Gut Loading vs Dusting Feeder Insects
Feeding the insect or coating the insect. What each method fixes, and why most keepers should do both rather than choosing.
The short version
These solve different problems, so do both. Dusting adds calcium to the outside of the insect immediately before it is eaten, which is the direct fix for the poor calcium to phosphorus ratio of nearly every feeder. Gut loading means feeding the insects a proper diet for a day or two beforehand, which improves the nutritional content of the insect itself and carries vitamins and moisture into the dragon. Gut loading alone will not correct the calcium ratio, and dusting alone leaves you feeding a poorly nourished insect. Neither compensates for a bad lighting setup.
At a glance
| Repashy SuperLoad Gut Loading Formula | Zoo Med Repti Calcium Ultra Fine without D3 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it improves | The insect's own nutrition | Calcium delivered at the feed |
| Timing | 24 to 48 hours before feeding | Immediately before feeding |
| Corrects calcium to phosphorus ratio | Partly | Yes |
| Adds moisture | Yes | No |
| Effort | Requires keeping the insects properly | Seconds |
| Substitutes for the other | No | No |
Choose the Repashy SuperLoad Gut Loading Formula if…
Gut load if you buy insects in bulk and keep them for more than a day, which most keepers do. A commercial gut load or fresh vegetables such as squash and leafy greens, plus a moisture source, turns a starved shipping insect into something worth feeding. Give it at least twenty four hours to work. Keep feeders somewhere ventilated at the right temperature, and remove any that die, because dead feeders are a hygiene problem rather than a food.
Check Repashy SuperLoad Gut Loading Formula on Amazon
Choose the Zoo Med Repti Calcium Ultra Fine without D3 if…
Dust at every feed the schedule calls for, using a light coating rather than a heavy one. Put the insects in a container with a pinch of powder and roll them gently, then tip them straight into a smooth sided feeding dish. Powder falls off within minutes and insects groom it away, so the gap between dusting and feeding should be as short as you can make it. Match the powder to your lighting, using plain calcium where UVB is correct.
Check Zoo Med Repti Calcium Ultra Fine without D3 on Amazon
Related
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Deciding on a specific model? We review the REPTIZOO reptile cricket keeper and calcium powder mixer review in full.
Editor's Pick · Affiliate link
A T5 10.0 UVB Fixture, the One Thing You Cannot Skip
Metabolic bone disease is the most common preventable illness in captive bearded dragons, and it comes down to inadequate UVB. A linear T5 tube across the basking side does what a coil bulb cannot, and the tube needs replacing roughly annually even when it still lights up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I gut load insects with?
A commercial gut load formulated for feeder insects, or fresh vegetables such as butternut squash, sweet potato and dark leafy greens, plus a water source that will not drown them. Avoid relying on dry grain and bran alone, which is what most shipping containers arrive with and which is close to nutritionally empty. Give the insects a day or two on the good diet before they are fed out.
How big should a feeder insect be?
The usual guide is no wider than the space between the dragon's eyes. Oversized prey is associated with choking and with pressure on the spinal region in young animals, and it is one of the more avoidable risks in this hobby. When in doubt, feed smaller and more of them, and always feed from a dish where you can see what has been taken.
Do I need to gut load if I only buy a few days of insects at a time?
Yes, and it is easy at that scale. Insects arrive hungry and shipped in filler. A tub with a piece of squash and a commercial gut load costs almost nothing and improves every feed. If you buy little and often, keep them somewhere you will actually look at daily, because a forgotten tub of dead feeders helps nobody.
Need more help with your bearded dragon?
Browse our guides by topic to find practical solutions.
Wellness Planner: $39