Chameleon Feeding Basic Q

[Xxfruitytuty87xx]

Hello everyone!! I just had a quick q regarding feeding. I've only had our girl (tiny) for a week so I'm in no rush with all of this, but: Tong feeding is a no-no so they don't get injured, hand feeding is a no-no for my personal boundaries because I cannot do jumpy crickets, but letting the crickets loose in the enclosure seems to result in not knowing how my she's getting on a daily basis. She won't take dubias still which is fine she can take her time. Do I rip the crickets legs off so they can't jump out of the cups?? LOLOL (cruel I know... but...?) Totally ridiculous question but I just want to make sure I'm not missing any options on such a young cham who needs all the bugs she can get to thrive. She's not been interested in mealworms or superworms either. She LOVES crickets. Am I overthinking this?

 

[Beman]

Hey there best thing to do is a feeder run. You can buy them like the full throttle ones. or build one. I love the full throttle feeder runs. https://www.fullthrottlefeeders.com/


This is a DIY feeder run link. https://dragonstrand.com/constructing-a-chameleon-feeder-run/

There will still be the chance of them jumping out but honestly it is pretty few that do. Position the feeder near a branch so the cham can easily access. And if you let the crickets settle in a cup before you gently pour them into the feeder run they are not as freaked out wanting to flee for their lives.

 

[nightanole]

I also do feeder "tubs". Just shallow opaque tupperware with a few sticks (or chicken wire) across it, at the bottom of the cage. It needs to be shallow enough that if the cham decides to crawl into the tub, they can still crawl out. Then the bugs just kinda hang out with some food. Some crickets are sporting enough to jump out.

 

[Eileen]

I agree with what Beman said.. it's easy to make your own feeder run.. just follow that youtube instruction! Here is my baby the first day I had her. At first I was not sure at ALL that she was going to use it.. she seemed so stressed moving into her new home. But she scrambled right over and grabbed those crickets! (Please mute this video.. my background noise was terrible! Sounds like someone running machinery or something.)