Bert & Ernie hunger strikes

[Bernie]

So its been a good 3/4 weeks now that my Cham's have been rejecting crickets/locusts and I am concerned they have both stopped growing, and not only that are not getting any nutrients. They have eaten very little in this time.

They seem to love worms so I have just placed an order of Butterworms, Silkworms and Calciworms.

I hope to god they start eating properly again now as I dont know where to go from here if this plan fails.

I have never used Butterworms before, would you say they are more of a treat?

Can Silkworms be used as a staple?

 

[carol5208]

I pretty much feed my chameleon silks as a staple food. Mine does not like crickets either. I feed him supers, horns, silks, and some moths when I can catch them or hatch them. I know silks are one if not the lowest fat worm and contain around 6 grams of fat or so just like a cricket. The thing is they cannot be gutloaded like the crickets with all the fruits and veggies as they only eat mulberry. I do not know what the nutritional content of mulberry is. My chameleon seems to be healthy and active on this diet. I am not saying it is the best diet, but it is what I have fed for a long time and he seems ok.

 

[Bernie]

Thanks Carol.

Never fed Silkworms before. They aren't the easiest feeder to obtain in the UK. I am assuming there is no need to dust them?

 

[camimom]

So there are differing opinions on what to do when acham goes on a hunger strike.
Some people say be tough and wait him out, he will eventually eat when he getes hungry enough. Other say dont let them starve, just feed them something.

what you do is up to you.
As a side note though what kind of chams do you have and how old are they?

 

[Bernie]

So there are differing opinions on what to do when acham goes on a hunger strike.
Some people say be tough and wait him out, he will eventually eat when he getes hungry enough. Other say dont let them starve, just feed them something.

what you do is up to you.
As a side note though what kind of chams do you have and how old are they?

My Veiled is about 5 months old and my Panther is about 6.5 months old. Both are male.

At such a young age i wouldnt want to let them starve as they are still growing, or should be.

 

[camimom]

My Veiled is about 5 months old and my Panther is about 6.5 months old. Both are male.

At such a young age i wouldnt want to let them starve as they are still growing, or should be.

At that age, you may want to try offering food every other day. I started doing that with my male veiled at 7 months old. but if they are on a hunger strike, it might help.

 

[allencg101]

well the one thing you don't want to do imo is just give them hornworms to eat if they are refusing crickets. this is a no no my veileds when they get a taste for hornworms thats all they will eat and get a taste for it so i do what i gotta do starve them till they break down and eat crickets again cause thats all i will give them and nothing else. every other day right now is a good schedule for your guys now at that age. imo horns and silks should only be a once or twice a week treat.