officially annoyed
- Thread starter wontbme
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sdheli420
Avid Member
order horn worms and supers..supers and meal worms are the easiest..or even butterworms (they have a high calcium content, they explain it all on mullberry farms they are a site sponsor)..also butter worms and super worms can be kept in the fridge at lower temps to last way longer too!
icegecko
Established Member
Roaches. Crickets are an absolute nightmare. Blaptica dubia make no noise and don't climb. Most species of tropical roach can't survive in a household environment, so no real concerns of infestation (unlike crickets). Did I mention that once you have a settle colony they will reproduce "like roaches"? I think roaches are a much better staple than crickets.
Also get silkworms as an additional staple. They are not only the "healthiest" "worm" you can buy, but they are one of the best feeders period. Hornworms are great, but shouldn't be fed as much as silkworms and roaches. I feed 2-3 types of prey insects on a feeding day. I also feed a different insect combination every feeding day. Chams get bored of food when it's always the same thing and stop eating it. Waxworms and butterworms are not very healthy, and should be used sparingly.
Check out this fantastic resource. It should answer most of your food-related questions.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
Also get silkworms as an additional staple. They are not only the "healthiest" "worm" you can buy, but they are one of the best feeders period. Hornworms are great, but shouldn't be fed as much as silkworms and roaches. I feed 2-3 types of prey insects on a feeding day. I also feed a different insect combination every feeding day. Chams get bored of food when it's always the same thing and stop eating it. Waxworms and butterworms are not very healthy, and should be used sparingly.
Check out this fantastic resource. It should answer most of your food-related questions.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
icegecko
Established Member
Well, you have to do that for every feeder there is for a chameleon. it's called gutloading. www.coastalsilkworms.com has pods that have silks and food all in one. You just dump out the frass every day- that's it.
It doesn't get easier than that. However, if you still have silkworms by the time all the food is gone then you'll have to buy the silkworm chow and prepare it, then add it. I find that feeders are the most time consuming aspect of keeping a chameleon. If you can't have roaches and you don't want crickets, silkworms are pretty much your only options as a *main* feeder. I say this because feeding silkworms 4 or 5 feeding days in a row to a cham will cause it to stop eating the worms (in my experience). They just get sick of eating the same food over and over. Roaches, crickets and silks are the three main healthy staple feeders.
It doesn't get easier than that. However, if you still have silkworms by the time all the food is gone then you'll have to buy the silkworm chow and prepare it, then add it. I find that feeders are the most time consuming aspect of keeping a chameleon. If you can't have roaches and you don't want crickets, silkworms are pretty much your only options as a *main* feeder. I say this because feeding silkworms 4 or 5 feeding days in a row to a cham will cause it to stop eating the worms (in my experience). They just get sick of eating the same food over and over. Roaches, crickets and silks are the three main healthy staple feeders.
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silkworms seem like a bigger hassle than anything though... crickets eat anything you feed them, so i throw in some bad fruit (bruised, not rotten) and they eat it..
but silkworms are picky... come on all they need to do is eat so they can get eaten... ugh
and roaches are a definite no...
how long do silks last?
but silkworms are picky... come on all they need to do is eat so they can get eaten... ugh
and roaches are a definite no...
how long do silks last?
Picasso123
New Member
The worms ie caterpillars are good however the larvae aka non caterpillars are to high in fat for a Panther Cham if that's what you in fact have.
I have a cricket keeper $9 from Petsmart. Not a single one escaped except when the cats figured out how to move it and flipped it over so the sole hole for ventilation was now on the bottom.
I've since put the keeper in a closet.
crickets are best though.
I have a cricket keeper $9 from Petsmart. Not a single one escaped except when the cats figured out how to move it and flipped it over so the sole hole for ventilation was now on the bottom.
I've since put the keeper in a closet.
crickets are best though.
icegecko
Established Member
Damn. I really don't know what to tell you. If you feel you can make roaches work, absolutely go for it. But if you feel you can't do what is needed to keep your cham healthy and happy...
It is obviously your call. I would wait and see what other members have to say about this. But whatever you do, be honest with yourself.
It is obviously your call. I would wait and see what other members have to say about this. But whatever you do, be honest with yourself.
