easiest way to do that. Dusting is the best way to get BDs the nutritional supps they need. There is more bidy surface area than the space in their stomachs. If you want to spend money on gut load, sticky tongue makes a product called Vit-all that works pretty good. In fact when I was using it, my BDs seemed to eat more crix (maybe it changes their taste). whatever you do, hydrate them well so your BDs get the moisture.
-----
Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

_____

Signature edited for TOS violation.

Edited on August 22, 2004 at 23:20:19 by phwyvern.