Dubia and Cricket Food

[marriott1012]

I am planning in keeping crickets and dubia roaches for my bearded dragon that I am getting soon. I am wondering if the flickers cricket high calcium food would suffice for thief staple diet along with a potatoes or what not. Any advice about this or anything thing also relating to raising dubuas would be appreciated. I currently have a 30 gallon plastic tote that I am going to put an aluminum screen cover over a.doc holes for the crickets because I am ordering 500 to keep. I think that will last me a month.

 

[Sapphire]

Hi there. Fluker's cricket diet is a fine staple for both insects, however it might get a bit pricey. Most people make their own cricket/roach food from things like cat/dog food, oats, fish food, and unsweetened cereal (I buy the off-brand cheerios at Wal-Mart). As for potatoes, those are fine as well but dubia seem to prefer fresh fruits such as oranges, strawberries, blackberries, and bananas. Hopefully this helps. There's tons of information around the forum about raising dubia and so on, just scroll through the Feeders forum or do a keyword search on the forum (right side near the top).

 

[jodyberry]

I've been using Fluker's cricket diet for over a year and it works great! (Along with oranges every so often). I have big bin full of dubia and the large $10 jar lasts me 4 or 5 months.

 

[mama]

When I was researching chameleons I found some great information regarding gutloading feeders. I would think that the same would apply to feeders for a beardie. Hopefully this may help some or at least gives you options/ideas.

The "wet" portion of the gutload, which should be your principle gutload, can includes things like (switch it up with a different couple of items every other week): dandelion leaves, squash (butternut, spaghetti), hibiscus leaves and flowers, grape leaves, orange, papaya, carrot, alfalfa sprouts, mustard greens, romaine, spearmint leaves, arugula (rocket), basil, apple, mulberries , blueberries, raspberries, peas, sunflower sprouts, small pieces of steamed (then cooled) yam, leek bulb,... Fruits and veggies such as these are important both for the nutrients they give (via the insect) to your chameleon, and also because well hydrated prey results in a better hydrated chameleon.

The dry portion (the lesser portion) of a gutload can include (blend/grind fine with a coffee grinder or food processor): spirulina; dried seaweed/kelp/dulse; bee pollen; dried alfalfa; organic raw sunflower seeds; sesame seeds; flax seed; hemp seed; poppy seeds; dehydrated cranberry powder; beet powder; zucchini powder; kale powder; dried Mulberries; fig powder; ground dried hibiscus; ground almonds; small amounts of ground brazil nuts; small amounts of ground/chopped beechnuts; oak leaves; small amounts of quality whole grain cereal / barley /oats / cracked rye /wheat germ / stabalized rice bran/ quinoa; small amounts of quality monkey, avian or ignuana food (read the ingredients, be cautious of too much Vitamin A or animal fat).

Limit your use of grains, beans, and other items higher in phosphorous than calcium (a little can be very good, a lot is not unless you compensate to fix the ratio). Good grain choices are stabalized rice bran and crushed whole barley.
Limit use of broccoli, beet leaves, parsley, cassava, watercress, kale, collard greens, spinach, Soy/edamame , bran, buckwheat, almonds, rhubarb, sesame seeds, apricot, figs, kiwi (anything high in phytates/Phytic acid, Oxilates/ Oxalic Acid, Goitrogens). Some is fine, possibly beneficial. Just not as a regular item.

Avoid dog food, cat food, fish food, and other preared foods that are significant sources of animal protien and/or fat and may provide excessive preformed vitamin A and also D (a little now and then is okay, but too much can lead to gout and other issues). Similarily avoid/limit milk, meat, eggs, etc.

 

[marriott1012]

Okay thanks everyone. Ihave 25 coming in the mail as we speak. They are asserting do sizes from premium crickets. Do you think I need a heat source. I have ready many things and people say they breed faster with one. I am only feeding on beardie tho. I have ab18 gallon sterlite tub with a portion of the top fixed with a vent for air.

 

[Paradon]

YOu can buy poultry or chick mash at the feed stores (they are really cheap) or order online from farm supplies. These are great feed for you roaches.

 

[marriott1012]

Oh okay. And this is still health for the dragon? I was thinking about getting dry bearded dragon food for the roachs. But it will probably prove to be expensive.

 

[Paradon]

They're fine,. I use to use that stuff for crickets all the time. Or you can use low-fat, dog food, if you like.