Really need help to change feeder!

[GillietheAmbilobe]

Gillie my 5 month old male ambilobe is doing really well. He is always sporting extremely vibrant pinks, oranges, reds and greens unless he is basking. He was raised in crickets and will refuse to eat anything else. I have been trying to switch him to roaches and micro super worms. He is not used to hand feeding and still runs anyway from me when I put my hand in the cage to do anything(which makes switching feeders much harder). I have had super worms in his cage for two days now, yet he has refused to eat them. I know movement triggers their sense to eat, and the worms have moved plenty. How can I switch him to other feeders without hand feeding him?

 

[jpowell86]

Let him get hungry enough to want to switch feeders. Don't put any feeder in his cage for a couple of days. Then put a cup or shallow container in his enclosure and put some dubia in it. Trust me, when he gets hungry he will eat. He is being a food snob at the moment. I guarantee there isn't a seasoned keeper on this forum that hasn't dealt with a turned up chin to a switch in feeders. It happens. Crickets can do that too chams.

 

[Savsherps]

I agree. If he still doesn't eat you might want to look up how to force feed (don't worry it's not as bad as it sounds) but this is only in extreme cases. Good luck!

 

[Savsherps]

I agree. If he still doesn't eat you might want to look up how to force feed (don't worry it's not as bad as it sounds) but this is only in extreme cases. Good luck!

 

[Savsherps]

Sorry it sent it twice lol

 

[Decadancin]

I guarantee there isn't a seasoned keeper on this forum that hasn't dealt with a turned up chin to a switch in feeders.

Definitely true! I have wasted plenty of hornworms on my veiled. Usually he eats one or two and the rest he ignores. He will basically eat crickets and supers and not much else. For about 5 days he was not eating anything. I took the bowl out of the enclosure for a few days and when I put it back he actually was standing on his food bowl waiting for superworms. At 5 months he can likely go a few days without food as long as he is in good health. Although it is an option, I don't think force feeding would be necessary for quite some time.

 

[TheGuvnor]

Don't forget, you can change up crickets too for more variety. Personally I use Silent, Black, Banded, and Cave crickets. All have different nutritional values. But as above, reduce the crickets if that's what you want to do. And add in roaches etc. Again, different roaches = different nutrition. So vary It up.

And of course. All bugs are a fraction of their potential when not gut-loaded. So hydrate and gutload well

 

[gotwqqd]

How long would 1000 small Dubia roach nymphs last a 3 month old veil chameleon?

 

[jpowell86]

How long would 1000 small Dubia roach nymphs last a 3 month old veil chameleon?

If you buy that many and keep them properly, they will last you until your chameleon is long gone. They are very easy to establish and breed. Before you know it, you will be giving them away to people that need them.

 

[gotwqqd]

If you buy that many and keep them properly, they will last you until your chameleon is long gone. They are very easy to establish and breed. Before you know it, you will be giving them away to people that need them.

so they will mature and breed before they are all used as food?
and they will not outgrow the size my chameleon will need them be?

 

[jpowell86]

so they will mature and breed before they are all used as food?
and they will not outgrow the size my chameleon will need them be?

It takes about 4-5 months for a newly hatched nymph to mature into an adult. When you order them, they will not be newly hatched, so they could be mature adults in less than 2-3 months. If you are feeding your chameleon variety, these should last until breeding age.

Yes, they will outgrow what your chameleon needs for now. But your cham will grow very fast as well. What species do you care for? Also, an adult female dubia will lay 25-30 eggs. So once you have 5 or 6 adult females and one adult male, you will have a continuous cycle of nymphs to feed with.

 

[gotwqqd]

It takes about 4-5 months for a newly hatched nymph to mature into an adult. When you order them, they will not be newly hatched, so they could be mature adults in less than 2-3 months. If you are feeding your chameleon variety, these should last until breeding age.

Yes, they will outgrow what your chameleon needs for now. But your cham will grow very fast as well. What species do you care for? Also, an adult female dubia will lay 25-30 eggs. So once you have 5 or 6 adult females and one adult male, you will have a continuous cycle of nymphs to feed with.

probably gonna get a veiled that is around 2-3 months old at the pet show
they are about 2.5 inches nose to vent