I have only had my panther for about 36 hours and I have a few questions to make sure I am doing everything right and to make sure I am not harming him. He is about 6-8 months old I believe, I am not 100% sure and I was wondering if his basking temps are ok. On the branch that his light is under it is about 90 degrees. The guy I got it from said keep it low 90's but no one seems to go that high. He likes it and all, but my light has a focus tiny circle about an inch in circumference and that is high 90's and the lighted area around it is about 85, is that ok? He seems to avoid the tiny circle well enough but I don't want to hurt him on accident. Also, roughly how many crickets should he eat? And how many of those crickets would I dust with calcium?
I need a bit of help
- Thread starter Treymb6
- Start date
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yes, that should be fine for the baskiing. At his age about 12 crickets should be fine, but he should also be eating some other types of feeders. I like silkworms and hornworms. I feed superworms also and moths when I can catch them or the silkworms hatch out into moths..
Well I can't find any local place to buy other feeders so I have just been holding off for a bit because ordering is expensive. Thanks for your help. I do want either silkworms or hornworms because I heard roaches can possibly be bad news because of their legs and that mealworms and superworms are bad because they don't provide any benefits.
ChamDE86
Avid Member
Roaches aren't bad at all and are very easy to gut-load. If you're feeding superworms, I would just completely do away with mealworms. Both however, should be fed as treats. Variety is key though, and the expenses are expected with owning a cham. My guy gets crickets, roaches, phoenix worms, superworms, butterworms, hornworms, and silkworms. Orders are placed about once a month, and I spend about $30 each time. I would also recommend buying a 1lb bag of cricket crack or bug buffet via the chameleon food section. I can't always provide fresh veggies to my feeders, so these gutloads are perfect and very convenient to keep my chameleon healthy.
Oh wow you give your cham everything xD. The only other feeder I could buy in store is some sort of small black roach. It was a dubias something. How many feeders should I use? Because I wanted to try to wait and load up on bugs when I get back home in about a week. And what do you do to keep all those alive for a month? Besides crickets, I can keep those alive. And so you use cricket crack in place of fruit or can you like sprinkle that on the fruit and be even better?
ChamDE86
Avid Member
Absolutely! These amazing creatures are more than just pets. You form a bond with them and want to feed them as if they were your own kids
Silkworms and hornworms grow fairly quick, so they will only last a couple of weeks before they pupate. You can definitely sprinkle the dry gutload on pieces of veggies or fruit. Keep the bag in the fridge and it will last you a long time. It is not necessary to use it all the time. I like to use them on the feeders that will be fed to my cham the next day, that way the nutrients are passed on to your chameleon. I'll give you a quick list of the easiest feeders to maintain. Dubia Roaches - If you buy a couple dozen adults, they will breed and your couple of dozen will become thousands in less than a year. You will no longer have to buy roaches as they will continue to breed. Just be sure your chams like roaches. Mine will eat them, but it's not his favorite.
Superworms - I purchased 500 baby superworms and only fed them 2-3 times a week to keep them from growing too quickly. They will live for about a year, so you don't have to worry about them dying off too fast. Very low maintenance.
Butterworms - Probably the easiest of them all care wise. Just keep them in a cool area (basement) where the temperature is about 50 degrees and they will survive for several months. No feeding is required at all. I usually purchase about 50.
Matt Vanilla Gorilla
Chameleon Enthusiast
Sounds like you are well on your way to be a great chameleon owner! Keep doing your research! This site is loaded with information! Many people before you have asked the same questions as you in the past! So hunt and you are quite likely to find these treasures! One thing to keep in mind with all living creatures: variety is the spice of life! It puts spark and happiness to life! That too is what chameleons want and need! Best of luck!
Thank you
I have been really worried I'm doing something wrong. Some things I have been hunting for, I haven't found the exact question or answer I wanted so I just wanted to ask some things Thank you very much for your help! I just heard not to use super worms thoughAbsolutely! These amazing creatures are more than just pets. You form a bond with them and want to feed them as if they were your own kids
Dubia Roaches - If you buy a couple dozen adults, they will breed and your couple of dozen will become thousands in less than a year. You will no longer have to buy roaches as they will continue to breed. Just be sure your chams like roaches. Mine will eat them, but it's not his favorite.
Superworms - I purchased 500 baby superworms and only fed them 2-3 times a week to keep them from growing too quickly. They will live for about a year, so you don't have to worry about them dying off too fast. Very low maintenance.
Butterworms - Probably the easiest of them all care wise. Just keep them in a cool area (basement) where the temperature is about 50 degrees and they will survive for several months. No feeding is required at all. I usually purchase about 50.
I heard they are basically meal worms. So I am going to try and avoid those of possible or if anyone disagrees but that's what I was told by my breeder. And that's pretty awesome about butter worms but I don't have a place that cold so I don't know if that would work. Unless my garage counts. The last thing I'm really worried about is the dusting. Do you dust every feeder with calcium or whatever supplement he needs that day or every other one or what? I'm also having trouble keeping a lower humidity. I funny want to give him an RI o.o
Mikesyring
Member
My Panther loves butter worms his fav I keep them in the fridge they last a long time
Matt Vanilla Gorilla
Chameleon Enthusiast
I am glad you care that much and try that hard! My one Panther once went through a hunger strike and all I could get him to eat was the occasional grasshopper I caught and superworms! This phase lasted for nearly 6 months. He got nice and chubby from the superworms! But he is fine!Thank you
Why would he go on a hunger strike xD and are the best feeders silk worms, crickets, and horn worms?
I may try those then. I just want to get what's best for him and I don't remember how nutritional butter worms are.
Matt Vanilla Gorilla
Chameleon Enthusiast
Butterworms are very fattening too! Variety is ultemately the best!
Matt Vanilla Gorilla
Chameleon Enthusiast
I have read that superworms are addictive to them! Some chameleons refuse to eat anything else once they are hooked on them. The chameleon who had this problem is Mr. Rainbow Delight. My profile picture. I also posted a nice picture of him and his lady (Baby Blue) in the photo competition section with the title "The Future!" He is such a sweet guy. My family and I love him so dearly!
That's awesome! I want my chameleon to be friendly soooo bad. I'm not forcing anything though, I just let him eat from my hand until he has had enough then I just put the rest in the cage. I'm hoping he turns out sweet after he settles in more.
Matt Vanilla Gorilla
Chameleon Enthusiast
They each have their own personality. Love and patience and hand feeding will do it! Hang in there! I can practically do anything to this guy and he loves it! My wife and my boys (6 and 9 year old) takes him out of his cage and loves on him on and off through the day too! He is amazing, yours will be too!
Matt Vanilla Gorilla
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hey, add a profile picture, it is worth some points!
Thanks for the tip, I will add one whenever I manage to take a good picture. Um, as for hand feeding, I let the bug crawl on my hand and sometimes I have to pull my hand out to make it go back to the front of my hand so I think they may scare him a little, but he usually eats at least one off of my hand and then won't do it again until the next day. Is that normal?
Matt Vanilla Gorilla
Chameleon Enthusiast
That's ok, as he gets use to you being his source of food Che will become less hesitant! Later on you could hold the bug between your fingers with most of the bug sticking out and he will just snatch it up!
