Are Stink bugs OK to feed

[Charlie Moore]

Are stink bugs ok to feed a veiled chameleon?

 

[Pure]

I don't think they are toxic, but am not 100%, but what I do know is, what makes them "stink" is also a foul tasting substance. Most chams will either spit them out or ignore them all together.

 

[skyedog]

And besides the stink and the foul taste I would imagine they may be a bit hard for a chameleon to digest if one happened to be eaten. I don't know from personal experience. It's just a thought.

 

[tkilgour]

What part of world do you live? The reason I ask is we are having tons of stink bugs emerge. I see them all over the outside of the house and climbing on window screens. I never noticed this many in years past so it was interesting to see someone asking this question.

 

[Lizardlover]

I wouldnt recommend it because I nights I set up my moth trap I also catch loads of these and they smell horrible and make your skin tingle/burn, maybe its just me....

 

[SSimsswiSS]

What part of world do you live? The reason I ask is we are having tons of stink bugs emerge. I see them all over the outside of the house and climbing on window screens. I never noticed this many in years past so it was interesting to see someone asking this question.

Do you use superworms? Have any escape lately?

 

[skyedog]

I wouldnt recommend it because I nights I set up my moth trap I also catch loads of these and they smell horrible and make your skin tingle/burn, maybe its just me....

Actually it's not just you. I thought I felt the same thing last time I held a few.
These are the things we are talking about right?

 

[Lizardlover]

Actually it's not just you. I thought I felt the same thing last time I held a few.
These are the things we are talking about right?
View attachment 16557

Yep, although the ones I find are either bright green (look exactly the same) or brown with pink.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Actually it's not just you. I thought I felt the same thing last time I held a few.
These are the things we are talking about right?
View attachment 16557

Here in California I have only come across three types: Harlequin, Green, and the Red sholdered stink bug.

I feed off the Red shoulders to Panthers as a treat. Only come across them rarely though.

Have yet to see a cham not eat them.

 

[skyedog]

I've never seen a green one around my house. Only the brown ones. I saw a pic of a green one when I googled stinkbugs.
I've looked around for some information to see if the scent/oils they emit are actually toxic or if they're just an annoyance. I'd like to find out in the event one happens to get into the enclosure...like the ladybugs are trying to do now

 

[Lizardlover]

Ive heard they taste like bubblegum. not joking though

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Ive heard they taste like bubblegum. not joking though

Not that anyone would ever put one in their mouth, not even as a dare. What ever happened to fear factor?

 

[Lizardlover]

I actually saw it on "Bizarre Foods" not to get off subject, I used to love fear factor.

 

[nightcrawler]

Not that anyone would ever put one in their mouth, not even as a dare. What ever happened to fear factor?

My guess is that there is only a handful of people who would eat nasty bugs, and dip their heads in blood on television. I guess all thos people were used up. That or it was decided that it was animal cruelty to eat these poor bugs alive.

 

[tkilgour]

Do you use superworms? Have any escape lately?

Hi SSimsswiss, I do use superworms from time to time and as far as I know, there has not been any escapees. Sometimes I feed them as treats and the chams devour them before they have time to get anywhere. That picture just posted is exactly what I have climbing all over the outside of the house, window screens, garage, etc. I sprayed Ortho home defense to help reduce their numbers. This has helped but there are still many climbing around. Makes me wonder about something that I let out. I figured a cham would hate the taste of one of these things. Also, the ones by our house are all dark just like in the picture.

 

[Lizardlover]

My guess is that there is only a handful of people who would eat nasty bugs, and dip their heads in blood on television. I guess all thos people were used up. That or it was decided that it was animal cruelty to eat these poor bugs alive.

Guess chameleon owners are pretty cruel

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Hi SSimsswiss, I do use superworms from time to time and as far as I know, there has not been any escapees. Sometimes I feed them as treats and the chams devour them before they have time to get anywhere. That picture just posted is exactly what I have climbing all over the outside of the house

Reason I asked, is because superworm beetles can put off a pretty foul scent when disturbed, and are commonly called stinkbeetles around here. They show up on hiking trails and paths in the early morning , and late afternoons. Non-flying.

Guys outside your house are definite flyers.

 

[tkilgour]

Im not really sure if they can fly or not. Typically, I only see them crawling and climbing never really flying. Also, this is new as of this fall it is like an infestation of them showed up like never before.

 

[camshaft]

I've fed a LOT of stink bugs to my panther over since summer. He loves them and will eat them off of my finger.

 

[Texas Panther Man]

I used to feed them yrs ago. But Ive only fed the green ones. My guys used to love em. In fact I had an ambanja that would go nuts for them. That was his fav feeder.