Female won't shoot tongue

[WAMBO]

Copied from the caresheet page, to show you the interval of dusting: calcium without D3 every feeding, then Multivite once every two weeks and Calcium with D3 once every two weeks.

"Supplementation:
Calcium and other vitamins are very important to your chameleon's health. Feeder insects should be lightly dusted with powdered supplement before being fed to your chameleon. Many keepers successfully use calcium (without D3 or phosphorus) at nearly every feeding, multivitamin once every 2 weeks, and calcium with D3 once every 2 weeks."

 

[Weebo]

Another question is the calcium blocks for the crickets. I know my pet store sells them. Does anybody use these or recommend them?

 

[WAMBO]

If the crickets used it [calcium block], you won't know which one or how much. Follow the recommendations of the caresheet page.

 

[Weebo]

Ok sounds good. Might just do both. Throw the calcium block in there for the hell of it and dust them before feeding

 

[WAMBO]

Worth a shot. Good luck. I'm confident that you can do it.

Cheers!

 

[Andee]

Your gutload is not good enough to take over supplementation itself. Some people can do it. But they also take their chameleon outside on a regular basis. Gutload that takes over supplementation, requires multitudes of fresh fruits and veggies and a good dry gutload. Honestly your gutload is not good at all, lettuce provides almost no nutritional value to be of any use, and kale has oxalate which when used on too regular of a basis will block the absorption of calcium.

 

[Weebo]

Ok I'll work on mixing up my gutloading as well. The lettuce I mainly use just for hydration. Any specific fruits that work best?

 

[Nursemaia]

I like bug burger for gutloading plus it provides hydration at the same time

 

[Andee]

You want fruits high in calcium compared to phosphorous and dark leafy greens the same way, it's easy to find them on Google. Some I know of are papaya and figs.

 

[Weebo]

Also I'm a little confused.....collard greens are actually a high calcium vegetable and I've read they are recommended in gutloading for chameleons

 

[Andee]

Oops sorry I thought you had typed kale. With kale only certain types have low oxalate, collards always have lower oxalates.

 

[Weebo]

Ohh ok good to know. I'll still mix it up more with some fruits. I really appreciate everyone's input on here by the way. Thank you

 

[Lizzie The Chameleon]

Beta carotene. That's what you need in a gutload. Carrots, kale, etc.

 

[Andee]

Not just beta carotene, vitamin a too, tuscan kale holds more vitamin a than most other varieties. Calcium is important too, but a lot of other things are really important, the thing is too look up what vitamins and minerals the veggies and fruit provide and then provide them. I believe strongly in providing as much variety as possible to feeders because it will make them healthier, just like with the reptiles you feed them to.

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

Also I'm a little confused.....collard greens are actually a high calcium vegetable and I've read they are recommended in gutloading for chameleons

Collard greens , red sweet bell pepper , carrots , sweet potato ,and dandelion greens . You can bind it with honey or you're calcium without D3 . I blend it make a paste .

 

[Andee]

I like that recipe Kristen ^^ might have to try it myself

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

I like that recipe Kristen ^^ might have to try it myself

I use all organic and the honey is local honey . Sometimes I use raspberries or papaya .

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

I like bug burger for gutloading plus it provides hydration at the same time

I just ordered the bug burger I'll add that to the gutload instead of the calcium .