Questions about feeding

[alj210]

Hey! i have a few questions about my veiled chameleon. I think he's around 5 months old. I might've asked these questions before, but i'm always second guessing myself, and don't trust my pet store after they told me false information.
Should i be giving him a constant supply of food? Whenever he's hungry he sits on his food bowl and looks at me, so i give him food. I don't know if this is he right way to do it, so i'm just asking. I am using small mealworms, and giving him about 10 when i wake up in the morning and about 10 before i go to bed. He always seems so hungry.
I currently am just feeding my cham mealworms, and was wondering if i should mix in some other insects. I will be getting a hibiscus plant in a few days, i've heard chams like the flowers. I know there are other types of worms/insects to feed my cham and i was just wondering if it would be smart to introduce him to another kind of food. I can't do crickets, my mom doesn't want them escaping and roaming around the house.
I would appreciate it if someone could answer these questions, thanks!

 

[Zephalia]

Until they are about a year old, they should be fed as much as they want daily. Mealworms are not a good option as a staple/only feeder. They are a sometimes feeder. Reason is they don't have the proper nutritional value and they are hard on the digestive system. If you aren't able to have crickets, roaches are an even better option. If that's not possible either...I would switch to superworms and throw in a mix of silkworms and hornworms weekly. Variation in their diet is key to a healthy animal.

There are many feeders available out there. I feed gutloaded crickets (roaches are illegal in Canada), superworms, mealworms, silkworms, hornworms and a variety of wild caught feeders as most of my animals are housed outside during the late spring, summer and early fall.

 

[jamest0o0]

Mealworms aren't even a sometimes feeder imo. Feed him nutritious* insects as much as he can eat early in thevday.

 

[alj210]

just saying, the mealworms are superworms that you buy at the store that has a chameleon on the packaging, so i think it's alright to feed my cham them as well as other things :/

 

[Sloppysponge]

Any manufacturer can use anything as far as a picture goes on the box, just because there is a chameleon on the box does not mean it is good for you animal. I have never heard of live food in a box( other than big orders of crickets that come in a shipping box).

 

[Scottsquatch]

Just be sure they really are superworms and not mealworms. Mealworms not only offer little or no nutritional value, but can also lead to impactions. Not a good problem to have. Also, beware of products you buy at pet stores. Just because a product has a picture of a chameleon on it, or says that it is for them does not mean it is suitable for them. Many unscrupulous company's are out to make money and aren't really too concerned about the well being of our animals.

 

[kinyonga]

Are the insects you're using alive??

 

[Sloppysponge]

Are the insects you're using alive??

I was wondering that myself.

 

[Graves923]

Mealworms= bad choice.... Superworms= rare treat option in my opinion. Switch to crickets or dubia roaches with proper gutloading and your cham will benefit greatly. plain and simple.

Don't always judge a product by the picture on the label. They can put a picture of any insectivorous reptile on a package of feeder bugs. Doesn't mean they are healthy for that particular reptile. How often do you see bearded dragons on packages of reptile pellets? Are they good for bearded dragons? No, bearded dragons require mostly fresh veggies in their diet to survive. Spend the time to do some research into anything you plan on feeding your chameleon.

 

[alj210]

Are the insects you're using alive??

I was wondering that myself.

yes.

any idea where i can get cheap hornworms? i don't have a lot of money and my parents don't seem like they wanna spend 30 bucks on 15 of them, which is the only thing i'm seeing online.

Also, if anyone wants me to send a picture of the superworms, i could do that.

 

[Katacara]

Ok, I don't want to be rude but someone has to say it... I think you may have picked the wrong pet.

If your mom will not allow crickets, and your parents are already complaining about the price of other feeders your cham is in trouble! You can't just feed superworms and mealworms and expect to have a healthy cham!

Chameleons are a expensive pet!!!!!!!!!! You (or your parents in this case) need to be willing to put in the $$ your cham will need to stay healthy and happy!!!!!! If that is not going to happen you should probably find someone to adopt the cham!!

Do research!!!!! Then IF you/your parents do decide to do and spend what your cham needs great!!! But either way you need to do what is best for your cham! NOT what is best for you and your parents!!!

 

[kinyonga]

Another suggestion...don't feed him at night...you want him to have time to digest his food before he sleeps.
Also...are you sure it's a male? Does it have tarsal spurs?
You should answer the questions in the how to ask for help thread at the top of the health forum so we can see if you need help with anything.