I mean, I have a tall but somewhat narrow cage. It is thick with foliage (ficus). So thick that I can't find my lizard sometimes. I throw crickets in (6/day) and I only see him eat one or two a day. I can't find the rest. Will he actively hunt out crickets if they are hiding under fallen leaves or in the dirt at the bottom of the plant? Do they sense insects, smell insects??? Thanx, T
Do Chameleons Actively Hunt??
- Thread starter turk81
- Start date
Mikew2006
New Member
im certainly no expert, but if its a female over 6months? then you will get a cluch of infertile eggs which you can (sort of) and should avoid if possible.
same for a male once its 1 year/adult as they are not growing and just need food to survive. if i remember correctly its roughly 6-8 a day...best do a search for more solid info or wait for one of the expereinced keepers to chime in
same for a male once its 1 year/adult as they are not growing and just need food to survive. if i remember correctly its roughly 6-8 a day...best do a search for more solid info or wait for one of the expereinced keepers to chime in
Jeweledchameleons
Avid Member
Crickets will actively dig holes into the potting soil and hide out in there
they can start at either the top or the bottom of the pot.
YES, chameleons (veiled and panthers) are active hunters (it's most likely all are)
Mine will look around for something to eat in their cages when hungry.
Gorge themselves in a shared cage (competition), try to steal food out of other mouths.
But when hunting , they'll will go about on the bottom of their cages looking around
under the leaves and in the corners of the cages.
If they spot something in another's cage...
the search begins as to how to get over there and get that bug!
Primary sense for these animals is sight and sight alone
unless a fly lands on them they're not going to know it's flying
around until they see it.
they can start at either the top or the bottom of the pot.
YES, chameleons (veiled and panthers) are active hunters (it's most likely all are)
Mine will look around for something to eat in their cages when hungry.
Gorge themselves in a shared cage (competition), try to steal food out of other mouths.
But when hunting , they'll will go about on the bottom of their cages looking around
under the leaves and in the corners of the cages.
If they spot something in another's cage...
the search begins as to how to get over there and get that bug!
Primary sense for these animals is sight and sight alone
unless a fly lands on them they're not going to know it's flying
around until they see it.
PardalisGirl
Avid Member
They are hunters for sure. They would starve in the wild if they just sat around waiting for a snack to appear. They learn, over time, to look at the base of plants for hiding crickets. I would put more than six crickets per day in the cage for that size male. Increase the number each day until you actually see left over crickets each day in the cage. Then ease back.
how many would you feed/day. I found a little trick. My cage opens from the top, not the front. So when I drop crickets in they fall 3 feet to the bottom. Frank stays the majority of the time at the top foot of the cage. I found a trick to putting 6 or so crickets on the screen top and then putting it on the cage. They pretty much stay there upside down. It's like shooting fish in a barrel for him. I saw him eat 5 in 15 minutes this morning before work. How many could I fee a 6 inch (minus the tail) veiled male. I've only had him for 6 days. The first couple days I only put 3 or so in cause that's what the pet store said he eats. I got him on 6 the last 2 days. He left one yesterday that I couldn't find this morning and ate 5 more before I left for work. T
Smitty
New Member
How many you feed a day would depend on male/female, the age of the cham and the size of the crix.
I've been feeding my 4-5 month old male about 8-12 every day. I put them in the cage in the morning (in a feeder cup) and they are gone by the time I get home. I sometimes through another 3-5 in at night if he is wondering around the cage actively as well because it looks like he is hunting.
I've been feeding my 4-5 month old male about 8-12 every day. I put them in the cage in the morning (in a feeder cup) and they are gone by the time I get home. I sometimes through another 3-5 in at night if he is wondering around the cage actively as well because it looks like he is hunting.
royden
New Member
I think it's healthy to let them hunt. Every other feeding I either drop all the crickets into the bottom of the cage, and let them find their way up the corners (they always do), or hand pick them out of a bag and place them half way up the screen for easy access.
I have a very low death rate of crickets in the cage. I'm not sure why.
I have a very low death rate of crickets in the cage. I'm not sure why.
Tygerr
Avid Member
Important when free-ranging feeder insects...
Remember not to leave insects roaming around the cham's enclosure overnight.
The most important reason is that insects will lose their gutload overnight (i.e. they digest what they ate and then secrete it as waste), so unless you leave gutload in the cage (also not a good idea due to frequent mistings, chameleon droppings, bacterial growth, etc.) the insects will have lost the nutritional value that you carefully prepared for them when you originally fed them to the cham.
Also, the roaming insects could quite possibly snack on your cham's droppings, and that's not the sort of gutload you want to pass onto your cham.
And free-ranged crickets left overnight could potentially attack the chameleon while it sleeps. I have seen crickets nibbling on a sleeping cham's tail with my own eyes. This is a serious problem for baby chams.
Finally, you will have seen how messy crickets can be in their own enclosures: you don't want them making that much mess in the cham's enclosure too.
So if you decide on the free-range option for your feeder insects (and it is a good option in terms of the excercise and stimulation it provides for the cham), just remember to remove the uneaten insects every night...
Remember not to leave insects roaming around the cham's enclosure overnight.
The most important reason is that insects will lose their gutload overnight (i.e. they digest what they ate and then secrete it as waste), so unless you leave gutload in the cage (also not a good idea due to frequent mistings, chameleon droppings, bacterial growth, etc.) the insects will have lost the nutritional value that you carefully prepared for them when you originally fed them to the cham.
Also, the roaming insects could quite possibly snack on your cham's droppings, and that's not the sort of gutload you want to pass onto your cham.
And free-ranged crickets left overnight could potentially attack the chameleon while it sleeps. I have seen crickets nibbling on a sleeping cham's tail with my own eyes. This is a serious problem for baby chams.
Finally, you will have seen how messy crickets can be in their own enclosures: you don't want them making that much mess in the cham's enclosure too.
So if you decide on the free-range option for your feeder insects (and it is a good option in terms of the excercise and stimulation it provides for the cham), just remember to remove the uneaten insects every night...
Jeweledchameleons
Avid Member
Seriously, You have to keep these animals active
Hunting for prey should be a part of each cams day IMO
I've always try to have at least a few crickets roaming around in the cage.
with respect to the above post, I also toss in a apple slice to keep them from nibbling
Large crickets will not lose all their nutritional value overnight and female crickets
will have much of it stored in their egg production I only keep them hydrated for a few days max
Some breeders have mentioned that bowl feeding only produces a lax animal.
experience has taught me that hiding a few unexpected treats around the cage
will give you an animal who's eyes will light up with excitement.
Same with a free range animal.
In the same way dogs love to chase fleeing animals & cats are curious...
panthers look around and will chase insects.
it's evolutionary excitement/ play thats hardwired as programing to help the species survive.
Hunting for prey should be a part of each cams day IMO
I've always try to have at least a few crickets roaming around in the cage.
with respect to the above post, I also toss in a apple slice to keep them from nibbling
Large crickets will not lose all their nutritional value overnight and female crickets
will have much of it stored in their egg production I only keep them hydrated for a few days max
Some breeders have mentioned that bowl feeding only produces a lax animal.
experience has taught me that hiding a few unexpected treats around the cage
will give you an animal who's eyes will light up with excitement.
Same with a free range animal.
In the same way dogs love to chase fleeing animals & cats are curious...
panthers look around and will chase insects.
it's evolutionary excitement/ play thats hardwired as programing to help the species survive.
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