Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
I have a feeding bin idea that is sort of the middle ground between free ranging and cup feeding. Even if their tongues don't actually atrophy from being dependent on a cup, I want to enrich their lives somewhat. My cages are really large so this is what works for me.
Get a plastic Critter Keeper box (the ones that are about 10" long) or something similar with cloudy plastic and either hang it from lower branches of a Ficus, or put it on the cage bottom. The lower the box the less likely your cham will try to shoot through the sides. They are deeper than the average deli cup so more of the crix stay put if you don't spook them. Arrange a perch so the cham can climb to the edge of the box. Put in feeders and some gutload. The chams can't get really close to the feeders and the feeders have the space to run around more. The motion attracts the cham, they have to track and shoot from the box rim which takes more concentration and effort. Also, the increased distance reduces the number of times the cham's tongue hits the hard surface with full force. Remove uneaten feeders at the end of the day so they can get re-gutloaded. To give the cham something more exciting to hunt, a few loose houseflies in the cage get them going and they tend to stay up towards the lights where the cham can see them.
As for removing crix from their bins...put in a tp or paper towel tube, cover one end, stir up the crix, and some will run into the tube for you.
Get a plastic Critter Keeper box (the ones that are about 10" long) or something similar with cloudy plastic and either hang it from lower branches of a Ficus, or put it on the cage bottom. The lower the box the less likely your cham will try to shoot through the sides. They are deeper than the average deli cup so more of the crix stay put if you don't spook them. Arrange a perch so the cham can climb to the edge of the box. Put in feeders and some gutload. The chams can't get really close to the feeders and the feeders have the space to run around more. The motion attracts the cham, they have to track and shoot from the box rim which takes more concentration and effort. Also, the increased distance reduces the number of times the cham's tongue hits the hard surface with full force. Remove uneaten feeders at the end of the day so they can get re-gutloaded. To give the cham something more exciting to hunt, a few loose houseflies in the cage get them going and they tend to stay up towards the lights where the cham can see them.
As for removing crix from their bins...put in a tp or paper towel tube, cover one end, stir up the crix, and some will run into the tube for you.
