Canopy Worm Dish

[opheliaeatsbugs]

Hi All,

I'm curious about using a canopy worm dish like this one on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Exo-Terra-Ca...&qid=1484792781&sr=1-1&keywords=canopy+feeder) or something similar.

Are they useful? Any luck using one? Or is something new reptile owners (like me) buy because we don't know any better and it ends up a waste of money? haha

Thanks for your thoughts!
Julie

 

[Furciferocious]

Most people go with something homemade, like a plastic cup zip-tied to the branches. Nick Barta has two nice feeder designs on the Chameleon Supplies page, for about the same price. With respect to the "worm dish" that you posted; it's not clear how it mounts to the cage, it's not clear how deep it is or whether crickets could jump out of it, and chameleons don't really investigate holes in a search for food, they need to see bugs crawling/flying around. In theory, you shouldn't use a clear plastic cup for feeding because the cham might try shooting through it, but they would probably figure it out pretty quick. So far I just hold a cup in my hand, but will probably get one of Nick's PVC tubes for when others have to feed.

 

[Spyro]

In the description of the item it says it uses "adhesive strips to mount to the glass walls of your terrarium". I wouldn't think something like that would work well with a metal screen cage. I would use and do use the feeder cup zip tied to the screen sides. It works well for my chams! My chams also like free range feeders. They can eat them whenever they want just like the cups, but the feeders can actually walk around the cage. More nature-like than cups. Consider hand feeding the "worms" that you are using as well. Hope this helps!

 

[Angelwolf]

I just went to the pet store and found a guinea pig/hamster ceramic bowl, which has concave sides. The worms can't get out (not even huge superworms!) I have it propped on a secure place near the bottom of my cage, so my cham can see it from above, and can see the worms wriggling inside. He can hang in the branches and shoot his tongue, or sit on the side of the bowl and eat. I keep it low in the cage to keep from "cooking" the worms, also. They will die if they are too close to the top/canopy. I wouldn't waste the money. It also looks big enough that your cham can crawl inside and get lazy while eating, and end up not exercising his tongue. You don't want that.

 

[WAMBO]

Make something yourself and save money.

 

[opheliaeatsbugs]

Thanks for all your comments - I did not purchase the feeder and will take the suggestions and make my own! I normally do hand feed her the worms, but will be going on vacation and wanted something a little easier/less time consuming for our pet sitter. Thanks again!

 

[Angelwolf]

Just a little bit of advice. PLEASE!!! Make sure your pet sitter is extremely knowledgeable in chameleon care! There are hundreds of horror stories of people who thought they could trust a friend/family member to care for their pet properly, and came home from vacation to a near-dead animal. Please allow me to stress the importance of this! I really hate to read those threads! Just breaks my heart.

 

[ZacharyLeesWife]

I have permanent zip ties that are big enough to hold a standard size deli cup. The great thing is that they is a big variety of depths in different volume cups, but the circumference is the same so you can use shallow dishes for worms or deep ones for crickets using the same zip ties.

 

[opheliaeatsbugs]

Just a little bit of advice. PLEASE!!! Make sure your pet sitter is extremely knowledgeable in chameleon care! There are hundreds of horror stories of people who thought they could trust a friend/family member to care for their pet properly, and came home from vacation to a near-dead animal. Please allow me to stress the importance of this! I really hate to read those threads! Just breaks my heart.

Trust me, I am stressed about leaving her... but have done my best to make sure all goes well. My pet sitter has come twice this last week while I was home to do the routine while I was there and I am confident that she'll of a good job. I have printed everything out for her and walked her through the chameleon care and two bearded dragons (plus caring for the breeding roaches, crickets condo, wax worms, BSFL and the cat! I even have 4 blue horned worms pupating). I thought about a nanny cam for my cham just for peace of mind, but she will take pics everyday and describe her behavior and also track what everyone is consuming and what their poop looks like.

I'll post when I get back!

 

[ZacharyLeesWife]

She's a very lovely lady! I'm sure she'll be fine, it sounds like you found a great pet sitter.

 

[medgecko]

I've thought about a nanny cham to try to catch my Chamille drinking.

 

[opheliaeatsbugs]

I'm home and everything was fine while I was gone! whew! my pet sitter sent a picture everyday and we talked almost daily. Happy to say, we are all well