There is potential risk to using wild caught insects. Parasites, pesticides, and one that is often overlooked:the bug may have eaten something good for it but BAD for chamelones (like tomatoe leaves). And I suppose there is also the risk of you accidentally offering a bug that is in and of itself toxic.
Yet although I breed plenty of insects, have several stores locally and online from which to buy, I do still use wild caught insects. Not from a suburb or city area (which I consider poor collection areas, high risk), but rather an organic farm in the country and a park/wilderness area.
Im still knowingly running the risk of bringing home parasites to my chameleons. But frankly store-bought insects can have parasites with them too. I believe that chameleons normally likely have some small level of parasites with them all the time. If the chameleon is otherwise healthy, and the particular parasite(s) not too awful, well then likely no harm done.
I do have fecal tests done with some regularity and have enough money saved to ensure any treatment costs are easily covered, if required. I also monitor weights and pay attention to "attitude" and "activity".
Also there is some risk a wild caught bug ate something that will stay in its system long enough to cause harm to my chameleons. I try to mitigate this by keeping and feeding the wc bugs for at least a day to clear anything in their guts. This does not entirely remove the risk.
So far I've not had anything too serious result.
For me, the perceived benefits of occassional use of certain wild-caught bugs (different nutrients, chameleon interest/excitement) makes the risks worth it. But I mostly rely on / use bugs I breed myself, plus store bought crickets. There are lots of bugs you can breed easily, with little effort or cost.
This topic comes up quite a bit, hence my noting my opinion here. It is only an opinion. What is best for you may differ greatly!
Links to info related:
http://web.archive.org/web/20060503233712/www.chameleonjournals.com/husbandry/
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/168-parasites.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/can-i-feed-these-my-veileds-42832/
http://www.chameleonforums.com/wild-caught-insects-parasites-36626/
http://www.chameleonforums.com/what-wild-caught-food-toxic-42666/
http://www.foodinsectsnewsletter.org/pdfs/Worldwidespecieslist15sept2011.pdf
Yet although I breed plenty of insects, have several stores locally and online from which to buy, I do still use wild caught insects. Not from a suburb or city area (which I consider poor collection areas, high risk), but rather an organic farm in the country and a park/wilderness area.
Im still knowingly running the risk of bringing home parasites to my chameleons. But frankly store-bought insects can have parasites with them too. I believe that chameleons normally likely have some small level of parasites with them all the time. If the chameleon is otherwise healthy, and the particular parasite(s) not too awful, well then likely no harm done.
I do have fecal tests done with some regularity and have enough money saved to ensure any treatment costs are easily covered, if required. I also monitor weights and pay attention to "attitude" and "activity".
Also there is some risk a wild caught bug ate something that will stay in its system long enough to cause harm to my chameleons. I try to mitigate this by keeping and feeding the wc bugs for at least a day to clear anything in their guts. This does not entirely remove the risk.
So far I've not had anything too serious result.
For me, the perceived benefits of occassional use of certain wild-caught bugs (different nutrients, chameleon interest/excitement) makes the risks worth it. But I mostly rely on / use bugs I breed myself, plus store bought crickets. There are lots of bugs you can breed easily, with little effort or cost.
This topic comes up quite a bit, hence my noting my opinion here. It is only an opinion. What is best for you may differ greatly!
Links to info related:
http://web.archive.org/web/20060503233712/www.chameleonjournals.com/husbandry/
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/168-parasites.html
http://www.chameleonforums.com/can-i-feed-these-my-veileds-42832/
http://www.chameleonforums.com/wild-caught-insects-parasites-36626/
http://www.chameleonforums.com/what-wild-caught-food-toxic-42666/
http://www.foodinsectsnewsletter.org/pdfs/Worldwidespecieslist15sept2011.pdf
