Cricket fear??

[aaron1]

Hey,

Ive adopted a chameleon thats a few months old and seems to be ok except for the fact that she dosent seem to like crickets. At all. Os this possible?
I've had her a few weeks new and still havent seen her eat any crickets and all the crickets ive put in with her are all still there.

Has anyone heard of such a thing?if so, please help!

 

[coolmoon]

Sometimes they get tired of the same food and need something else. Have you tried feeding anything besides crickets? If its very young it may also be having a hard time finding them. You can try cup feeding.

 

[aaron1]

Sometimes they get tired of the same food and need something else. Have you tried feeding anything besides crickets? If its very young it may also be having a hard time finding them. You can try cup feeding.

cup feeding?but wont the crickets escape?

 

[coolmoon]

I used a small plastic bowl about four inches long and two and a half or so deep. Attach it to a limb or the side, someplace it can get to. Small crickets won't get out or you can remove one or both of the hopper legs if it looks like they can escape.

 

[aaron1]

she seems to prefer lettuce over anything else..mealworms occasionally

 

[Ricardo]

dubia roaches, flies, silkworm, locusts,mealworms. And waxworms, hornworms for treats. lots of feeders you can try! just search a bit for the nutritional value of each feeder. there are lots of info on his forum! good luck

R.

 

[BigR]

If she's eating lettuce, you should try to get her to eat some kale. It is far more nutritious than lettuce.

 

[coolmoon]

Lettuce and mealworms are not good for chams. Try some of the other feeders suggested or gut loaded crickets. Is she drinking? If you don't get her eating properly she will get sick.

 

[aaron1]

she dosent seem to be drinking.....ive got a bowl in there but the guy i had her off never had any complaints of her drinking...

 

[chambabysitter1]

Chameleons do not drink from bowls. Check out the kitty blog. I am on a laptop right now so hopefully another member can link it. It has basic care outlines for a chameleon, a wealth of info. If you feel like a beginner it is a great place to start.

edit: Found it! Check to see if you are following the instructions on this page, it is a very short read, but people tend to discover a few things they were doing wrong with their husbandry from it.
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

Where are you from Aaron?

 

[blackbetty]

Bowls are bacteria breeders. Get a dripper/mister or mist the cage yourself.

Did the previous owner tell you what she was being fed? If I cup feed, I do it every other day as adults do not need as much as youngins. however, I free roam Dubias and crickets most the time. If Leo is hungry, he will find the food himself as long as I keep it supplied.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Hello

Is it possible the crickets offered are too large for the chameleon? How big is the chameleon?

I agree with the advice to use a dripper and misting, NOT a water bowl.

The advice to offer Kale, or dandelion leaves or thin slivers of carrot and/or pieces of apple, instead of lettuce is good advice.

The advice to avoid offering mealworms very often is good advice.
Cup feeding is worth trying.
Other feeder options: butterworms, silkworms, various roaches, zophobas (aka superworms), moths, flies, hornworms (not wc), isopods, phasmidae, etc.
Click below to get to a number of useful links to other threads and websites with good reading on feeder options.

 

[blackbetty]

Hey sandra, Can you use Butterflies that are WC? We have a butterfly bush and I was curious when spring hit, if they made good feeders?

 

[BigR]

I wouldn't risk giving a cham WC insects. Too high of a risk for parasites and pesticide/herbicide buildup.

 

[blackbetty]

Thanks Big..What about if you get one of those butterfly huts and raise them yourself?

 

[BigR]

Raising them yourself, I'd say it would be fine.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I do use some wc insects but I would hesitate to use most butterflies. Some may be toxic. The only ones I know are safe are Pieris rapae (small whites) and there are a couple local moths that I know are okay (plus silk moths). Other than that I fear to try !

Those you raise yourself are safer in terms of possible parasite or pestacide contact.

 

[Lizardlover]

I think that painted ladies (butterflies) are non-toxic, youd have to ask mulberry about that, or you could always try to experiment and make your own cultures like with hornworms (hornworms in the wild are toxic)

 

[aaron1]

Chams eat roaches?
and yes i really am that new to this.
I asked at a reptile store and they just gave me crickets and mealworms as food.
Ive seen my cham eat a mealworm every now and again but have yet to see her eat crickets!
Shes getting all miserable again! what do i do?!argh!

 

[coolmoon]

Yes, chams will eat roaches, dubia are best. Okay, have you given her a dripper for water? You should mist her with a spray bottle with warm water a couple times a day for several mins. It will stimulate her thirst. Don't spray her directly and make sure there were no chemicals used in the bottle. Try to use other feeders. Did you try putting them in a cup for her? If she is getting really bad a vet visit may be needed. If she isn't eating the crickets you need to take them out so they don't chew on her. Have you tried holding one in front of her with your hand. You can try force feeding her but I do not recommend this. Gently open her mouth and place a cricket inside, you may get a bite depending on her mood.