A worm by any other name....

[LSepkowski]

I've been looking on this site for wax worms to see if it is an appropriate food source. Problem is that I can find any forums referring to wax worms. Are they called something else? Do they have another name that you all use. Thanks!

 

[hallenhe]

There's a weird glitch in the search function that throws out words that are "too short" - like "wax". Wax worms do crop up several times in these forums. To sum up the general gist of them, many chameleons love waxworms, but they're fatty and not very good for chams. They can given as treats, but are not good for every day (or even every week).

 

[sandrachameleon]

wax worms do not make a good feeder option, unless you are trying to fatten up an under-weight animal

Here are some links for you regarding waxworms
https://www.chameleonforums.com/waxworms-13934/
http://www.adcham.com/html/insects/insects-waxworm-rearing.html
http://www.dendroworld.co.uk/BDGarchive/waxmoths.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXI7uVPZRTE

Nutritional value of various insects:
http://chamownersweb.net/insects/nutritional_values.htm
http://www.chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=92
https://www.chameleonforums.com/nutritional-analysis-2522/#post171073

 

[LSepkowski]

My guy is a little underweight, so people at the pet store recommended wax worms. I just don't hear people talking about them ever, so I though maybe it had another name. Problem is, my cham won't eat the wax worms anyway. I know the breeder only used crickets, would that affect the foods he will eat? Any suggestions on how to get him to eat them?

 

[pssh]

Try a pinkie mouse. Good for fattening up an under weight animal.

 

[LSepkowski]

I doubt he'd eat it. Any techniques I could use to encourage him to eat foods that are foreign to him?

 

[Trace]

It always puzzles me that people are fast to recommend fatty foods to help increase weight but do not ask or try to solve the underlying reason why the specimen is underweight to begin with. Perhaps he's filled with internal parasites and is not getting the nutrition they need from the insects they are used to eating. Perhaps they are in the early stages of kidney failure. Perhaps it's a simple husbandry (temperature, humidity, stress) issue. Perhaps the animal is WC and needs proper acclimation.

My recommendation is a visit to a herp vet. Nobody here is one and shouldn't be diagnosing animals from a few pictures.

Good luck with your trioceros xantholophus; they are a fun species to work with.

 

[sandrachameleon]

My guy is a little underweight, so people at the pet store recommended wax worms. I just don't hear people talking about them ever, so I though maybe it had another name. Problem is, my cham won't eat the wax worms anyway. I know the breeder only used crickets, would that affect the foods he will eat? Any suggestions on how to get him to eat them?

Yes, not having exposure to other feeder insects does seem to effect how readily they will get used to new stuff.

Bugs that move a lot tend to be eaten more readily
Try butterworms, superworms, flies, moths
also green coloured bugs such as hornworms, stick insects and cabbage loopers are well liked.

A list of commonly used feeders and info about each: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html