Panther Cham. eating twigs?!?!?

[Athena333]

When I first got my Panther Chameleon he was only 3 weeks old, hes now about 10 weeks. My husband and I bought a 4 foot tall ficus that we use as his "play pen" when we are home, he loves to practice his camouflage colors. Our house has a moderate/high humidity and the temp is in the 80-85 range. Our Chameleon (Key-lon) happily sits on the top branches of his ficus and hunts house fly's and fruit fly's. I just noticed the other day that the ficus started dropping a patch of leaves suddenly (I know...not uncommon for a ficus) but when I looked closer.. I noticed Key-lon breaking off little pieces of the dead branches and eating them?! I thought it could be because hes hungry but when I tried feeding him he wasn't interested. I feed him out of a cup every morning, about 10-12 crickets before I put him on the ficus and mist the ficus so that he can get his water, and later in the evening I feed him again in his cage to let him practice hunting.

SO! is this branch eating phenomena a natural thing? is it harmful? if it is how do I get him to stop? I haven't allowed him time on the ficus since I noticed this behavior.

 

[joshuaseidman94]

So funny you posted this! I asked the same question last night when I caught my 8 month panther chewing off pieces of branches from his hibiscus..I'm curious what other members have to say.

 

[Athena333]

SERIOUSLY... what is up with this?! lol good to know that Im not the only one who has experienced this.

 

[junglefries]

Probably more than not, do this. There isn't a proven scientific reason yet. However, between the ages of 4-12 months old, most seem to do this. Make sure he can't chew anything toxic or that could break off and be swallowed. It is going to happen for a while. One of mine chewed so loud, I moved him to a different room, so I could hear the tv. Was aggravating.

 

[redsfandrew]

Many times my chams will chew on their branches and vines. This is most likely a sign of them not getting all the vitamins and nutrients their body is natural needing. I would make sure you are gut loading properly and using a liquid vitamin supplement every now and then.

 

[JosieJobo]

babies put everything in their mouths, so do chameleons.

Yes mine started doing this once before a shed but had continued since at the same time he also started eating dirt, digging, twigs, a small snail, chewing on branches and the cork in his tank?? His morning consists of waking up warming up having a drink wonders down to the bottom has a dig about then chews eveything on his way back up baskes a bit more has a small bit to eat then a poo....? Could it be a territory thing? Like cats weeing on trees chams chew on them? Lol he somtimes eats the things he chews on but they just come out the other end :S and no he not hungry theres nearly always somthing roaming about his cage lol love there funny little personality

 

[Athena333]

Thank You

He isn't just chewing the twigs, he brakes off chunks and swallows them. I gut load the crickets my self and they pop when he eats them because they are so full of goodness. he gets calcium twice a week, and multi vitamins twice or three times a month. I also sprinkle the crickets food with calcium and multi vitamins too.

I feed my crickets everything. Pineapple, zucchini, yam, mustard greens, mango, collard greens, dandelion leafs, watermelon, pumpkin, you name it..

 

[scerbz]

I have not seen mine eat branches but mine love eating leaves. Some say its due to hydration. Best of luck