Crickets climbing screen after putting them in the cage

[Flabonsai]

I received my chameleon 3 days ago and I saw him eat 3 Crickets the first day and nothing yesterday and 1 Cricket today. They said he's close to 4 months I say closer to 3 months. When I put the Cricket's in I sprinkle them across the plants and shorty after they either fall to the bottom or climb over on the sides of the screen and never get back on the plants. I'm feeding him 1/4 size Crickets. I put about 12 in the cage at a time and he doesn't seem interested in them once there moving around on the screen. At the end of the day pretty much almost all on the Crickets are in the cage untouched. Is this normal for them not to eat them from the screen or do I just need to give him a few more days to adjust. Also is 12 Crickets enough to offer or should I put a few more in at a time? The only thing is it's a pain to remove all the one's he doesn't eat at the end of the day and it kind of disturbs him sticking my hand's in there removing all the left over Crickets. Here,s a picture of the cage and setup

 

[BocaJan]

What a nice cage you have! I would put less crickets in your cage and let him eat those before you offer any more. If you can get him to cup feed that would be an option.

 

[Branman]

Try cup feeding the crickets. It should help keep all the crickets together. Also, try adding a vine in your setup.

 

[Flabonsai]

Thank you bocaJan, I see you're from Boca, I just moved from Lake worth last summer up here to Knoxville TN. I'm moving back down to Lake Worth in November so I think the chameleon will like it down there in the warmer climate. I'll have to try to cup feed. I'll have to read up a little bit to see easiest way to do it.

What a nice cage you have! I would put less crickets in your cage and let him eat those before you offer any more. If you can get him to cup feed that would be an option.

 

[BocaJan]

It may take a little bit to get them used to it. Make sure the crickets are the appropriate size. Use a cup that they can see the crickets move around but don't put more then 3 or 4 in the cup. Tip it slightly so they can easily see and shoot at them. The crickets may try to climb towards them. I think that's ok the first couple times, then when your cham knows what's going on, don't let the crickets out. Eventually your cham will get the idea and actually like the idea of the crickets being easy pickens. I always let them shoot a few in the cup and then let a couple crawl out so my cham can hunt.

Florida is a great place for chameleons!

 

[camaleonte82]

A lot of Chams tend to not eat much the first few days in a new environment. they will eat off the screen or at least all mine do and i have 6. let them adjust for a few days and see what happens. my crickets never stay on the plants they grip the screen better lol.

on the amount. when there young and growing you want to feed them as much as they will eat in a day. if not it could cause growth problems and such. and make sure you offer a viraity of foods. such as silk worms, butter worms, phoenix worms. no food should be more then 40% of there diet. it could be that he/she is tired of crickets and wants a mix up.

i wish you luck. and if you ever need help everyone is around to help with there opinions

 

[Flabonsai]

Thank you both for the great tips! I really appreciate it and it sounds like a good plan. I think I read on here that someones cham took almost 5 days before he finally stated to eat. So hopefully in a few days his appetite will be better once he gets used to his new cage and surroundings.

 

[carol5208]

Hi there I sent you a pm back! Welcome to the forums! Your cage looks very nice!!!

 

[sterling archer]

i just got a cham a couple weeks ago it took him about 4-5 days before he started eating consistantly and as much as he was supposed to. unfortunatly he has no interest in cup feeding I've been trying, but i know where the crickets like to hide so i have a pretty good idea of what is in the cage still at the end of the day. keep trying an good luck... tight setup btw

 

[Flabonsai]

i just got a cham a couple weeks ago it took him about 4-5 days before he started eating consistantly and as much as he was supposed to. unfortunatly he has no interest in cup feeding I've been trying, but i know where the crickets like to hide so i have a pretty good idea of what is in the cage still at the end of the day. keep trying an good luck... tight setup btw

That makes me feel better! I guess I'm worrying more then I should but I think we all have one time or another.

 

[Drago]

When I put crickets in my cage, they usually head up the screen toward the basking light. They gather right up at the top of the cage but I have a vine that passes by the spot. My cham generally sits there basking away, picking off the crickets.