Best Way to Feed Chameleons?

[RoseyFlower10]

Hi I've mostly always cup fed ( definitely with crickets, roaches and treats like wax wax worms and pachnoda grubs, but would now and then let locusts roam as they are diurnal and easier to find and remove if required

Seems like it is the most popular way to feed them

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Seems like it is the most popular way to feed them

Works for dogs & bachelors too.

 

[RoseyFlower10]

Cup feed 100% except houseflies; Small things such as BSF I put on my hand and offer. I like to visually see the insects get eaten, and I don't like free rangers as I feel they can pollute the cage and cause potential problems; for example, a cricket drinks "poopwater" (water drops washed down to the bottom of enclosure, although I clean out poops daily) and then cham eats it. Not to mention if something hides and dies. Unless the shooting gallery/seed cup is cleaned regularly I don't like the idea of the cham's tongue picking up insect frass along with its bugs.

Thanks!

 

[RoseyFlower10]

I use a DIY shooting gallery for my adults and free range for the babies. The shooting gallery works great but takes too much space for a baby's cage. Free range makes them hunt (which is good) but sometimes you'll have crickets escaping and if you don't clean the cage often they might eat your chameleon's poop and give it parasites.

What is a shooting gallery?

 

[SerpeRoma]

What is a shooting gallery?

It's basically a food container with a window for the chameleon to peak into. It's important that it's not a clear one, because they will try to shoot their tongue on the outside and might cause injuries.

 

[RoseyFlower10]

View attachment 320914
It's basically a food container with a window for the chameleon to peak into. It's important that it's not a clear one, because they will try to shoot their tongue on the outside and might cause injuries.

Oh! Thank you!

 

[Beman]

Oh! Thank you!

If you want to buy one... This is what everyone is copying. I think the real one is better. No sharp plastic. https://tkchameleons.com/

 

[SerpeRoma]

If you want to buy one... This is what everyone is copying. I think the real one is better. No sharp plastic. https://tkchameleons.com/

I softened the edges of mine with a lighter, worked great!

 

[bruce the cham]

Thank you I will mark Tong feeding off my list right now.

i would use cup feeding so you can track how many bugs their eating i sometimes for fun hand feed though but your chameleon has to trust you to do that

 

[suprdude]

I use a DIY similar to full throttle for crickets, and a bird feeder cup ($1.50 at Pet—) for everything else.

That quite a steal compared to my $70 feeder, LOL

 

[Mountain Dragon]

That quite a steal compared to my $70 feeder, LOL

70$!!!! Mine was 4$

 

[Carloscruz]

That quite a steal compared to my $70 feeder, LOL

That looks cool where did you get it

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

That quite a steal compared to my $70 feeder, LOL

Like everything else in this endeavor. To borrow from one of the 'jokes' threads...

 

[JacksJill]

I love my Shooting Gallery feeders, as mentioned above they don't have sharp edges and they come with point protectors for the pins and a ledge built into the bottom edge for the chameleon to perch that protect their feet. I also have an alternative to tong feeding using a spoon to hold the insect. I'm not squeamish about holding bugs but some of my chams will do a little dance before eating and by then the bug is halfway up my arm and we have to start over. The spoon mostly keeps them in place. Doesn't work for crickets.

 

[SerpeRoma]

I love my Shooting Gallery feeders, as mentioned above they don't have sharp edges and they come with point protectors for the pins and a ledge built into the bottom edge for the chameleon to perch that protect their feet. I also have an alternative to tong feeding using a spoon to hold the insect. I'm not squeamish about holding bugs but some of my chams will do a little dance before eating and by then the bug is halfway up my arm and we have to start over. The spoon mostly keeps them in place. Doesn't work for crickets.


View attachment 321127View attachment 321128

Are these 24x24x48 divided in 2??

 

[JacksJill]

I have a smaller species of chameleon. These are females in 18x24x36 I believe.

 

[SerpeRoma]

I have a smaller species of chameleon. These are females in 18x24x36 I believe.

Love the idea!! Do you think that would work for babies too?

 

[JacksJill]

Yes, but dividing cages is a bigger pain than you would think because of the way the lower door hinges and the bottom sags. With the single door you really have to watch both chameleons carefully when closing up.

We are getting off topic PM me if you need more details.

 

[suprdude]

That looks cool where did you get it

Sunset chameleons