cohabiting feeders.

[leedragon]

So I am lazy asshole but also paranoid about my chameleons. Wonder If I can keep walking sticks with chameleons, raising them in the same cage. Chameleon will eat the right size ones, so thats right. But would the big ones bite the chameleon during the night? like crickets or grasshoppers? There is plants they can eat there and walking sticks will eat eachother if they have enough food. So any experinces?

 

[Lucas00-]

Like a stick bug?? Not too sure about them but I know that crickets and some other feeders left in the enclosure could end up biting your chameleon at night. I remember getting advice about having a dedicated feeding area/bug runner so they're contained and don't get loose in the enclosure. Some bugs will eat the poop from chameleons and isn't healthy for the chams. I hand feed my dude 90% of the time and I use those days to build trust with him.

 

[MissSkittles]

@Motherlode Chameleon might know.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

My protocol to feeding Walking Sticks to chameleons was only put them inside a chameleons enclosure when feeding (similar to Grasshoppers and Mantis). If the chameleon was not hungry I would put the Walking Stick insect back in the Walking Stick insect breeding colonies terrarium. That worked for me for years.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[nightanole]

Good news bad news
Good news, unlike crickets etc, the sticks are 100% herbivores and will not nom nom the chameleon(or each other) if they run out of food
Bad news is they may damage the plants in the cage too much.

 

[Carlton]

Even if feeders sharing a cham cage don't bite them while they're sleeping, they can still stress them out by crawling on them. IIRC sticks are night active.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Good news bad news
Good news, unlike crickets etc, the sticks are 100% herbivores and will not nom nom the chameleon(or each other) if they run out of food
Bad news is they may damage the plants in the cage too much.

Only put Walking Sticks in the chameleons enclosure when feeding the Walking Sticks out. That is going to calm your never about chameleons getting bit (or other mishaps) and save your plants.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[DeremensisBlue]

I put a little bradypodion in a large outdoor cage with thick bramble inside. Let walking sticks go on the inside. Adult sticks active at night, baby sticks - Bradypodion snack size -active during the day. I have no idea how well it worked as I couldn't monitor anything due to it being large outdoor enclosure. But, in theory, it was genius.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Only put Walking Sticks in the chameleons enclosure when feeding the Walking Sticks out. That is going to calm your never about chameleons getting bit (or other mishaps) and save your plants.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

I put a little bradypodion in a large outdoor cage with thick bramble inside. Let walking sticks go on the inside. Adult sticks active at night, baby sticks - Bradypodion snack size -active during the day. I have no idea how well it worked as I couldn't monitor anything due to it being large outdoor enclosure. But, in theory, it was genius.

Putting Walking Sticks in an enclosure only when feeding a chameleon is a precaution. Similar to taking the big hopping legs off Schistocerca grasshoppers when feeding to a chameleon and only feeding Mantis to a chameleon while supervised. I would not want one of my chameleons to get a giant Walking Stick foot/leg to the eye.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[DeremensisBlue]

I would not want one of my chameleons to get a giant Walking Stick foot/leg to the eye.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

That is an amazingly fantastical imagination you have. But, best to be safe, right!

 

[snitz427]

I’d say no for various reasons. Phasmids are extremely prolific, insatiably hungry, and don’t respect personal boundaries. If they don’t decimate the foliage and escape to every corner of your house, they’ll still drive your cham crazy with tickle torture.

The larger species (green beans, aussies) may be a bit of a risks in terms of biting but i’s be more concerned about injuring the cham due to their size and insane grip.

Even raising phasmids in independent enclosures can be a challenge in regard to food, escapees, and discarded materials, but that’s the route I’d go for sure.

Now mantids? Release the horde!!!! Everyone feasts until there is only one victor left - and I hope its the cham (jk)

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

That is an amazingly fantastical imagination you have. But, best to be safe, right!

After all the years you have never had a feeder insect chameleon eye issue? I have had chameleon eye issues from feeders once or twice. Removing the spikey legs is second nature to me now especially from the genus Schistocerca, Mantis, and Walking Sticks. This is a different topic, however large formidable legs could cause ingestion problems too.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[leedragon]

This is a risk yes. Depends on the species. some are more dangerous than others. Mine took a one that a too big for him and spit it out.