Feeder and Supplement Help

[iloveskittles]

Hello, I have a three month old panther chameleon, male.
Right now his diet is crickets. When I try to add calcium (without D3) I find the crickets get quite sluggish... What am I doing wrong? How do you dust and then feed the crickets. He hunts his crickets so he is not cup fed...
I found a worm supplier so I will start with those soon.
I also feed the crickets carrots.

I'm just worried that he is not getting the calcium he needs.

I also have Reptivite Reptile Vitamins w/o D3 that I should give him once every two weeks? Same with the Reptvite with D3?

Any input would be a big help. He has been with me exactly a week now and I swear he has grown!

 

[jamjam]

I use fruit flies as well and am starting up a bean weevil culture.
To dust the crickets right now ive been putting them in a plastic cup add just a pinch of supplement do not need alot what so ever and i swirl the cup around and get the coated. i may dump half in the cage and keep other half so i can monitor hes eating some for sure.

lastly a better gutload than just carrots for the crickets will be helpful for other nutrients. check out sandrachameleons blogs.

If you can get your hands on some phoenix worms They are really great for calcium got a container from the expo last weekend.

Where did you end up finding worms from?

 

[iloveskittles]

The Worm Lady Mail Order. Hope to make an order this weekend, this week is a little tight on finances.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Put a very small amount of powder in a container or bag. Add crickets. Swirl/swish/shake to LIGHTLY coat the crickets. You dont want them to look like white ghost crickets.

carrots are fine as one type of gutload, but you do want to provide a wider range of gutload and you want a wider range of prey - try not to let any one type of feeder prey make up the majority of the diet - variety is key

Vitamins once a week is fine as a general rule, but you'll adjust based on type of prey offered and how well you gutload and the type of light

here are some links to info you may find useful:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/panther/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...just-crickets-roaches-gutload-everything.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.htmll
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/92-hydration-importance.html
http://www.chameleonnews.com/
http://www.chameleonsonline.com/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/olimpia/573-chameleon-physiology-supplements.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/662-temperature.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/659-green-leafy-goodness-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ryan-jarosek/119-new-arrival-bringing-home.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/syn/226-frequently-asked-questions.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/frequently-asked-questions-71620/

 

[iloveskittles]

Thanks sandrachameleon. Your blog is amazing and has provided me with so much helpful information! I think I was previously putting too much powder... He is up to about 10-15 crickets per day!