Chewing Wood!!!

[lzoronz]

Hi!

Our 1.5 year old Panther Chameleon has just started displaying the odd behavior of chewing the branches that he has and even the rubber vines (not actually eating!)

When I first got him I fairly regularly offered him Winter greens (called something else in America but I can't remember what.... Collards?) But he showed no interest.

Now he appears to have slightly gone of his staple diet but wants to chew bark??! Any ideas? this has stumped me!!

 

[kasia]

This behavior is not that unusual... my chameleon use to chew on branches in his cage too...i was told that young chameleons sometimes do this for entrainment... and as he is getting older i noticed that he is doing it less and less...
but the general behavior of chewing on branches or wood in his cage is probably normal and nothing to worry about...
just make sure your cham doesn't eat any of the fake branches/vines in his cage because that could make him sick

 

[lzoronz]

Thanks, thats reassuring, It looks so weird! like a dog chewing a bone or something!

 

[jojackson]

what kind of rubber vine? Pics? Has it broken away the coating? Im about to trial some new rubber coated vine, it seems quite sturdy, im sure mine would have a tough time chewing it, not that hes ever chewed anything before.