mealworms?

[zmb187]

I just bought some mealworms the other day,and was wondering what is the best way to give them to my cham?I've tried silkies in a cup and on a branch but she did not take to them at all.

 

[Syn]

Take the mealworms back and get superworms instead (zoophobas morio[?]).

Mealworms have more chitin to meat than crickets, I believe.

Maybe they aren't moving enough.

 

[Sancho]

Take the mealworms back and get superworms instead (zoophobas morio[?]).

Mealworms have more chitin to meat than crickets, I believe.

Maybe they aren't moving enough.

I agree with Syn. Silks are better but if you have to get supers instead of mealworms. Also you can try holding it in your fingers and moving it around. I found out that Sancho wants it when it moves a lot. If it doesn't he isn't interested.

 

[zmb187]

Take the mealworms back and get superworms instead (zoophobas morio[?]).

Mealworms have more chitin to meat than crickets, I believe.

Maybe they aren't moving enough.

Hey Syn,I'm sorry but what is chitin?By the way I've tried supers with the same luck as silkies.I'm just trying to find something she will take

 

[zmb187]

I agree with Syn. Silks are better but if you have to get supers instead of mealworms. Also you can try holding it in your fingers and moving it around. I found out that Sancho wants it when it moves a lot. If it doesn't he isn't interested.

right Sancho,I've tried holding it like 5 inches from her face but she just looks and backs off after awhile

 

[nick barta]

Hang the worm on the screen of the cage, it will crawl up. This is how 90% of my worms are taken, the other 10% out of the feeding container.

Nick

 

[Minihuey]

Hey Syn,I'm sorry but what is chitin?By the way I've tried supers with the same luck as silkies.I'm just trying to find something she will take

Chitin is bug jargon for exoskeleton. Syn means it has more shell than meat.

 

[zmb187]

thanx Nick,but i got bars in front of the screen and I've noticed that if they go behind the bars shes not going for them.I'm not sure what to do since free ranging doesn't seam to work.I've tried to cup feed for a couple weeks with even worse luck.I give her all the crickets she can handle throughout the day,and yet she is very small.

 

[sandrachameleon]

What type of feeding cup did you use?
If you can sort out why it wont eat from a cup, if you can get it to eat crickets from the cup/bowl, then once it associates that location with food it is more likely to eat most anything alive you put there.
That said, I often put silkies, supers, and butterworms (have you tried those yet?) on vines/branches and they dont last a moment before being eaten. other things to try are flies (hard to use if you dont have a fine mesh cage), moths, andeven better Hornworms are almost universally enjoyed, as are isopods and stick bugs.

 

[zmb187]

What type of feeding cup did you use?
If you can sort out why it wont eat from a cup, if you can get it to eat crickets from the cup/bowl, then once it associates that location with food it is more likely to eat most anything alive you put there.
That said, I often put silkies, supers, and butterworms (have you tried those yet?) on vines/branches and they dont last a moment before being eaten. other things to try are flies (hard to use if you dont have a fine mesh cage), moths, andeven better Hornworms are almost universally enjoyed, as are isopods and stick bugs.

Well I've been using a the cup that you get when you buy worms at a pet store,a three inch,white cup.I've heard that they might not eat out of a white cup.Is that true?So,what size and color cup should I use?

 

[sandrachameleon]

Well I've been using a the cup that you get when you buy worms at a pet store,a three inch,white cup.I've heard that they might not eat out of a white cup.Is that true?So,what size and color cup should I use?

Half of mine will not eat out of a white or shiny bowl. I use dark coloured (usually green or brown), non-shiny ceramic bowls, old coffee mugs, and similar. I have wood framed sturdy cages, so I can use heavy bowls and cups in multiple locations.
If your cage isnt as solid, You could try hanging a solid/opaque, dark coloured plastic bowl from a favourite branch.

 

[zmb187]

I'm looking for something light wieght,maybe the bottom of a three liter bottle of sprite since its green like you said.Or is that too big?

 

[sandrachameleon]

I've read about people using plastic milk jugs. I guess a pop blimp would work. Make sure the cut edge isnt too sharp for feet, just in case You could try different depths - the shortest sides possible while still keeping in the food.

 

[jojackson]

Note: I beleive many folks initial problems with feeder cups is not that they are clear but rather presented poorly. Ive found ensuring the cup is suspended so the rim is below the vine/perch, means the cham can look down into it, rather than zap stupidly at the sides.
I've had much success with this method.

I have not experienced problems with clear plastic feeding cups.

 

[Syn]

I have not experienced problems with clear plastic feeding cups.

LOL! I have.. when it's too clean the chameleon probably doesn't realize there is a barrier.. shoots the cup instead.

 

[jojackson]

I just meant Homer never did it Syn. The first one I made was dark blue. He just never seemed to notice there was anything in it, so I made a clear one and suspended it so that hung just below his basking vine, and he watched it closely for a while then took straight to it.
He just naturally went to his spot to bask and when he did he was looking directly down into it, and bingo! So I made a habit of it and so did he.