Chameleon holds food before chewing?

[logan74k]

Hi all,

First post. We just got a new panther chameleon @ 3 months old and he eats very well, crickets and dubia roaches so far - but I'm finding it strange that he kind of holds the food for a while right after he catches it... Just holding it in his mouth, not moving, for sometimes minutes at a time.

He will occasionally get on with it and chew if for example he sees another feeder crawling nearby for him to catch, but it seems like odd behavior I haven't heard of before. Anybody else see this behavior in their Chams eating? Just curious if this is normal at all.

Thanks to any and all for insight!

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Not odd at all.

 

[werecat]

Seems normal. My guy does that. I think sometimes they just like to clamp down and wait for the bug to stop struggling before chewing or bringing it into their mouth further.

 

[melble68]

Not weird at all. He's just making sure that its dead and easy to get down.

 

[Klink]

Agreed it's common behavior. As mentioned they will hold onto it till it seems somewhat dead.