Reptile Systems Insect Food 170g – Premium Gut-Loading Formula for Feeder Insects

RS Insect Food is a gut-loading diet designed for feeder insects such as crickets, locusts, and mealworms. If your reptile, amphibian, or invertebrate depends on live insects as part of its diet, what those insects eat directly determines what nutrition reaches your animal. This 170g formula is built around a blend of superfoods, natural minerals, and bioavailable nutrients to ensure feeder insects are as nutritious as possible before they're consumed.

Key Ingredients

The formula draws on a carefully chosen range of whole-food ingredients, each selected for specific nutritional contribution rather than as filler. The core ingredients include:

• Alfalfa – a well-established superfood in animal nutrition, providing iron, magnesium, manganese, and vitamins A, C, E, and several B vitamins, along with quality dietary fibre
• Calcium carbonate – the naturally occurring form of calcium found in limestone and chalk, essential for bone density and numerous physiological functions in reptiles
• Dandelion – the whole plant is included; leaves, flower, stem, and root all contribute vitamins A, C, E, K, folate, and B vitamins, plus iron, calcium, magnesium, and antioxidants with natural anti-inflammatory properties
• Carrot – rich in beta-carotene (converted to vitamin A), supporting vision, immune function, and growth; also provides vitamins B6, B7 (biotin), K1, and potassium
• Spinach – a nutrient-dense leafy green delivering vitamins A, B2, B6, B9, C, E, and K1, alongside iron, magnesium, and calcium
• Bee pollen – contains over 250 biologically active components, rich in minerals and antioxidants; widely recognised in the reptile hobby for its broad nutritional profile
• Spirulina with DHA – a specially cultivated algae providing nearly the full spectrum of B vitamins, all 9 essential amino acids, and an 85–95% digestibility rate; also contains phycocyanin, a phytochemical with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity
• Natural red clay (Pelagic red clay) – sourced from deep ocean sediments, this mineral-rich clay provides a broad range of trace elements not easily replicated by synthetic supplements
• Papaya – included for its additional vitamins, digestive enzymes, and micronutrient content

Why Gut-Loading Matters

A feeder insect that has been kept on poor-quality food offers very little nutritional benefit to the animal consuming it. Gut-loading — feeding insects a high-quality diet in the 24–48 hours before they are offered — is one of the most effective ways to improve the nutritional value of live food. RS Insect Food is formulated specifically for this purpose, not as a generic insect diet but as a targeted nutritional vehicle for the keeper's benefit as much as the insect's.

Natural Colour Enhancement

The inclusion of beta-carotene from carrot, along with phycocyanin from spirulina and other natural pigment sources, means the formula also supports the natural colouration of animals that consume these insects over time. This is particularly relevant for species where vibrant colouration is an indicator of overall health.

RS Insect Food integrates cleanly into any supplementation programme alongside dusting powders and calcium supplements, ensuring that insects are nutritionally loaded before additional dusting is applied. It is suitable for use with all common feeder insect species kept in the UK hobby.