FirefighterGirl
New Member
I had heard of various ways of feeding crickets to chams such as just "free ranging" a certain amount at a time in the cage, feeding bowls, etc. and was just curious as to what method seems to work best for you guys.
Feeding Techniques
- Thread starter FirefighterGirl
- Start date
bluegeorge
New Member
Hello and welcome 
I know some people swear by cup feeding as they can measure the amount of insects being eaten and others swear by 'free ranging' crix etc
I personally feed my cham by putting them loose in his cage around 30 mins after his heat and light has gone on and he has warmed up. It gives him something to do and I like watching him hunt down his breakfast.
Silkies, horn and superworms get given as a treat and for variety in the afternoon and they too are just placed on different branches for him to find.
I think it depends on your cham...see what you like best. They both have there advantages and I am sure some more experienced keepers will be giving their advice as well
I know some people swear by cup feeding as they can measure the amount of insects being eaten and others swear by 'free ranging' crix etc
I personally feed my cham by putting them loose in his cage around 30 mins after his heat and light has gone on and he has warmed up. It gives him something to do and I like watching him hunt down his breakfast.
Silkies, horn and superworms get given as a treat and for variety in the afternoon and they too are just placed on different branches for him to find.
I think it depends on your cham...see what you like best. They both have there advantages and I am sure some more experienced keepers will be giving their advice as well
JoshCrane1
New Member
remember worms are more addicting, i only used crickets until a week or so ago i introduced silk worms, now she really loves em, im seeing more crickets at night which tells me either she is gettin full, or she is gettin picky, im thinkin its the second. starting to get spoiled.
FirefighterGirl
New Member
What The Crap....Cannibal Cricket!
Ok, so I free ranged 5 pinhead crickets in his enclosure. I left the room like 10 minutes after watching for a little, came back, and one was sitting on his back. I Shooed the cricket away, and He has a big bloody spot near the base of his tail now and on his ankle on one side...and he just sat there while the thing was eating on him. Talk about luck going from bad to worse. So now he's the last little surviving trooper, didn't get to eat, covered in sores and I'm scared to give him crickets now. WE NEED HELP!
Ok, so I free ranged 5 pinhead crickets in his enclosure. I left the room like 10 minutes after watching for a little, came back, and one was sitting on his back. I Shooed the cricket away, and
He has a big bloody spot near the base of his tail now and on his ankle on one side...and he just sat there while the thing was eating on him. Talk about luck going from bad to worse. So now he's the last little surviving trooper, didn't get to eat, covered in sores and I'm scared to give him crickets now. WE NEED HELP!
JoshCrane1
New Member
switch to cup feeding or worms.
Vegas Chad
Avid Member
I just sent you a mail... check ur PM box...
I know worms can be addictive but is there any worms out there that are safe to feed on a daily basis??? Or anything other than crickets? My baby cham cannot be bothered with crickets but give him a silk worm and he's on it like a fat kid on a cupcake..lol. Any info would be great.
JoshCrane1
New Member
im about to switch to silkworms for my staple(hopefully this will be my last batch of crickets), they are better feeder, just cant gutload; so you have to dust. i will still get an occasional batch of crickets but i want that to only be once a month or so.
Billyjack187
New Member
I feed my meal worms the same cricket gut load. Some wax worms, and crickets. They can get picky and even eat less some days. It depends, I ususally dust once a week and I cup feed AND free range. I work all day and I have college at night so it is always available.
mdrossncsu
New Member
I use the feeding cup method from here:
http://www.chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=79
I mainly stick to roaches, silkies, butterworms, and the occasional hornworm. I didn't like crickets because they stink. Also breading roaches is super easy.
http://www.chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=79
I mainly stick to roaches, silkies, butterworms, and the occasional hornworm. I didn't like crickets because they stink. Also breading roaches is super easy.
mika
New Member
Hi, I would suggest feeding & gutloading the crickets first before feeding it to your chameleon so they're not hungry & they won't try to bite him if they get loose.
Usually, when you buy crickets from a pet store they don't feed them. They just give them water.
Also, if you're using pinhead crickets, you can put them in a shallow deli cup (opaque in color) and they won't be able to escape (since they can't jump that high ). You can put it near his favorite spot.
Somethin like this with no lid and opaque in color:
http://www.progeckos.com/caresheets/images/ship_deli_cup.jpg
When i first started cup feeding, I would also show the chameleon where the crickets are by showing him what's inside the deli cup and then placing it near his favorite spot.
Now that my veileds are older, the 3 week old crickets I give them would just jump out of the cup, so they get to free range and eat from the cup.
If he won't eat the crickets at all, you might want to try holding the cricket if you can and hand feed him that way.
Usually, when you buy crickets from a pet store they don't feed them. They just give them water.
Also, if you're using pinhead crickets, you can put them in a shallow deli cup (opaque in color) and they won't be able to escape (since they can't jump that high ). You can put it near his favorite spot.
Somethin like this with no lid and opaque in color:
http://www.progeckos.com/caresheets/images/ship_deli_cup.jpg
When i first started cup feeding, I would also show the chameleon where the crickets are by showing him what's inside the deli cup and then placing it near his favorite spot.
Now that my veileds are older, the 3 week old crickets I give them would just jump out of the cup, so they get to free range and eat from the cup.
If he won't eat the crickets at all, you might want to try holding the cricket if you can and hand feed him that way.
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