Hornworms too big?

[rogue606]

I just got my 4 month old male panther an order of 25 hornworms. They were listed as "small" but these guys are at least an inch and a half long. Should I even try feeding them to OJ? Would he maybe choke on them if they're too long? Is cutting them in half a thing that people do? Right now he's eating 1/2" crickets for a size reference.

 

[Andee]

How big is your chameleon? can you post some pictures it'd help... usually worms and softer bodied insects can be larger and easier to eat, though there is always a limit.

 

[KapitalJ]

1.5" isn't very big. Unless your cham is really small, there shouldn't be a problem..

 

[Nursemaia]

1.5 inch is a pretty small hornworm. A 4 month panther should be able to eat it just fine

 

[alphakenc]

The cham wont choke,if they can not swallow they will spit right out n left it there,hornworm has a softer body,so I agree with everyone above.

 

[XxSepiorxX]

I just got my 4 month old male panther an order of 25 hornworms. They were listed as "small" but these guys are at least an inch and a half long. Should I even try feeding them to OJ? Would he maybe choke on them if they're too long? Is cutting them in half a thing that people do? Right now he's eating 1/2" crickets for a size reference.

The age could help. If we know that, we can find out. A 4 month panther should be able to eat a small hornworm.

 

[rogue606]

thanks for the replies. I don't have a picture of the worms next to him right now, but here is a pic of him about 1 week ago. Hes not quite 4 months yet. the worms are at least 2-3 times the width of his mouth I'd say. I didn't see him do it, but I believe he ate 1 or 2 as I spot checked and I can't find them in the cage any more. I really wanna see his tiny little mouth devour one of these haha

 

[KapitalJ]

handsom little man you have there!!

 

[WAMBO]

Mine chews them. If there was a large cricket, he chewed them too. But I suppose since there is the reported risk of chocking, so I keep the larger feeders at a minimum, and rarely feed them something big. From what I read, hornworms are more of a treat, rather than a staple feeder, and great for hydration use of course.

 

[SouthernCham]

I went to a reptile shop that wasn't to far from my house today and they had Hornworms, very small ones so I figured well, why not, so I grabbed a cup that had maybe 35 of them and grabbed two large ones. My cham is about a year and six months, I was curious if he'd eat the large ones so when I got home I set one in his cage and BAM! He instantly snagged it and chowed it down fast, guess I'll be letting the small ones grow, lol

 

[WAMBO]

My 8 month old panther won't eat the big one.

 

[rogue606]

Update...he definitely eats the crap outta these!
He tends to wait until I've left the room after putting his feeders on his favorite leaf to actually start hunting
I put the biggest hornworm I had on his leaf and walked out of the room. 1 minute later I walk in and see him with this giant thing hanging out of his little mouth. Shoulda grabbed a picture. It took him a while to eat the whole thing but he loves them.
Thanks all for the advice.

 

[socalman75]

oh he is gorgeous

 

[WAMBO]

Update...he definitely eats the crap outta these!
He tends to wait until I've left the room after putting his feeders on his favorite leaf to actually start hunting
I put the biggest hornworm I had on his leaf and walked out of the room. 1 minute later I walk in and see him with this giant thing hanging out of his little mouth. Shoulda grabbed a picture. It took him a while to eat the whole thing but he loves them.
Thanks all for the advice.

This is a coincidence. My panther was shedding, so I just left the enormous hornworm in his feeding container for the past 3 days, with a small amount of kale. I threw in about 8 crickets today. The big guy ate the big guy today!

 

[Link]

If it's a big they will just chew it up. Mine just bite them in half and leave the rest on the ground

 

[Link]

thanks for the replies. I don't have a picture of the worms next to him right now, but here is a pic of him about 1 week ago. Hes not quite 4 months yet. the worms are at least 2-3 times the width of his mouth I'd say. I didn't see him do it, but I believe he ate 1 or 2 as I spot checked and I can't find them in the cage any more. I really wanna see his tiny little mouth devour one of these haha

Beautiful guy