While we strive to produce all our own insects, there may be times when we run low on stocks of certain species. In these instances, we will order-in extra bugs. We do this well in advance, and always keep them on a top-quality diet for at least one week before selling them or feeding them to our own animals. When possible, we purchase these extra insects as eggs or tiny babies, and then hatch and/or raise them here at the Ranch.
Gut-loading is the practice of feeding a high-quality diet to feeder insects before offering them to our animals. Because some of the nutrition offered by feeder insects comes from their stomach and gut contents, this assures that your pets get vital nutrients that may be lacking in unfed insects from other suppliers. All insects from The Wind River Bug Ranch are fully gut-loaded with our specially formulated gut-loading diet when you receive them.
While it is possible to offer your reptile calcium in this way, it is not the best way to go about it. Insects dislike eating diets with excess amounts of calcium, and will often refuse to eat the high-calcium gut-loading diets. This makes it hard to tell how much calcium you are giving your reptile, and also results in dehydrated, underfed feeders. Dusting insects is a better way to provide calcium supplementation.
That appetizing green blob is our Gut-Loading Gel. It is a mix of highly nutritious ingredients including dandelion greens, alfalfa leaves, spirulina, bee pollen, , held in suspension with agar gel. This is designed to provide your feeders with plenty of food and moisture while being dropped-off and picked-up. We also offer Gut-Loading Gel for sale in 12 ounce tubs.
