Just playing it safe.

Cage Info:
I have him in a 24x16x28 screen cage. TONS of fake vines and plants. Live umbrella plant (The safe kind.) Hot spot is about 89 degrees, I'm unsure of humidity because I just mist several times a day. Paper towel substrate. 5.0 Repti Glo uvb tube bulb.
He is usually basking and is a dark color, but colors up whenever he's not doing so.?
Placement -
About 4 feet off the ground on top of my Terrapin cage.
Location -
Virginia

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon -
Male Veiled. Wild caught from Florida, about 8 months old. I've had him for three days.
Handling -
Not too often, although he doesn't mind it a bit and will even walk out onto my arm.
Feeding -
Dubia roaches being fed pre-made roach chow from www.gregsexoticinverts.com The roaches also get various fruits and veggies and are fed to my Cham every day.
Mealworms about every other day. Fed carrots and potatoes. Only used to vary the diet.
Hornworms about every three days. Fed Hornworm chow from www.mullberryfarms.com
Crickets from a local pet store. Not sure of care there...
Supplements -
Every day with Repashy calcium plus. I dust all feeders except hornworms.
Watering -
A dripper in one corner of the cage dripping into my umbrella plant. Misting about 5-8 times a day.
Fecal Description -
Never tested for parasites, Peptio has not defecated while in my care.
History -
Wild caught from Florida. Looks GREAT. Full eye turrets, eyes always open during the day, only occasionally gapes during BASKING ONLY, completed a shed no problem. Readily cup/hand feeds. Great personality.
Current Problem -
Nothing at all. I just want to make sure this all looks good.


I plan to get him wormed soon just because he's wild caught, although I have no reason to believe he has any parasites.
__________________
 
Cage Info:

Dubia roaches being fed pre-made roach chow from www.gregsexoticinverts.com The roaches also get various fruits and veggies and are fed to my Cham every day.
Here is a list of ingredients in the chow.'
Greg's special blend of nutritious roach chow includes some of the finest ingredients to make sure you get some plump, juicy, healthy feeders for all your reptiles, inverts, amphibians, etc. Ingredients include various Grains and Oats, Fish Meal, 100% Natural Bee pollen and more. No dog or cat food used in processing our chow. All the nutrients to produce healthy nutritious feeders for your reptiles, inverts, amphibians, etc. We feed this to ALL our roaches! They eat it up and so will yours! Our roach chow is made fresh when order is placed, vacuumed sealed, so its fresh when you receive it. Best stored in air tight container in cool dry place. Can be stored in fridge and freezer!

This would be great for the colony to grow but not the greatest for your chameleon. You can continue to use this product to help your colony multiply but i would separate the designated feeders 3 days before feeding and feed these separated roaches a different diet. Fish meal will lead to issues used consistently over a period of time.

Mealworms about every other day. Fed carrots and potatoes. Only used to vary the diet. Check out sandrachameleons or ferretinmyshoes blogs on gut load ingredients.
Hornworms about every three days. Fed Hornworm chow from www.mullberryfarms.com
Crickets from a local pet store. Not sure of care there... Be sure to gut load these as well. Most pet stores only offer potato. Check out sandrachameleons or ferretinmyshoes blogs on gut load ingredients.

Everything else looks fine.

What are the cage ambient temps?
 
all looks well.. congrats on what sounds like a great cham, and "WC" .. saves $ and one less out there! lol
 
The ambient is about 78 degrees during the day, and about 70 at night.
I'll be sure to gut-load the mealworms. What do you recommend feeding the roaches to gut-load them?
 
It starts with the insect feeder being fed a diet high in animal protein. The insect will then store high levels of uric acid which in return cause serious problems for your chameleon. Heres some reads for you. Roaches will eat just about anything but it is up to you to make sure it is good for your animal.

http://chamworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/health-section-f-gout_28.html

https://www.chameleonforums.com/gout-8890/index2.html#post69475

http://www.store.repashy.com/can-feeder-insect-diets-contribute-to-gout-in-reptiles.html

https://www.chameleonforums.com/can-feeder-insect-diets-contribute-gout-reptiles-64401/#post600701
 
Last edited:
Do not feed them mice! That is possibly worse than fish meal!

They need a variety of veggies, leafy greens, and fruits to be a healthy nutritious feeder. A good dry gutload is a good idea too!
 
I gave the roaches a F/T mouse last night which they seem to have thoroughly enjoyed.

Am i reading this correct?

I feed my breeding colony dog/cat food and fruits, leafy greens and veggies!! But i feed my feeder roaches BugBurger,fresh fruits, greens and veggies only .No meat or meat products.
 
Last edited:
Avoid dog/cat food as it can take months for them (roaches) to get rid of all the protein! Bee pollen, spirulina, and ground nuts are a better choice for protein.
 
Thanks guys! I'll DEFINITELY make sure to change some things. I'll be sure not to offer the roaches any more meat.

Is it alright if Pepitos eyes are sunken in when he's asleep? The lights are off and so is he, and I just noticed it. If not, then I'll be sure to mist more often and give him a shower or two and more hornworms. He's been defecating a lot recently. All solid brown with white urates.
 
Back
Top Bottom