Best Way to Get Your Cham to Eat Worms

[natureboy86]

I have a 4 month old male veiled. I've had him for exactly 3 weeks today. So far he eats nothing but crickets, with the exception of him catching a few flies and nats when I've let him out in the grass to get some sunlight.

I've tried to offer him butter worms thus far, and he has absolutely NO interest in them. No matter what I did, cup-feed, hand-feed, or even place on a vine near him. He just stares at them. As of right now, his primary method of eating is free range. He loves to hunt. He'll hand-feed a cricket from me here and there, but he's actually more into hunting.

I recently purchased about 75 small dubia roaches online, and about 100 phoenix worms in hopes to provide variety to his diet. I have no doubt he'll probably be open-minded towards the roaches, but I'm not sure how to go about getting him to accept the phoenix worms.

Any ideas or successful methods from those of you who have had a similar experience? I've thought about maybe skipping his morning feeding, waiting til the afternoon to ensure he's REAL hungry, then only offering him the phoenix worms, but I'm already feeling guitly by just THINKING of keeping him from his morning feeding

Thanks in advance

 

[Chameleonmaster]

You could wait a little bit later in the day then feed them like you said. Oh and my guy he chows anything down any type of worm,crickets,flys, but I haven't tried dubias yet.

 

[Nrupaw]

It would take a chameleon atleast a day or two to get "really hungry". That might entice him to eat a worm

 

[pigglett79]

The Phoenix worms really move a lot so those shouldn't be a problem. Sometimes worms like butter worms just don't move enough to attract attention.

 

[natureboy86]

You could wait a little bit later in the day then feed them like you said. Oh and my guy he chows anything down any type of worm,crickets,flys, but I haven't tried dubias yet.

Nice. Is that freeroaming or cupfeeding?

I really want to get some flys, but don't know how I would contain them.

It would take a chameleon atleast a day or two to get "really hungry". That might entice him to eat a worm

Yea, i'd feel bad not feeding him for a whole day

The Phoenix worms really move a lot so those shouldn't be a problem. Sometimes worms like butter worms just don't move enough to attract attention.

That's what I've read. I hope that's the case! The butter worms were really lazy and I agree that's most likely why he had no interest. We'll see if he goes for the phoenix worms!

 

[pigglett79]

Let us know how it goes. I have a Jacksons's that eats every type of worm, but wont touch a butter worm. I think they are just to lethargic. He goes right after hornworms, silk worms, phoenix worms, meal worms etc. Just not butter worms. My panther however, will eat pretty much anything.

 

[natureboy86]

Let us know how it goes. I have a Jacksons's that eats every type of worm, but wont touch a butter worm. I think they are just to lethargic. He goes right after hornworms, silk worms, phoenix worms, meal worms etc. Just not butter worms. My panther however, will eat pretty much anything.

Ok that's good to know! I just ordered the Dubias and Phoenix worms today, so I'll have them in a few days. still wondering if I should keep my dubias in the cricket keeper or not.. It can house about 75 crickets, it's about 1'x1'x1'. Anybody know if it can house dubia roaches?

 

[pigglett79]

Ok that's good to know! I just ordered the Dubias and Phoenix worms today, so I'll have them in a few days. still wondering if I should keep my dubias in the cricket keeper or not.. It can house about 75 crickets, it's about 1'x1'x1'. Anybody know if it can house dubia roaches?

I have kept dubias in a cricket keeper before. I usually keep the hit loading ones in there and have my breeders in a larger tub.

 

[lovepicasso]

My guy that is 4 months old will eat meal worms out of the palm of my hand, they do need to be moving a little to get his attention...haven't found anything he won't eat so far.

 

[kychemnerd]

Most of my chameleons will eat many types of worms, but they have to be moving. If I just set them inside the cage, they are uninterested, but if I put them between my thumb and forefinger and flip them around, they bite fairly quickly. They like to know their prey are alive!

 

[natureboy86]

Most of my chameleons will eat many types of worms, but they have to be moving. If I just set them inside the cage, they are uninterested, but if I put them between my thumb and forefinger and flip them around, they bite fairly quickly. They like to know their prey are alive!

Makes sense. Well, from what I've read, phoenix worms seem to be more active than the butter worms that I tried, so hopefully they are a success. Hmmmm..if only I could get my guy into cup feeding occasionally.. I've only tried a few times, and he just stares at the insects in the cup...hasn't once launched his tongue at them. however, I put crickets on the screen, and he goes nuts and eats them all

 

[Chameleonmaster]

I free range all my insects but the worms I put on the screen and they crawl. Then he goes and chomps'em down

 

[natureboy86]

I free range all my insects but the worms I put on the screen and they crawl. Then he goes and chomps'em down

Interesting. I wonder if the phoenix worms will crawl on the screen. When i had the butter worms, they wouldn't do crap. My cham loves to hunt off the screen. That's pretty much where he gets the majority of his crickets.

 

[stalincat]

My baby veiled eats anything BUT crickets ha