Help traumatic transport
- Thread starter saltychameleon
- Start date
just squish squish squish. get it liquidy so you can put it into a syringe. Take out big bits like cricket legs that get stuck. You can always toss the insects into the freezer to slow them down and make it less of an assault. If you have worms that is your best bet... Hornworms, silkworms, or waxworms. Those wont be crunchy chunks that will block up the syringe.
saltychameleon
Member
How much volume should I give him? These videos show 5 ml syringes
saltychameleon
Member
Well he hated that, but he pooped on me and opened his eyes his poor deepset eyes. He held the first bit I got in his mouth so when I opened his mouth again I was surprised to see he had not swallowed. I gave him about the same amount, maybe 0.5ml and put him back in his enclosure.
Attachments
saltychameleon
Member
Since he did perk up enough or care enough to look at me after doing that I plan to continue syringe feeding multiple small sessions per day until he starts eating on his own. Not really a fan of emulsifying the bugs I tried 3 blenders and not a single one got all the chunks.
ehdee6
Chameleon Enthusiast
You're trying your best. 
Some people add water to the slurry to help liquidate it, you can even add a bit of vitamins by dusting the bugs before squishing them. I've heard of people straining it to get the chunks out too.
There's the option of cricket powder too.
Some people add water to the slurry to help liquidate it, you can even add a bit of vitamins by dusting the bugs before squishing them. I've heard of people straining it to get the chunks out too.There's the option of cricket powder too.
saltychameleon
Member
The recipe said pedialyte, egg yolk, and ensure I used all of them except ensure (I only had pediasure) it’s pretty much the consistency of premixed eggs.You're trying your best.
There's the option of cricket powder too.
saltychameleon
Member
Today’s update: Mr Blue’s left eye was bulging this morning and so I decided it was time to take him in to the vet. They said he refused to open his third eyelid on that side and from the other side a plug of sediment was flushed out. They gave me a food supplement he actually seemed to enjoy and antibiotic eye ointment. Blood results will be back tomorrow and I was sent home with a stool collection kit.
LizardLurkin
Avid Member
Here's hoping you get an answer to what's up and that he's now on the road to recovery 
saltychameleon
Member
Update: Results are back: Low calcium, high phosphorus, high WBC, and borderline anemia so I'm picking up two different antibiotics. Feeding the the formula once a day and giving the eye ointment once a day. The vet said she wasn't going to focus on the anemia or the ca/phos as those should balance with improved diet. I would like to know what would be best to feed to improve anemia if/when he starts hunting/I can slip some whole food in when he's gapping.
saltychameleon
Member
On the path to recovery! 
“Even though crickets had the highest iron levels overall, iron uptake from buffalo worms, a type of beetle larvae, was the clear winner, even besting sirloin beef.”…
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/edible-insects-have-more-iron-than-sirloin-beef/
One more..
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9535517/
Be aware that they are talking about human consumption.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/edible-insects-have-more-iron-than-sirloin-beef/
One more..
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9535517/
Be aware that they are talking about human consumption.
saltychameleon
Member
I haven’t been able to get a fresh sample but as soon as he goes it’ll be in the cup and to the vet.
I had heard mealworms have little value for chameleons, so I set up culture/breeding boxes for all kinds of other bugs. Do I need to add mealworms or are super worms equivalent? Or are mealworms recommended for just a short period of time?
saltychameleon
Member
Okay so “lesser mealworms/buffalo beetles” apparently make good cleanup crews in roach enclosures and they reproduce in the substrate so I ordered a large mix and will just put them in my other bug breeder boxes that use bran as substrate.
