Wild insects

[dreamforthedead]

Is it safe to give chameleons spiders, dragonflies and flies that come into the house? Also i live near a big dean and was wondering could i catch insects from there to give her, like woodlice? When im walking my dog in the dean i see all sorts of insects.

 

[hondataeg6]

I've read that people here say no, simply because you never know if they carry any deceases, or you never know if their healthy. they might contaminate youre chameleon, is it really worth finding out??? i would say better safe than sorry... Just my opinion tough...

 

[GooglezNvincent]

you never know what kind of parasites might be in the wild insects. Also putting a spider or dragonfly in your chams cage can be risky because those 2 pack a bite. As far as the insect carrying poisons from insect repellents you are fine. Dr. Greek told me if the insect is alive then it most probably hasn't come in contact with the poisons or it wasn't enough to kill it so it is safe for you cham to eat. Hope that helps, its basically preference if you want to or not because in the wild the chams eat whatever they can, they obviously don't know about parasites though.

 

[Cainschams]

I've read that people here say no, simply because you never know if they carry any deceases, or you never know if their healthy. they might contaminate youre chameleon, is it really worth finding out??? i would say better safe than sorry... Just my opinion tough...

I dont say no. I say go for it as long as you know the risks (pesticides, poisonous, parasites, etc.) I have been feeding wild bugs for some time now and have had no problems. My biggest concerns are getting them from a pesticide free area and also knowing what you are feeding. I have fed multiple species of spiders, moths, grasshoppers, katy dids, cicadas, etc. Be cautious what you are feeding and there should be no problem.

 

[ghettomike]

i personally will feed some wc bugs because i know where i am getting them from is ok. i have fed a few different butterflies to Carmie and she loves it and i love watching her eat them. i would really like to catch some praying mantis and grasshoppers as soon as i find some.

 

[Texas Panther Man]

The main thing with feeding wild caught bugs is make sure you know what they are, and that they arent poisonous. I personally feed grasshoppers, and katydids mostly. As they are the easiest to catch. Dragonflies are relished by my panther but try catching them. (it aint easy) I feed the occasional moth and stick bugs. I stay away from butterflies as im not experienced enough in identifying them yet.

 

[draetish]

The main thing with feeding wild caught bugs is make sure you know what they are, and that they arent poisonous. I personally feed grasshoppers, and katydids mostly. As they are the easiest to catch. Dragonflies are relished by my panther but try catching them. (it aint easy) I feed the occasional moth and stick bugs. I stay away from butterflies as im not experienced enough in identifying them yet.

LOL - c'mon Scott all I do is go running through a field with a butterfly net jumping up and down and doing crazy moves while all along people are laughing their a** off at me.

 

[chamelisa]

Is it safe to give chameleons spiders, dragonflies and flies that come into the house? Also i live near a big dean and was wondering could i catch insects from there to give her, like woodlice? When im walking my dog in the dean i see all sorts of insects.

Does your chameleon like woodlice? If so, they are easy to breed. Make a colony of them and raise the babies up for your chameleon. I'm doing it with pillbugs (isopods) and within a week there are a lot of babies. I started off with about 100 adults that I found in my garden.

Here's a great little video to show you how easy it is. The narrator is quite funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8hIZppM7cc

 

[Cuda]

I feed flies. I just leave fish guts in a hole and then take a container over the top thrown on lid. Take container to cage and hold in bottom flies fly up and Jr eats them off the top of screen . He will wipe them out in no time.

 

[Jono]

I say yes! and encourage mine to eat the wild bugs by planting flowers to attract them. It really depends on where you live and the quality of the environment around you. Parasites and pesticides are a consideration but generally if the bug is healthy enough to make it up 7 floors to my balcony there is very little chance it is going to be unhealthy to eat. I also believe immune systems need to be challenged to be effective. However I am lucky in that my chams are dealing with bugs that they evolved with where as wild bugs your side of the world might be completely alien in relation to where your cham comes from, and thus, may contain potentially harmful organisms.

Do a google search for "meadow plankton" for some different ways to collect bugs in the wild.

 

[OldSkoolxReasons]

I feed basically any edible wild bug I can catch. Mantis, stickbugs, grasshoppers, camel crickets, dragonflies, certain spiders, moths, and cicada's. My adult panthers go insane for the mantis and even more so for the cicadas. I put 8 cicadas in with my breeding pair in between their mating and my female ate 6 before I knew it and my male only got 2. Needless to say she didn't eat the next day and only two grasshoppers the day after that. They are like giant flies so they just drive chams nuts. The only bugs I will not feed wild caught are flies as I know a couple people who's chams have gotten parasites from eating them. There weren't giant numbers in the fecals as the chams were all very healthy but just the fact of 3 separate people I know feeding wild flies and all three of their chams getting parasites within a 2 month span turned me off. I haven't had problems with the other bugs yet but get fecals done every 2 months or so during the wild caught feeder months here in michigan,


Justin

 

[Berg]

I feed basically any edible wild bug I can catch. Mantis, stickbugs, grasshoppers, camel crickets, dragonflies, certain spiders, moths, and cicada's. My adult panthers go insane for the mantis and even more so for the cicadas. I put 8 cicadas in with my breeding pair in between their mating and my female ate 6 before I knew it and my male only got 2. Needless to say she didn't eat the next day and only two grasshoppers the day after that. They are like giant flies so they just drive chams nuts. The only bugs I will not feed wild caught are flies as I know a couple people who's chams have gotten parasites from eating them. There weren't giant numbers in the fecals as the chams were all very healthy but just the fact of 3 separate people I know feeding wild flies and all three of their chams getting parasites within a 2 month span turned me off. I haven't had problems with the other bugs yet but get fecals done every 2 months or so during the wild caught feeder months here in michigan,


Justin

wow thats alot of wild bugs