Dormant feeders

[Ozryn]

Hello everybody! First time poster here.

I have a question for you all. Wondering if anyone knew which feeders can be put in dormant state in a fridge or freezer? I'm planning on getting my first cham soon but would prefer not to raise my own feeders if possible.

Buying small enough quantities to keep the feeders alive for a single chameleon seems unreasonably expensive. What I had in mind was to keep large quantities in the extra fridge I have in the basement.

Then all that would be needed would be to take them out for a few days and get them properly fed & loaded.

Is this possible at all? If so, please list which grubs can be used!

Thanks, Pat.

 

[chambabysitter1]

I can't offer much firsthand experience, but right now I have some Hornworms and Butterworms in the fridge.

The hornworms need a day or 2 in, then 1 whole day out. Seemed to freeze up their growth really well, and they spring back to life after a bit of warmth. Been keeping this way for under a week now, and it came recommended to me by a senior keeper.

The butterworms keep fine in the fridge. No need to take them in or out I believe, they seem just fine in the cold.

There are probably more, but this is just my experience.

 

[Ozryn]

Can a chams base diet consist of butterworms or are crickets the only possible way to go?

Considering I would still feed it other insects anyway, but as the main food item...

 

[chambabysitter1]

Can a chams base diet consist of butterworms or are crickets the only possible way to go?

Considering I would still feed it other insects anyway, but as the main food item...

You can slow crickets and roaches down with colder temps, but you still gotta warm them up if you want them to gutload properly the night before.

As far as just worm/caterpillar types for feeders for regular daily meals, I don't think it comes recommended as they need the chitin (crunchy bits) to fill out their diets. Someone with more data can help you out probably, just wait for the senior members to start dropping some bombs.

 

[Ozryn]

Will do, thanks.

Any idea how "slowed down" crickets get in the fridge?

*Assumes the waiting pose*

 

[codiwatkins]

I dont think u can put crickets in the fridge.......I put my cricket cage outside on my back porch(they wouldnt SHUT UP and i had a headache) there was about 30 crickets in it and they all died over night...............Im in texas........the temp has been fairly nice lately sooooooooooo it was def not as cold outside as it would be in a fridge

I know that at petco they keep superworms and mealworms in the fridge and just tell u to take them out to "bring them back to life". From what i have read Superworms are pretty good for your cham PLUS they dont need as much food to gut load......I give mine grits and oatmeal and they seem to be getting bigger everyday!!

 

[Ozryn]

Yeah the noise is also something I was concerned about. I live with three other people so I have to consider them as well.

 

[codiwatkins]

Do you have a gararge(or a back porch)?? I think if you just put a heat light on them they should be ok.............I didnt realize they would die in the cold or i would have just dealt with the noise!!! But they where in my livingroom and i could here them all the way in my room which is on the opposite end of my apartment

 

[Ozryn]

Well I live in Quebec so putting them outside would be alright for about 6 months of the year but otherwise impossible.

I suppose raised crickets are just as noisy as the ones you hear outside?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I know that at petco they keep superworms and mealworms in the fridge and just tell u to take them out to "bring them back to life". From what i have read Superworms are pretty good for your cham PLUS they dont need as much food to gut load......I give mine grits and oatmeal and they seem to be getting bigger everyday!!

Not superworms. They will die.
beetle larvae and worms are very unnatural food for chameleons.
Caterpillars (hornworms, silkworms) are closer to prey they would encounter in their natural habitat.
You need to take VERY good care of the food you feed your chameleon, to the point that it becomes a sub-hobby. Their food cannot be stored in the refrigerator.

-Brad

 

[sandrachameleon]

I believe a varied diet is the best way to go, rather than having a "staple feeder". Further, I believe being a good bug keeper makes you a better chameleon keeper.
Certainly I wouldnt use butterworms exclusively, but Yes, You can keep butterworms in the fridge.

I agree with chambabysitter that you want a good balance of chinton/crunchy bits to meaty/squishy bits.

You can Store superworms somewhere cool but not so cold as the fridge. Actually superworms live a long time without being cooled. They're also easy to breed, reducing your feeder costs.

Roaches slow down when cooled. But why not keep em warm and let them breed, reducing your feeder costs.

Silkworm eggs can be refridgerated for a time.

 

[codiwatkins]

Not superworms. They will die.
beetle larvae and worms are very unnatural food for chameleons.
Caterpillars (hornworms, silkworms) are closer to prey they would encounter in their natural habitat.
You need to take VERY good care of the food you feed your chameleon, to the point that it becomes a sub-hobby. Their food cannot be stored in the refrigerator.

-Brad

I keep my superworms in a little tub thing with oats and grits.....Is this ok?? I want them to be properly gut load if Ester ever eats them!!

 

[sandrachameleon]

I keep my superworms in a little tub thing with oats and grits.....Is this ok?? I want them to be properly gut load if Ester ever eats them!!

So before you feed them off, gutload them with fresh fruit and veg - just like with crickets.
I keep my supers in oats, bran plus whatever dry gutload I have made up for crickets, roaches etc and pieces of carrot, yam, fruit, dandelion leaves, etc

 

[Ozryn]

Anyone else have any advice on this?

 

[summoner12]

You need to take VERY good care of the food you feed your chameleon, to the point that it becomes a sub-hobby.

I agree with this! lol Bugs become a sub-hobby for sure!

Their food cannot be stored in the refrigerator.

-Brad

"Their" butter worms, wax worms, meal worms and (for a short time period) horn worms, can be stored just fine in the fridge.

 

[nick barta]

Yeah the noise is also something I was concerned about. I live with three other people so I have to consider them as well.

Crickets will not chirp if you get them young enough. By not getting 3/4-1 inch crickets you will be able to fed your smaller chams, won't have the big spikes on the back legs, and the young 1/2 inch cricket still has several weeks of life.Crickets are a feeder that most keepers use, just do it wisely.

Super worms last forever at room temperature, are cheap, and if you get young smaller super worms (Great Lakes Hornworm), they will last you for months and months.


Butterworms are the no-feed, no-water, leave me alone in the refrigerator perfect feeder. High fat content would limit the use of this is a primary feeder.
Hornworms in the cup only require dumping the frass (feces) occaisionally, and are readily accepted by most Chams.


Silkworms are the hardest to raise, but the cups of silkworms at Mulberry Farms are as painless as the Hornworm cups.


Blue Bottle flies are a great feeder, you can get them @ Mantisplace.com.

Insects from your yard...............Priceless!!

Nick

 

[Malicious]

I too agree 100% with Brad and Kev, the feeders consume almost as much of my time as the chams do. In one sense I have 4003 mouths to feed daily! That takes alot of time and commitment. This is my feeder list, and what I have onhand most times.

1-2k crickets (56qt tub,fruits/vegs,clean every other day)
100-500 silkworms (34qt tub, chow/fresh leaves, clean tub daily!!)
25-50 hornworms (pods, chow, remove feces daily)
25-50 butterworms (32oz. deli cup, refrigerated)
500 blue bottle flys (8 64 oz deli cups, water,fly feed, clean cups/refil daily)
500 house flys (6 32 oz. deli cups, water fly feed, clean cups/refil daily)
100-200 phoenix worms (in orignal packaging, add water every few days)

I am going to order Dubias and supers in about 15 mins, so I you can add that to the list of care aswell. I take alot of time caring for those feeders, esp the silks, since it is vital to keep thier environment sanitary at all times. It is truely a sub hobby. I also get a kick out of taking macro pictures of the feeders. I am getting a new macro lense tomorrow, so that should be a blast!

-Jay

 

[Titan]

-Jay

Dude! I got like 10 Species of Chams. Dont have time to count them all, And I gotta say, You Keep onhand almost as much bugs as I!
Wow, I commend ya!
O and by the way, why dont you stock 3 times that much so I can shop your store.

 

[Ozryn]

Thanks everybody for your answers!

After reading this and considering it all I will probably raise Dubias and keep some worms on hand. There are also tons of wild crickets/snails/moths out here which shouldn't have been exposed to any chemicals (I live pretty far from... everything.)

I'll let you all know when I get the cham and post some pics (although it'll probably be in a month or so)

I'm going to Cuba for some beach action soon.


Pat.