What is the required feeding duration for gut-loading feeder insects before presenting them to a water dragon?
Answer
24 to 48 hours
Gut-loading is the essential procedure of feeding feeder insects a high-quality, nutritious diet to ensure they pass those nutrients directly to the reptile. This process must be performed over a specific timeframe, generally spanning between 24 to 48 hours before the insects are offered as food. Failing to properly gut-load results in the dragon consuming insects that are essentially 'empty calories,' thereby missing critical nutritional benefits required for captive health. This preparation step is foundational because a starved cricket, for instance, provides minimal value compared to a well-nourished one.
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