Repashy Grub Pie is a powdered, insect-based food that you mix with hot water to make a firm gel. It is made for reptiles and amphibians that eat insects, and it can be fed as a meal, a topper, or an occasional treat.
About 75% of the formula is insect, mainly black soldier fly larvae meal. That makes it a handy backup when live feeders run out, and a way to add variety for pets that will accept food that doesn’t move.
Contents
What Is in Repashy Grub Pie?
The main ingredient is cold-pressed black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal. Black soldier fly larvae are naturally higher in calcium than most feeder insects, which is one reason they are popular for reptiles.
The rest of the ingredient list includes:
Gelling ingredients: seaweed meal, locust bean gum, and lecithin
Calcium carbonate for extra calcium
Plant extras: kelp, watermelon, rose hips, hibiscus, marigold, paprika, and turmeric
Taurine, chelated minerals, and added vitamins, including vitamin D3
The label lists protein at around 40% or a little more, fat at roughly 10% to 12%, and calcium at about 1.4% to 1.5% in the dry powder. Retailers publish slightly different figures, so check the jar you buy for the current numbers.
Which Reptiles Can Eat It?
Repashy makes Grub Pie for insect-eating and omnivorous species, including:
Bearded dragons
Blue-tongued skinks and other skinks
Leopard geckos
Dwarf monitors such as ackies
Insect-eating turtles
Frogs, salamanders, and other amphibians
It is not designed for plant eaters. Tortoises, green iguanas, and other herbivores need a high-fiber, plant-based diet rather than an insect-based one.
Bring water to a boil on the stove, in a kettle, or in the microwave.
Pour the water into a bowl and stir in the powder right away. Use 1 part powder to 2 to 3 parts water. Less water makes a firmer gel.
Pour the mix into a shallow dish or mold.
Let it cool at room temperature until it sets.
Cut the gel into cubes or strips sized for your pet. A good rule is no wider than the space between its eyes.
You can also use it before it sets. A thinner mix works as a slurry or paste, or as a gravy over other food.
How to Store It
Powder: keep the jar sealed in a cool, dry place.
Prepared gel: treat it like fresh food. Seal it and keep it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Freezer: sealed gel keeps for up to six months. Freezing it in small portions makes thawing easier.
In the enclosure: remove uneaten gel the same day, sooner in warm, humid setups, since it dries out and can spoil.
Feeding Tips
Start small. Offer a cube or two and see whether your pet takes it.
Add movement. Many lizards respond to motion. Wiggle a piece with feeding tongs to trigger a feeding response.
Be patient. Some animals need several tries before they recognize gel as food. Leopard geckos in particular can be slow to accept it.
Keep the variety. Repashy calls Grub Pie a meal replacement, but most keepers still rotate it with live, gut-loaded insects and, for omnivores like bearded dragons, fresh greens.
Ask about supplements. Grub Pie already contains calcium and vitamin D3, so check with your reptile vet before adding more on the days you feed it.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Mostly insect ingredients
Calcium and vitamins built in
No live insects to house or feed
Stores well in the fridge or freezer
Works as a gel, paste, or topper
Cons
Has to be mixed with boiling water
Strong smell that some owners dislike
Some pets refuse food that doesn’t move
Not suitable for herbivores
If you want a prepared food with no mixing at all, see our look at the Hikari bearded dragon diet, which comes as a ready-to-eat gel and a soakable pellet.
Bottom Line
Repashy Grub Pie is a convenient, insect-based gel food for insect-eating reptiles and amphibians. Mix 1 part powder with 2 to 3 parts boiling water, let it set, and store it in the fridge for up to two weeks. It is a useful part of the menu and a solid backup, but it works best alongside live insects and the fresh foods your species needs.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If your reptile stops eating or loses weight, contact a reptile vet.
