covering all bases..

[Carlemeleon]

We are thinking about raising a chameleon. Right now we are still reading & doing research.. but it occured to me that we get a lot of stink bugs & lady bugs in here. If we get a screen enclosure, are they safe for a chameleon to eat? Im not saying purposly but its bound to happen.. would it make him/her sick? Never had a chameleon so I don't know! Thanks

 

[carol5208]

Lady bugs are toxic, so no. I don't know about stink bugs. Are you going to use a screen enclosure with large holes or something?

 

[Carlemeleon]

Well, after looking at some enclosures I realized the holes aren't big enough for ladybugs to get into. It was just a thought because our apt becomes absolutely infested w/them in the spring. I'm actually thinking of purchasing a getting started kit from scrameleons probably sometime in March.

 

[Solid Snake]

Will mantids eat ladybugs? You could set a bunch loose in your apt. to keep their numbers down.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

Stink bugs I've heard are safe, but ladybugs are toxic.

 

[kelsxox]

There starter kits are awsome but you will need to get a bigger cage as your cham gets older and you will also need more vines and what not because they do not provide enouph .. Go look at the dollar store , you can do some cool things .. Also if your new id recommend a male, cause im still netvous aboutt mygirl laying eggs!

 

[Carlemeleon]

I'm not sure about the mantis thing I'm going to keep him upstairs and the downstairs kitchen is usually the worst w/the ladybugs. Good to know theyr toxic I'll be extra careful! And about the plants I plan on getting some live stuff, probably devils ivy to start. Then a hibiscus when I move him to a larger enclosure. I do this around 6mnths of age right?

 

[carol5208]

I'm not sure about the mantis thing I'm going to keep him upstairs and the downstairs kitchen is usually the worst w/the ladybugs. Good to know theyr toxic I'll be extra careful! And about the plants I plan on getting some live stuff, probably devils ivy to start. Then a hibiscus when I move him to a larger enclosure. I do this around 6mnths of age right?

are devils ivy safe? I know there was a member whose cham died suddenly and he is attributing it to silkworms eating ivy(I can't remember which kind) and then his cham ate the silks. I am not sure if I would use any kind of ivy. If you want a vining plant, use a pothos. They are hearty and safe for your cham even if he directly eats the plant. I had my cham in its large enclosure from 4 months and he did fine.

 

[williamsrx]

are devils ivy safe? I know there was a member whose cham died suddenly and he is attributing it to silkworms eating ivy(I can't remember which kind) and then his cham ate the silks. I am not sure if I would use any kind of ivy. If you want a vining plant, use a pothos. They are hearty and safe for your cham even if he directly eats the plant. I had my cham in its large enclosure from 4 months and he did fine.

I think Devil's Ivy is safe, as it is actually a Pothos. I am the one who is pretty sure I poisoned my baby Sambava with English Ivy, which is a true ivy, and the kind that you find in a lot of topiaries. I screwed up and thought "ivy, since Devil's ivy is OK then why not English ivy?" It is the only explanation I have for such a sudden death, and I know that it doesn't take long for silkworms to start munching. I didn't notice any chunks taken out of the leaves, but if English ivy is truly poisonous, then it probably doesn't take much when the chameleon only weighs 6 grams or so. I learned my lesson and my 2 new chams are doing great now.

 

[ChameleonNerd]

definitely one of the first things you are going to have to figure out is a cage plan. if you are planning on buying a cage, DIYCages.com has great cages for a fair prices. building cages on your own isn't too hard either.

and as the other said, ladybugs are toxic, but i have fed plenty of stinkbugs off with no problem. you just have to worry about pesticides.

 

[carol5208]

I think Devil's Ivy is safe, as it is actually a Pothos. I am the one who is pretty sure I poisoned my baby Sambava with English Ivy, which is a true ivy, and the kind that you find in a lot of topiaries. I screwed up and thought "ivy, since Devil's ivy is OK then why not English ivy?" It is the only explanation I have for such a sudden death, and I know that it doesn't take long for silkworms to start munching. I didn't notice any chunks taken out of the leaves, but if English ivy is truly poisonous, then it probably doesn't take much when the chameleon only weighs 6 grams or so. I learned my lesson and my 2 new chams are doing great now.

so you never saw any chunks out of the leaves? Honestly to my knowledge silks only eat mulberry leaves. They will eat carrots and dandelion leaves(another member said they have done so) but that is just in a pinch if you are out of mulberry. There have been other chameleons on here who have died mysteriously also. Not saying your suspicions are totally wrong.Maybe your chameleon ate the English Ivy himself? Just a thought. I know most panthers don't eat vegetation like the Veilds, but there have been some that have munched on some pretty strange things on here. Might be interesting to see if silks will eat English Ivy if fed to them. Glad your two chams are doing great though!

 

[Carlemeleon]

Thanks everyone. Yeah devils ivy is a pathos which I've read is safe. And I don't plan on purposly feeding my chameleon ladybugs or stink bugs, I'm just worried about them accidentally getting into the cage somehow cuz there's so many in the summer its ridiculous! But I think I'm getting more and more comfortable with all the good tips I'm getting from everyone here think ill be ready soon!