Looking for more bugs

[Vince]

I have a jacksons cham almost a year old now. His staple food is roaches but he also gets a lot of silkworms, horn worms, and crickets.He also gets a few meal worms, and wax worms.
He has never had a super worm. Manly because i have read threads on here in the past regarding chameleons not wanting to eat anything but once they have had them. Is this something i should worry about??
He is a jacksons and if you know how they are they can be a real peach to feed at times. Extremely picky
Anyway, what else can i feed this guy?? Does anyone know where to get stick bugs?? and they good to feed often?

Thanks in advance for you response and feel free to pm me... Peace

 

[dodolah]

I have a jacksons cham almost a year old now. His staple food is roaches but he also gets a lot of silkworms, horn worms, and crickets.He also gets a few meal worms, and wax worms.
He has never had a super worm. Manly because i have read threads on here in the past regarding chameleons not wanting to eat anything but once they have had them. Is this something i should worry about??
He is a jacksons and if you know how they are they can be a real peach to feed at times. Extremely picky
Anyway, what else can i feed this guy?? Does anyone know where to get stick bugs?? and they good to feed often?

Thanks in advance for you response and feel free to pm me... Peace

how bout butterflies? (painted lady), BB Flies, House Flies, Black Soldier Flies, Snails (check your local law), Katydids (WC), Panchlora Nivea, Mantis, Isopods- woodlice, Phoenix Worms (if he wants it), Pantry Pests (??), .

I check one source; snails has never been deemed illegal to breed and sell in California (idk about other state).
You do, HOWEVER, need to obtain permit if you decide to buy them from a different state's source.. But, don't quote me completely on this as some states might have different law.

There are other plethora of insects you can try..
I assume sticks would be excellent feeder to feed often (they love to eat blackberry leaves).. too bad they are illegal.. So, they are not available to purchase
the ?? are questionable as I have never tried them either.

 

[Vince]

Where can i find these black soldier flies and the butterflies?

 

[hallenhe]

My first cham was a Jackson's, and I gave him superworms without any trouble (i.e. he loved the supers, but still was perfectly willing to eat the crickets, waxies and others). My chams will also eat pillbugs.

 

[dodolah]

Where can i find these black soldier flies and the butterflies?

black soldier fly is the adult stage of phoenix worms.
So, you should purchase phoenix worm and rear them to adulthood.
Butterflies:
http://www.mulberryfarms.com/monarch.htm

get the PAINTED LADY one. NOT MONARCH.

 

[Lizardlover]

Where can i find these black soldier flies and the butterflies?

black soldier flies are phoenix worm adults...butterflies: mulberryfarms.com
carolina.com (2 types) Painted Lady and Cabbage are the good ones.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I use terrestrial isopods (wood sow, rolly pollie, wood bug) and stick insects, moths, butterworms, and many of the others mentioned. I think your chameleon is no more likely to get "stuck" on superworms than on waxworms, stick insects, flies, hornworms or moths, or anything else - so long as you change up the diet frequently and dont offer the fatty things very often.

This blog entry lists lots of feeders commonly (and some uncommonly) used: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html

 

[Vince]

Thanks for the replies.

My only question left now is for those of you who use pill bugs, do you catch these from the wild and us them? I live in an area where pesticides are not used therefore, my only concern would be parasites??

 

[sandrachameleon]

Thanks for the replies.

My only question left now is for those of you who use pill bugs, do you catch these from the wild and us them? I live in an area where pesticides are not used therefore, my only concern would be parasites??

Actually, your concern with pill bugs should be that they are heavy metal bioaccumulators. This "walling off" of toxic heavy metals doesnt hurt them because they have short lifespans. But feeding wildcaught ones to your chameleon should be avoided. They are easy to keep and breed. I suggest give your chameleon one wild one. If he likes it (and he will), collect 50 or so from the wild, and start a little colony.

Here's How: https://www.chameleonforums.com/isopods-16457/

 

[dodolah]

Thanks for the replies.

My only question left now is for those of you who use pill bugs, do you catch these from the wild and us them? I live in an area where pesticides are not used therefore, my only concern would be parasites??

check dendroboard forum/ frog keepers website.
They breed and sell isopods of many kinds as cleaner crew and feeder as well.

 

[nick barta]

My favorite summer bug is GRASSHOPPERS! Also Cabbage Butterflies (white).

Have butterfly net ready at all times!

NIck

 

[Billy Quan]

isolate and masticate

8 - Keep to their own kind. I've had better successs when I do Not mix different species of isopods (i.e. rolly pollies & sowbugs) in the same container.

So, i caught around 40 isopods and i have them in a bucket with soil/leaves/wood/bark. . . But i'm not sure how to tell one species from the other. Some are solid-dark-grey, and others are lighter and have variances in their grey color. . . does the color indicate species or is there a more definitive way to tell the difference

 

[Billy Quan]

OH, i see. . . sow bugs two uropods projecting from the rear end. I must have caught all pillbugs.

 

[Jeweledchameleons]

While I haven't had a problem with an animal refusing to eat anything other than superworms once they've been exposed. I can't rule out that happening. What I can say is that you shouldn't use wild caught pillbugs just because I know that they can carry parasites (fact). Weather or not these parasitic worms are transferable to the chams is unknown.
Just some thoughts.

 

[Billy Quan]

What I can say is that you shouldn't use wild caught pillbugs just because I know that they can carry parasites (fact). Weather or not these parasitic worms are transferable to the chams is unknown.
Just some thoughts.

They are transferable according to this: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1645/GE-550R1.1?journalCode=para. I don't think the offspring would be infected, as the worm eggs seem to come from bird droppings. There is no real point in risking it though.

Thanks for the heads up

 

[tkilgour]

I have that problem w/ one of my panther chams. he got some super worms and now is addicted. He will not flinch to crickets anymore and silkworms are hard to make him eat. He only loves super worms.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I have that problem w/ one of my panther chams. he got some super worms and now is addicted. He will not flinch to crickets anymore and silkworms are hard to make him eat. He only loves super worms.

If this is a healthy adult, dont offer him anything for a week, then offer crickets or other non-super choices. Even if he doesnt eat, Dont give him supers for another week (so that's two total). He wont starve in two weeks, but if he's hungry he will eay the prey offered.

 

[tkilgour]

I know I am need to make him go on a feeding strike when he gets like this, but it is so hard. I can skip his feeding for 2 days but then break down because I feel sorry for him. However, since it is for his health I will not feed him for the rest of this week and on next monday I will try to introduce crickets to him. Right now a cricket can crawl on him and he will not flinch at it. He used to devour crickets so fast it was crazy. NOW he is an addict, I guess its time for a chameleons intervention. Thanks for your help. Your 2 week suggestion really scares me, I am not sure I can do that too him but we will see. I just want him eating crickets mainly, and some silk worms and an occasional super worm. I may just have to cut super worms out all together since he has a "super" addiction, stuff must be like crack to him. Thanks for your advice I will give it my best.

 

[Clifford]

I have a jacksons cham almost a year old now. His staple food is roaches but he also gets a lot of silkworms, horn worms, and crickets.He also gets a few meal worms, and wax worms.
He has never had a super worm. Manly because i have read threads on here in the past regarding chameleons not wanting to eat anything but once they have had them. Is this something i should worry about??
He is a jacksons and if you know how they are they can be a real peach to feed at times. Extremely picky
Anyway, what else can i feed this guy?? Does anyone know where to get stick bugs?? and they good to feed often?
Thanks in advance for you response and feel free to pm me... Peace

I think you're already offering a good selection with roaches, silkworms, hornworms and crickets, with a few mealworms and waxies. If you're worried bout supers, dont add them. Your chameleon is likely getting what it needs through the choices you already offer, especially if you gutload well.

Chameleons seem to really like stick insects and rolly-pollies. I didnt know wild caught rolly-pollies were bad - I've been using them for a couple years. Time for a fecal test!

I know I am need to make him go on a feeding strike when he gets like this, but it is so hard. I can skip his feeding for 2 days but then break down because I feel sorry for him. However, since it is for his health I will not feed him for the rest of this week and on next monday I will try to introduce crickets to him. Right now a cricket can crawl on him and he will not flinch at it. He used to devour crickets so fast it was crazy. NOW he is an addict, I guess its time for a chameleons intervention. Thanks for your help. Your 2 week suggestion really scares me, I am not sure I can do that too him but we will see. I just want him eating crickets mainly, and some silk worms and an occasional super worm. I may just have to cut super worms out all together since he has a "super" addiction, stuff must be like crack to him. Thanks for your advice I will give it my best.

I also would be stressed by a two week diet! But I guess its only one week forced, the other week is his choice to make.
I suggest you Make sure he still has constant access to lots of water during a forced hunger period.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Chameleons seem to really like stick insects and rolly-pollies. I didnt know wild caught rolly-pollies were bad - I've been using them for a couple years. Time for a fecal test!

You did too! I know I told you so
Anyhow, parasites can be treated (usually). Heavy metal poisoning, however, is assuredly more difficult to diagnose and treat. So buy a bucket and breed some already You can have some of mine for treats in the meantime. I'll call you next time Im at Lansdowne.