Feeding Suggestions

[KarmenCham]

Recently got a 4½ month old Veiled Chameleon my first ever Reptile, have fed 5-7 3rd locusts (medium sized) Daily, with hand fed mealworms as a treat. Had to get some food yesterday for her, Brown silent cricket's was just wondering if cup feeding how big a cup should i get so as none of them can get out yet Karmen can get to them?. Also I know or rather am under the impression that chameleons don't like to be handled, but what is the best way to try to get her to let me handle her so I can get her out of the viv for Cleaning or vet visits?.

 

[Shaunny]

Hi and welcome!

I'm very new to chams myself but I do know that the less you hold them the better really. So like it some don't. Best thing you can do really is keep hand feeding as this will build a bond and every time you go to the cage it will know you are a food source and not a threat. Took me about 2-3 months before I started handling Trevor and even how he lets you know he doesn't want to be messed with. If you can stick to a strict cleaning program like every morning or night then they will get used to you doing that. Trevor know I'm cleaning the bottom now and even comes down to see what I'm doing.

As for cup feeding most people say that at the age of yours it's best to hand feed so that you know what's being eaten. I did this but also put a few crixs in a cup so he got to know where they were now he knows even if I change the cup do a different one.

Just make sure what ever cup you use it can get out if it falls in. I used a 2" x 3"deep cup at that age but just make sure its big enough so the crix can't jump out. So will but try putting a little veg in the bottom to keep them occupied

Let a few roam too as they need to hunt to stimulate natural behaviour

 

[KarmenCham]

Well the main reason I am wanting to know about cup feeding is due to the stories I have heard about crix attacking the chameleon, When I feed Locusts I tend to let them roam around the vivarium. Darn things managed to climb out the hole I made in the mesh to get the tube in for the dripper; thankfully they only managed to get in between the mesh and dual top. One thing I have to admit thats extremely annoying about trying to find any information about Chameleons, I've read almost all the websites online and every one seems to say something completely Different

 

[camimom]

Any info you want on chams, post here, or read through threads here.

As to your question- I use solo cups or Tupperware to cup feed.

There is also the sunny D bug trap, which you can find info on here in this forum.

 

[Shaunny]

I can be done but like I said its better to do both until they are used to it. I had a cup in mine and it didn't take long before he started using it. Make sure you have it near its favourite place to sit, this way it's always in front of them.

Those story's are true but to be honest if you are not over feeding there shouldn't be any left roaming or try to take them out before lights out. Put a piece of veg on a branch or somewhere so they will eat it and not your cham

 

[KarmenCham]

Thanks!. Pleased to see that hardly any waiting for replies that sunny d thing, looks like i' going to be going through loads of coffee today to get it ready for wednesday

 

[ChamyLove]

You can cup feed, but I find that my cham likes it better when I let his crickets roam. They can nibble on your cham, but its easy to prevent that by removing any leftover crickets before bed time.

 

[ellbodavis]

I like to let the crickets roam as well. This give my girlie entertainment chasing them for about 1-2 hours. None of them ever survive into night time. She cleans her plate

 

[KarmenCham]

Did the free roaming thing yesterday, she didn't finish them before lights out so had to try to get them out(hindered a lot by the fact they had gone behind the fake rock)

 

[junglefries]

If you free range crickets, you can place a little orange slice at the bottom to feed the crickets. this will keep them off your cham. i have had some chams learn to lurk around the orange slice and wait for the crickets. makes cleaning up the loose ones easy for you and your cham. just change out the orange slice every 2-3 days.

 

[KarmenCham]

Junglefries: yeah thats what I did yesterday, still managed to find a cricket roaming the viv at 7pm, conzidering I only used locusts today

 

[camimom]

which is why we only let a few roam free, and the rest we cup feed usually.

if you let 3 or 4 roam, they can hunt, but the rest can be cup fed to prevent the annoying task of hunting them down at night.