Fruit & Vegetables

[sallyb]

I wonder if anyone can offer any advice on when i should begin to introduce fruit and vegetables to Gizzy - she is 10 weeks old now and i read they will eat fruit and veg from 3 months old, but i really need help with which kinds they will eat, how much,how small to chop things and what i should present it in to her, also should i begin introducing the foods now or above three months old ? I would be grateful for any advice, thanks, Sal.

 

[laurie]

I have the same questions, so i will also be waiting for answers with you. lol

 

[sandrachameleon]

I dont suppose there is any harm in introducing veggies to Gizzy now, though I understand they dont usually start munching them until theyre several months old.

Greens (Romaine lettuce, dandelion leaves, mustard greens, collard greens), broccoli bits, grated carrots or small pieces of fresh fruit, alfalfa sprouts, hibiscus leaf and flower. Just make sure that they are pesticide free before you place them in the cage. Stuff can be put in a small bowl or impaled onto sticks or tied to a branch. You might spread a layer of pureed vegetables onto the leaves of the plants in their cage and see if they just lick it off.

 

[MutantHybrid]

I second Sandrachameleon's advice. Mine started on the leaves of the pothos when I first got her and she was only about 4 inches long tail and all. That told me she wanted some vegetable matter, so I use kale (high in calcium and vitamin C), collard and mustard greens, apple, and bits of carrot. Just chop or grate everything small enough that it is bite sized for the chameleon. Just a little smaller than the size of live prey you offer would be good. At first, like any infant, the cham might not recognize some of the food items and might leave more to waste. After a few days the cham will catch on and get a taste for those food items. Mine gets a small handful of veggies and fruit twice a day with 3-4 large crickets and a couple mealworms. She eats virtually all I offer her, going for the apple first more often than not. One way to ensure the cham gets the idea that veggies are food is to place some live prey in a cup or food tray among the veggies so that the cham snags some of it when catching the prey. Soon you can place the veggies separately and the cham will go for it without hesitation. Now she ignores the pothos as a food source.

 

[sallyb]

Great, thanks very much. I will start her on a little this week and see how she goes now i know what and how to feed her. Really appreciate the help.