bed time snack?

[pwerfulyifu]

i read that you're not supposed to feed your cham after 2pm or something like that. why is that? and also just now while i was cleaning the cage bottom, 2 crickets came out and he ate them. and this is already his lights out time. is anything going to happen?

 

[Solid Snake]

It will be fine.

I personally like to feed only in the first half of the day. This gives the chameleon plenty of time to bask, and start digesting the food. It also ensures they have a nice load of calories to burn off during the day.

I would think that it would have negative effects to feed them consistently at bed time. Like the food moving through there system, without being fully digested. This would mean they get less from it, and it not being broke down as much, could raise the risk of impaction.

Its not a big deal if it happens occasionally though.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Solid nailed it! Chameleons need heat to bask in to regulate their metabolism and digestion. So feeding earlier in the day lets them digest their food better before their metabolism decreases with the night time drop in temperature. Ocassionally eating late shouldn't be a problem, but it shouldn't be a regular thing.

 

[pwerfulyifu]

hehe. we all like to eat late

 

[drcrossfire]

I also kind of have a rule where I don't feed anything like superworms/mealworms late in the day. Harder to digest, more chitin, so I'd imagine they cause more problems than things such as hornworms/silkworms.

I don't base this on anything other than my own personal logic.... so feel free to prove me wrong.