Gut loading to enhance the nutrient content of insects as food for reptiles: A mathematical approach

A variety of commercially raised insects are fed to insectivorous reptiles, but information concerning appropriate diets used to feed these insects is limited. In the present study, house crickets (Acheta domesticus adults and nymphs), mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae), and silkworms (Bombyx mori larvae) were fed diets containing graded levels of calcium (Ca) and/or vitamin A-nutrients that are low or absent in most insects. Diets and insects were analyzed for moisture, Ca, phosphorus (P), and vitamin A. For adult crickets and cricket nymphs, body Ca and vitamin A concentrations increased in a linear fashion with increasing levels of dietary Ca or vitamin A. Ca concentrations of silkworms also increased in a linear fashion with increasing levels of dietary Ca. For mealworms, body Ca and vitamin A concentrations increased in a nonlinear fashion with increasing levels of dietary Ca or vitamin A. These regression equations, in conjunction with insect nutrient composition, allow for the calculation of the optimum nutrient concentration for gut-loading diets. Final recommendations were based on National Research Council (NRC) requirements for rats, adjustments for the energy content of the insects, and nutrient overages as appropriate. Gut-loading diets for crickets (adults and nymphs) should be supplemented to contain the following nutrients, respectively: Ca (51 and 32 g/kg), vitamin A (8,3 10 and 5,270 mug retinol/kg), vitamin D (300 and 190 mug cholecalciferol/kg), vitamin E (140 and 140 mg RRR-alpha-tocopherol/kg), thiamin (31 and 21 mg/kg), and pyridoxine (20 and 10 mg/kg). Gut-loading diets for mealworms should be supplemented to contain the following nutrients: Ca (90 g/kg), iron (51 mg/kg), manganese (31 mg/ kg), vitamin A (13,310 mug retinol/kg), vitamin D (460 mug cholecalciferol/kg), vitamin E (660 mg RRR-ot-tocopherol/kg), thiamin (5 mg/kg), vitamin 1312 (650 mug/kg), and methionine (29 g/kg). Gut-loading diets for silkworms should be supplemented to contain the following nutrients: Ca (23 g/kg), iodine (0.7 mg/kg), vitamin D (140 mug cholecalciferol/kg), vitamin E (70 mg RRR-alpha-tocopherol/kg), and vitamin B-12 (226 mug/kg). (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.