Cup feeding,, not working..

[Bob 1000]

How do you guys get your chams to cup feed.. I have had a small clear tupperware in the enclosure under the light for a while now with about 4 roaches in it with no luck.. Scratchie doesn't seem to care for the cup..

 

[RobandJess]

Try to use a cup that isn't clear....it also helps to have the cup on a lower branch so he can look down on the feeders...we have it near his favorite branch so we know he goes there a lot. Just give it some time and he will use it once he is hungry.

 

[Bob 1000]

I'll switch the cup out today, thanks..
Should I not offer bugs on the leafs in the enclosure.. Strictly in the cup

 

[carol5208]

are you using crickets? Why not let them go in the cage and let your chameleon hunt them down. I never fed one cricket in a cup! If you do decide to go that way, just make sure you don't leave them in there at night. I know they can hide so just put a few in at a time and see if he will eat them. Oh, I see you are using roaches. i never fed those so don't know about them crawling up the screens or on the branches. But the crickets will for sure!

 

[krbshappy71]

I use a shallow wide-mouthed solid white cup (I believe its a cottage cheese cup) so he doesn't get afraid to get close to it. He seems to prefer it over the to-go plastic drink cups.http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Original_Photo/2007/06/20/1182356858_8794.jpg

 

[CamoTheChameleon408]

My experience with cup feeding

When I first got Camo, I would release crickets in his cage but I didn't like it. First off, I couldn't monitor how much he was eating and on top of that, I noticed a lot of the crickets would end up dead on the bottom of his cage or would hide under the potted plant. I then purchased a small glass bowl that I put crickets in (to prevent them from crawling out). I put this little bowl at the bottom of his tank and this didn't really work either. He either never saw the bowl or he didn't feel like crawling down to it. I then purchased a small white deli cup which I place right in the middle of his plant(weeping fig) and this worked great! Now when I wake up, I'll see him waiting for his breakfast where I place his dish. He's still weary of me and avoids me as much as possible but when I put in his food, he literally runs to it. It's suprising how fast these little guys move when they want to.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Try a dark coloured bowl, with a single bug in it at a time. a bug that moves a fair bit preferable, until the chameleon associates the bowl wih food

 

[VeiledOwner87]

are you using crickets? Why not let them go in the cage and let your chameleon hunt them down. I never fed one cricket in a cup! If you do decide to go that way, just make sure you don't leave them in there at night. I know they can hide so just put a few in at a time and see if he will eat them. Oh, I see you are using roaches. i never fed those so don't know about them crawling up the screens or on the branches. But the crickets will for sure!

Carol doesnt use roaches cuz shes scaaaarrrreeeeddd!!! hahah only kidding carol, just continuing the teasing from the last thread i'll stop now.

in my opinion though, free ranging is the best way to go for MOST feeders. i like free ranging because it gives the chameleon the chance to fully exercise their tongue. always cup feeding enables the chameleon to dig their face in the cup like a fat kid in a pie eating contest. consistency of cup feeding can potentially, allow the tongue to loose full capability to extend it further distances. because my veiled has been raised to cup feed, i now cup feed some days, and free range others. this way, if for any reason i have to consistently cup feed, she will not forget about it and become discouraged by a giant cup. my multi. on the other hand is a wc, and wont ever cup feed. so for 99% of his feeders, they free range. the only two things he will "cup feed" are wax worms and meal worms, and this is in a very small deli cup.

i would just advise that you do a look over and make sure your cage is "escape-proof" 100% or to the best of its ability. crickets can chew through fiberglass screening for those of you with home made cages, though this hasn't happened to me... yet, i only have one small hole in one of my cages due to my idiocy, a screw, and a drill. crickets will also escape through mesh as small as 1/4'', i have now upgraded my top screen which had 1/4'' aluminum mesh, and switched it to aluminum window screening with hole width wide enough to allow sufficient uvb to come through.

as some of you know or have read, dubias and orangehead roaches are very slow moving bugs. they will be speedy at first, but will slow down and even stop, making it unnoticeable to the chameleon. i think chameleons are kind of like t-rexes' when it comes to movement lol. you kind of have to sit there and wait for the chameleon to eat it up before leaving, because i am pretty sure they will eat through fiberglass screening or material mesh like crickets.

my multi. is a slow eater, like most multituberculatas, they have a much smaller appetite unlike veiled and panther chameleons for example. not only is he a small eater, but he just isn't used to me or other humans yet, even though i've had him 5-6 months now. i dodges when i open the cage or put my hand in there. so i usually have to go on the outside of the cage and kind of bump the roach to make some type of movement.

this technique goes the same for silkworms and hornworms. the will move at first, but after a little bit will die down and be very very slow or just stop moving altogether.

superworms are fine, but again if there is an opening in the cage, if they find it, they will escape. superworms are good free range insect imo, and move quite well. superworms however, sometimes have a very crappy grip to the cage, usually after molting. it could be an insect, that you may have to ensure will be good to stay on the cage. i dont suggest putting superworms on branches, they can easily fall.

that is just a few, sorry for the long post, but i hope it helps.

 

[carol5208]

Carol doesnt use roaches cuz shes scaaaarrrreeeeddd!!! hahah only kidding carol, just continuing the teasing from the last thread i'll stop now.

in my opinion though, free ranging is the best way to go for MOST feeders. i like free ranging because it gives the chameleon the chance to fully exercise their tongue. always cup feeding enables the chameleon to dig their face in the cup like a fat kid in a pie eating contest. consistency of cup feeding can potentially, allow the tongue to loose full capability to extend it further distances. because my veiled has been raised to cup feed, i now cup feed some days, and free range others. this way, if for any reason i have to consistently cup feed, she will not forget about it and become discouraged by a giant cup. my multi. on the other hand is a wc, and wont ever cup feed. so for 99% of his feeders, they free range. the only two things he will "cup feed" are wax worms and meal worms, and this is in a very small deli cup.

i would just advise that you do a look over and make sure your cage is "escape-proof" 100% or to the best of its ability. crickets can chew through fiberglass screening for those of you with home made cages, though this hasn't happened to me... yet, i only have one small hole in one of my cages due to my idiocy, a screw, and a drill. crickets will also escape through mesh as small as 1/4'', i have now upgraded my top screen which had 1/4'' aluminum mesh, and switched it to aluminum window screening with hole width wide enough to allow sufficient uvb to come through.

as some of you know or have read, dubias and orangehead roaches are very slow moving bugs. they will be speedy at first, but will slow down and even stop, making it unnoticeable to the chameleon. i think chameleons are kind of like t-rexes' when it comes to movement lol. you kind of have to sit there and wait for the chameleon to eat it up before leaving, because i am pretty sure they will eat through fiberglass screening or material mesh like crickets.

my multi. is a slow eater, like most multituberculatas, they have a much smaller appetite unlike veiled and panther chameleons for example. not only is he a small eater, but he just isn't used to me or other humans yet, even though i've had him 5-6 months now. i dodges when i open the cage or put my hand in there. so i usually have to go on the outside of the cage and kind of bump the roach to make some type of movement.

this technique goes the same for silkworms and hornworms. the will move at first, but after a little bit will die down and be very very slow or just stop moving altogether.

superworms are fine, but again if there is an opening in the cage, if they find it, they will escape. superworms are good free range insect imo, and move quite well. superworms however, sometimes have a very crappy grip to the cage, usually after molting. it could be an insect, that you may have to ensure will be good to stay on the cage. i dont suggest putting superworms on branches, they can easily fall.

that is just a few, sorry for the long post, but i hope it helps.

You are right!!! I am scared to death of those things!! I don't mind the kidding, it is all in good fun!!!!

 

[Bob 1000]

Thanks for the replies people, even the long ones.. I have no problem reading those too. I'll try the darker smaller cup and today I noticed in NY that the temp went down and my normally in between 50 and 60 humidity dropped to 30.. So I'll be heading over to home depot for the humidifier..
Thanks all and keep the post coming I'd like everyones opinion..