good daily feeder other than crickets???

[Breanna]

Ok so I am guessing that my veiled chameleon Walter is not a fan of crickets, he is 2.5 months old and I have had him for a little over a week now and he has no interest in crickets. I since I brought him home he has only eaten about 6-7 crickets and 2 wax worms. he seemed to really like the wax worms but not sure if that is a good thing to give him everyday but it was the only small worm at the pet store. I want to order him some more things but not sure what I can give him everyday, other than crickets and roaches only because I cant handle the roaches (I'm trying to warm up to them but it may take some time!) he seems to be doing good he is active in the mornings and slows down in the evening and I see poop in his cage (black with almost all white uriates) could it be he is just not hungry??

by the way I have a reptiglo 5.0 liner bulb and I mist him 3-4 times a day, his temp is at 80 (it doesn't drop much at night cause my house is about 80 all the time) and his humidity is 30% dry and 60% after misting, I use regular calcium w/o d3 but not much as he is not eating and haven't had a chance to do the calcium w/ d3 or the vitamins. thanks for any input
I also attached a picture of him and his cage and his poop(well i guess just uraite)

 

[ktravelet]

That cage looks great! It might be such a new big environment for him that its taking him a while to get used to it. Are you using a feeder bowl? If so does he definitely know where it is?

 

[Breanna]

That cage looks great! It might be such a new big environment for him that its taking him a while to get used to it. Are you using a feeder bowl? If so does he definitely know where it is?

yes I am using a feeder bowl you can see it in the cage at the top left, and yes he know where it is he ate a worm out of it, and he sits there and watches the crickets in it, like he wants to get one!

 

[sandrachameleon]

Try putting fewer crickets in the bowl at a time. Try using a smaller sized cricket.
Wax worms are NOT a good feeder choice.
Other choices include: silkworms, butterworms, stick insects, roaches, terrestrial isopods, moths, cultured flies, superworms .... In my opinion, a varied diet is a good idea, rather than having a typical daily same old same old staple.

 

[Breanna]

Try putting fewer crickets in the bowl at a time. Try using a smaller sized cricket.
Wax worms are NOT a good feeder choice.
Other choices include: silkworms, butterworms, stick insects, roaches, terrestrial isopods, moths, cultured flies, superworms .... In my opinion, a varied diet is a good idea, rather than having a typical daily same old same old staple.

I didn't think that wax worms would be the best daily feeder, but right now I am just trying to get him to eat anything!! would small super worms be good if I can get him to eat them, I am also ordering a fruit fly culture, I have the smallest crickets that I can buy locally and I am still afraid they are too big, so I am thinking of getting the fruit flies and maybe some super worms if they are better than wax worms he seems to like the worms. if he will eat only worms can I give him super worms everyday until he will eat something else. Or am I just over panicking over nothing and he will eat when he is ready??

 

[PsychoRep]

is the cup clear cause my chams wont eat from it if its clear

 

[sandrachameleon]

I didn't think that wax worms would be the best daily feeder, but right now I am just trying to get him to eat anything!! would small super worms be good if I can get him to eat them, I am also ordering a fruit fly culture, I have the smallest crickets that I can buy locally and I am still afraid they are too big, so I am thinking of getting the fruit flies and maybe some super worms if they are better than wax worms he seems to like the worms. if he will eat only worms can I give him super worms everyday until he will eat something else. Or am I just over panicking over nothing and he will eat when he is ready??

Yes, small superworms (gutloaded) are an option, though I wouldnt use them (or anything else) every day. Fruit flies are an option (for awhile until he grows anyhow - get the larger type of fruit flies). Pheonix worms (soldier fly larva) may also be an option for awhile. You can also offer small silkworms, small butterworms, small roach nymphs... as much variety as possible. Keep offering the small crickets. Try not to let him become fixated on worms, especially wax worms (too fatty, low nutritional value).

It might be better if the temp dropped at night (why do you keep your home so warm? do you live somewhere tropical?)

So long as he is eating, drinking, pooping and growing, so long as you offer a variety of gutloaded and properly supplemented prey, dont be overly concerned with the amount he eats.

 

[jr andrade]

Seems weird that hes not eating even considering its so hot in your house. also i this is just the "food strike" thing you said you had him for bit over a week, when newly purchased chameleons are put into a new environment they refuse to eat anything but their favorite foods so maybe crickets arent his favorites try different worms many variety as possible stay away from waxies, try super worms or meal worms which are easily attainable and are common chameleon favorites. a good rule of thumb in figuring out if the staple food you have is too big for your chameleon is to measure the length between his eyes and dont feed him anything bigger then that space. I wish you good luck with this one hope he starts eating soon.

 

[Elizadolots]

I would lower the cup. Put it in a place where the chameleon can have multiple access branches. Make sure all the branches with access are level with or higher than the cup. As you have it now,if the chameleon wants to look down at the food he has to practically be on the top of the cage...they do sort of like to look down at their prey. I'm not saying they won't nab food that is above their heads, but they do sort of like to look down on everyone.

 

[Breanna]

Yes, small superworms (gutloaded) are an option, though I wouldnt use them (or anything else) every day. Fruit flies are an option (for awhile until he grows anyhow - get the larger type of fruit flies). Pheonix worms (soldier fly larva) may also be an option for awhile. You can also offer small silkworms, small butterworms, small roach nymphs... as much variety as possible. Keep offering the small crickets. Try not to let him become fixated on worms, especially wax worms (too fatty, low nutritional value).

It might be better if the temp dropped at night (why do you keep your home so warm? do you live somewhere tropical?)

So long as he is eating, drinking, pooping and growing, so long as you offer a variety of gutloaded and properly supplemented prey, dont be overly concerned with the amount he eats.

I live in AZ, and its just starting to get warm out and I get cold easily so that is what the a/c is set at now when it starts to get in the 110 range I'll probably drop the a/c to 75.

i tried a new cup that wasn't clear and only offered 2 crickets for him and he ate one earlier this evening, I think he is just still getting use to his new cage, he has started to explore alot more in the last day or so. Im thinking that maybe some large fruit flies may perk him up, I talked to the lady I got him from and she said he was eating fruit flies and very small crickets great for her. I will also try moving the cup tomorrow he is sleeping now and dont want to bother him. thanks for all the help everyone, hopefully he will be eating regularly here soon!!

 

[Breanna]

oh quick question would it be good to turn the ceiling fan on in his room to cool it down a little or is that a bad idea

 

[sandrachameleon]

so long as there isnt a draft or "wind" directly on him all the time, the fan shouldnt be a problem.

 

[mchang]

i work at a local reptile store and i have a few options to choose from for my NOBE. lately i have been feeding him about 10 crickets per day and will usually hand feed him a couple silkworms and wax worms later in the day when i notice that most of the crickets are gone. i try and feed him freshly moulted superworms but he usually doesnt go for them. the crickets are being "gutloaded" on carrots and romaine lettuce and being lightly dusted with calcium. im wondering if his diet is good and any feedback would help

 

[jamncristian]

i work at a local reptile store and i have a few options to choose from for my NOBE. lately i have been feeding him about 10 crickets per day and will usually hand feed him a couple silkworms and wax worms later in the day when i notice that most of the crickets are gone. i try and feed him freshly moulted superworms but he usually doesnt go for them. the crickets are being "gutloaded" on carrots and romaine lettuce and being lightly dusted with calcium. im wondering if his diet is good and any feedback would help

its alright but i would get rid of the wax worms and
start gutloading the crickets better with stuff like:

turnip greens
mustard greens
collard greens
dandelion greens
alfalfa grass
carrots
spirulina
bee pollen
sphagetti squash

 

[jannb]

Not sure if this was mentioned but my babies just love house flies and you can buy them really cheap here: http://www.spiderpharm.com/shop/feeders.htm