Just ate a wild house fly

[SilverWolf]

I have a 3 month old Jackson Chameleon, seemingly quite healthy. His name is, Tricky.

I noticed a small house fly flew into, Tricky's enclosure just a moment ago. He had only eaten one cricket and I still need to give him the rest now so it's understandable that he is hungry. But I am worried since he just now ate it before I could get it out. I know you shouldn't feed them anything wild since you don't know what it's been eating or what it's been around. Can anyone provide any sense of comfort or suggest on what to do? The only way I can comfort myself is knowing that if I let him outside for some natural sunlight sometimes such an event is likely to happen anyway, and if he was in his natural habitat he would be eating insects regardless of what they have been doing as well.

 

[Carlton]

I have a 3 month old Jackson Chameleon, seemingly quite healthy. His name is, Tricky.

I noticed a small house fly flew into, Tricky's enclosure just a moment ago. He had only eaten one cricket and I still need to give him the rest now so it's understandable that he is hungry. But I am worried since he just now ate it before I could get it out. I know you shouldn't feed them anything wild since you don't know what it's been eating or what it's been around. Can anyone provide any sense of comfort or suggest on what to do? The only way I can comfort myself is knowing that if I let him outside for some natural sunlight sometimes such an event is likely to happen anyway, and if he was in his natural habitat he would be eating insects regardless of what they have been doing as well.

Chances are he'll be just fine if the fly was healthy enough to be acting normally. A cham wouldn't know what ANY wild insect had been eating either, and we all know what gruesome stuff attracts flies. Most chams love house or bluebottle flies. You can get cultivated ones for herps if you want to try them.

 

[SilverWolf]

Okay sure, thanks that makes sense. I just noticed ANOTHER house fly in there. I'll probably go ahead and try to get that one out if I can as well, but just not stress over it I guess. Thanks for the reply I appreciate it.

 

[nick barta]

Let him eat them, many keepers have outdoor enclosures with large hole screening to let wild insects in for food.

IMHO, if the feeder is moving normally, feed it to your cham.

Nick

 

[kplatvoet]

I would get him some from mantisplace.com that are less likely to have the problems of wild ones- and some of the fly food they have-
They are great fun - I like the blue bottle ones better than the house flies because they last longer in the fridge so I can hatch out fewer at a time but flies are a great change of pace.

 

[ir0k]

yea, mine did that also. I let them outside and they nab those little suckers. I was worried also when mine first did it. I came online and posted just as you did. this was a month ago and my chameleons are doing fine

Here in a few days im going to order some blue bottle flies. They are pretty cheap and you actually buy their larva which will hatch in like 24 hours or so and you have a bunch of flies going nuts in your chams inclosure and you cham going nuts trying to nab them all.

You should youtube it, its pretty funny.

Good luck with your Jackson and post some picks up!

here is a youtube link to one I've watched. the music is kinda unfitting for the video but w/e
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndsapD4ftjY

 

[Action Jackson]

I wouldn't worry about it at all.

 

[JackJack]

Nothing gets a Jackson's attention faster than a house fly. There is likely some merit to the concerns expressed by some about wild insects, but we have had no ill effects from house flies.

 

[imcurt]

They are a creature of opportunity! And anything that flys really gets there attention! My chams have eaten all sorts of wild bugs when they are outside I have even seen them eat a yellow jacket with no issues.(not recommended) but it did not harm him in any way.If your cham likes flys you can get blue bottle fly larva and hatch them out to feed him. If you do let your cham eat wild insects.Its a good idea to get a fecal smear or fecal float done a couple times a year. some vets will let you drop one off for under 30.00. and call you with the results

 

[Bush baby]

I have a 3 month old Jackson Chameleon, seemingly quite healthy. His name is, Tricky.

I noticed a small house fly flew into, Tricky's enclosure just a moment ago. He had only eaten one cricket and I still need to give him the rest now so it's understandable that he is hungry. But I am worried since he just now ate it before I could get it out. I know you shouldn't feed them anything wild since you don't know what it's been eating or what it's been around. Can anyone provide any sense of comfort or suggest on what to do? The only way I can comfort myself is knowing that if I let him outside for some natural sunlight sometimes such an event is likely to happen anyway, and if he was in his natural habitat he would be eating insects regardless of what they have been doing as well.

Jackson's LOVE flies.