newbie question

[Chamandrea]

Hi,
my husband just got a 2.5 month old amilobe chameleon. Somehow I've become the one who takes care of it. So I have been feeding it 1/4 inch crickets and fruitflies and the occasional mini mealworm dusted w/ vitamins. I am about to order more crickets as the first batch we got about 80% of them were dead. The supplier put big chunks of potatoes in there and they got smushed. I would love some recommendations for suppliers as well as recommendations on other insects to feed as the crickets smell disgusting. I was thinking of silkworms, waxworms, or pheonix worms. my kid is an insect lover so she has been lobbying for silkworms. Anyone know of a place I can get crickets and silkworms?
Thanks.

 

[draetish]

Hi,
my husband just got a 2.5 month old amilobe chameleon. Somehow I've become the one who takes care of it. So I have been feeding it 1/4 inch crickets and fruitflies and the occasional mini mealworm dusted w/ vitamins. I am about to order more crickets as the first batch we got about 80% of them were dead. The supplier put big chunks of potatoes in there and they got smushed. I would love some recommendations for suppliers as well as recommendations on other insects to feed as the crickets smell disgusting. I was thinking of silkworms, waxworms, or pheonix worms. my kid is an insect lover so she has been lobbying for silkworms. Anyone know of a place I can get crickets and silkworms?
Thanks.

Where are you located?

 

[pssh]

Welcome! Mulberryfarms and coastal silkworms have silkies, and ghanns crickets and lllreptile have crickets. Also, mini superworms would be better than mealworms. Make sure to only give the multivitamin once or twice a month. Calcium without d3 at almosst every feeding, and calcium with d3 two or so times a month.

You can feed him roaches, stick bugs, superworms, mealworms, silk worms, hornworms, Phoenix worms, butter worms, non toxic moths and butterflies, snails, rolly pollies, house flies, blue bottle flies, fruit flies, and mantids. roaches don't smell at all (namely dubia) and they can be gutloadd like crickets. Plus they can't jump and don't make noise.

 

[Chamandrea]

Hi,
Thanks for responding. We're in the MidAtlantic region.
I did a little more reading. which worms are better to feed daily? silkworms, pheonix, or wax worms?
So I can go out in my garden and get all those rolly pollies that are eating my strawberries and feed it to the chameleon? Things are looking up!

 

[pssh]

Silkies and Phoenix worms would be a better option than wax worms. Wax worms are basically just fat. (and addicting!) use them as a treat.

If you use the Rollie pollies, you have to breed them to make sure they don't contain heavy metals or pesticides. You can also buy them. They are also more of a treat than a regular food.

 

[draetish]

Silkies and Phoenix worms would be a better option than wax worms. Wax worms are basically just fat. (and addicting!) use them as a treat.

If you use the Rollie pollies, you have to breed them to make sure they don't contain heavy metals or pesticides. You can also buy them. They are also more of a treat than a regular food.

Pssh has excellent recommendations and the majority of members here do not use wild caught insects as feeders. They collect and breed them and then feed off the offsprings.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Hi,
Thanks for responding. We're in the MidAtlantic region.
I did a little more reading. which worms are better to feed daily? silkworms, pheonix, or wax worms?
So I can go out in my garden and get all those rolly pollies that are eating my strawberries and feed it to the chameleon? Things are looking up!

Where to buy:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/171-where-buy-feeders-online.html

Careful using wild insects. Rolly Pollies can carry parasites and heavy metals. You may like to read this:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/213-use-wild-caught-insects.html

and here is a list of feeders to consider:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html

and these are worth a read as well:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/171-where-buy-feeders-online.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html

 

[Chamandrea]

thanks so much.
I saw snails listed but not slugs. are slugs ok?

 

[laurie]

Hello and welcome, You can get both crickets and phoenix worms from Ghann, they are one of our sponsors. Just go to the top and click on sponsors and you will get a large listing.

 

[Texas Panther Man]

I think horn worms are one of the best options if you want to feed worms to your cham. They arent as delicate as silks can be. And they are full of fluid to keep your cham well hydrated. Plus they are green or teal colored depending on what they eat. Chams love them. Although you might want to wait a month before you try to give them to yours as hes only 2.5 months old. When you order ask for smalls til your cham gets larger.

 

[sandrachameleon]

thanks so much.
I saw snails listed but not slugs. are slugs ok?

Yes Ive heard of some people offering slugs. Sometimes with success, sometimes not. Like snails, dont use wild caught ones.