Quick question about a chameleon's throat

[Jonah S]

A 'chameleon expert' at a local pet store (what a joke) told me to give my baby veiled (about 13 weeks) a small meal worm so I did. He chomped it but was stretching his throat a good little bit. That was on Friday at about 5 pm. I just gave him a baby cricket and he ate it and stretched his throat out a little again. Basically, I want to make sure his eating behavior is or isn't normal. I don't know what he would or wouldn't do if he ate something that was too big for him so I just want to make sure he is cool. He won't be getting anymore worms since he clearly can't handle them.

I guess one more quick question since I have you here is I noticed that my baby veiled has a few small horizontal brown stripes on his side. Does that sound normal/abnormal?

 

[Julirs]

Veileds often have that horizontal stripe. No worries.

Mealworms are a TERRIBLE feeder. Don't use them. Those people at the petstore stink.

Just feed him smaller crickets for now, and add Supers when he is larger. I emailed you-bring him on over later today, I will take a look, and tell you what size crickets-as a rule on larger than the space between his eyes.

Is it the girl with the short hair there that says she is an expert? LOL

 

[dparks87]

lol you know its bad news when people refer to themselves as experts. I see my young veiled stretch out when he gets a larger cricket, I see this behavior in most all reptiles i have kept. Its just them working the food into the stomach, your little guy should be fine though i would stick to sm crickets for now.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Mealworms are a TERRIBLE feeder. Don't use them.

In my opinion, that's over stating it. Mealworms are NOT a Terrible feeder. They are FINE for occassionaly use. They are easily cultured, and easily gutloaded. They are a good source of chinton. All my chameleons, including the babies, eat appropriately sized mealworms on occassion. You just dont want to use mealworms as a regular part of the chameleons diet.

You might find this info about mealworms of interest:
http://chameleonnews.com/03OctWells.htmlhttp://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=53

Jonah, you may want to use slightly smaller prey for your chameleon, if it appears to be having trouble getting what you are currently offering down its throat.

 

[Julirs]

In my opinion, that's over stating it. Mealworms are NOT a Terrible feeder. They are FINE for occassionaly use. They are easily cultured, and easily gutloaded. They are a good source of chinton. All my chameleons, including the babies, eat appropriately sized mealworms on occassion. You just dont want to use mealworms as a regular part of the chameleons diet.

You might find this info about mealworms of interest:
http://chameleonnews.com/03OctWells.htmlhttp://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=53

Jonah, you may want to use slightly smaller prey for your chameleon, if it appears to be having trouble getting what you are currently offering down its throat.

There are better options.

 

[Jonah S]

Even though it was a small meal worm, I wasn't very pleased watching him trying to get it down so it's off limits at the moment. If I am only feeding him baby crickets for a while, will he get bored with them and stop eating?

 

[reptoman]

In my opinion, that's over stating it. Mealworms are NOT a Terrible feeder. They are FINE for occassionaly use. They are easily cultured, and easily gutloaded. They are a good source of chinton. All my chameleons, including the babies, eat appropriately sized mealworms on occassion. You just dont want to use mealworms as a regular part of the chameleons diet.

You might find this info about mealworms of interest:
http://chameleonnews.com/03OctWells.htmlhttp://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=53

Jonah, you may want to use slightly smaller prey for your chameleon, if it appears to be having trouble getting what you are currently offering down its throat.

How soon (in terms of weeks) do you try and give mealworms to your baby panthers?

 

[jannb]

My babies are 13 weeks old and I feed them small crickets 1/4 to 1/2 inch, baby dubia and house flies.