Salad bowl?

Alexander1

Avid Member
I've noticed some veiled Cham owners talk about making a salad bowl for their champs to eat, is this practice a necessary one? Would this benefit my veiled Cham who has never ate veggies
 
Something I found on the forum blogs, I don't have the link anymore and I'm feeling lazy right now.


I don't know about a "salad bowl" but I've given mine a few of these and she loves them. Actually, if I don't give her something leafy she eats on the plants, Pothos, Corn Plant, ect.

pieces of leafy greens
• romaine
• kale (not daily - some is great, but a lot may not be)
• collards (not daily - some is good, but a lot may not be)
• hibiscus leaves
• dandelion
• endive
• basil
• mint
• cilantro
• mustard greens
• arugula /rocket
• clover (not daily - some is good, but a lot may not be)
• endive
• sprouting alfalfa
• baby's tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
• oregano
• spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
veggies - Make everything of a size that would fit in your chameleon's mouth easily
• shaved/shredded pieces of carrot
• small pieces of steamed (and cooled) squash
• small pieces of steamed (and cooled) sweet potatoes
• small pieces of steamed (and cooled) yam
• zucchini
Flowers
• pumpkin /squash flowers and leaves
• hibiscus - leaves and flowers
• nasturtium blossoms
• arugula flowers
• jasmine flower
• okra flower
• pansy flower petals and leaves
• coneflower Echinacea (not rudbeckia)
• Campanula / Rampion / Harebell / Canterbury Bells - leaves and flowers
• aster / michaelmas daisy - leaves and flowers
• Antirrhinum /snap dragon - leaves and flowers
small, occasional pieces of fruit - very small amounts
• thin slices of mango flesh
• bits of papaya
• half a seedless grape
• blueberry
• thin slice of apple
• a piece of pear small enough to fit into the mouth
• thin small pieces of organic sweet red peppers (of the non-organic foods that have pesticides on them, these are one of the worse - it goes right through the thin skin and into the flesh - so use organic)
 
Why not try it? You may be pleasantly surprised about what your veiled will try. ;)

SN,

Awesome list. I'm going to cut and paste it so I can remember what would be ok to try.
 
Last edited:
Something I found on the forum blogs, I don't have the link anymore and I'm feeling lazy right now.


I don't know about a "salad bowl" but I've given mine a few of these and she loves them. Actually, if I don't give her something leafy she eats on the plants, Pothos, Corn Plant, ect.

pieces of leafy greens
• romaine
• kale (not daily - some is great, but a lot may not be)
• collards (not daily - some is good, but a lot may not be)
• hibiscus leaves
• dandelion
• endive
• basil
• mint
• cilantro
• mustard greens
• arugula /rocket
• clover (not daily - some is good, but a lot may not be)
• endive
• sprouting alfalfa
• baby's tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
• oregano
• spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
veggies - Make everything of a size that would fit in your chameleon's mouth easily
• shaved/shredded pieces of carrot
• small pieces of steamed (and cooled) squash
• small pieces of steamed (and cooled) sweet potatoes
• small pieces of steamed (and cooled) yam
• zucchini
Flowers
• pumpkin /squash flowers and leaves
• hibiscus - leaves and flowers
• nasturtium blossoms
• arugula flowers
• jasmine flower
• okra flower
• pansy flower petals and leaves
• coneflower Echinacea (not rudbeckia)
• Campanula / Rampion / Harebell / Canterbury Bells - leaves and flowers
• aster / michaelmas daisy - leaves and flowers
• Antirrhinum /snap dragon - leaves and flowers
small, occasional pieces of fruit - very small amounts
• thin slices of mango flesh
• bits of papaya
• half a seedless grape
• blueberry
• thin slice of apple
• a piece of pear small enough to fit into the mouth
• thin small pieces of organic sweet red peppers (of the non-organic foods that have pesticides on them, these are one of the worse - it goes right through the thin skin and into the flesh - so use organic)

Whoa! Thanks for the list!
 
Awesome. I'm going to try this sometime, because my cham is always eating her plants. Pretty much ate her hibiscus bare lol.
 
Thank the awesome senior members on this forum.


More info I keep that I found in the blogs here. Of course do some research yourself because there are differing opinions on some of these do's and don'ts.

Note: Some links are dead, ok, a lot of them are.

Feeder Nutrition & Gutloading
Posted 02-14-2009 at 09:51 PM by sandrachameleon
Updated 05-28-2014 at 10:29 PM by sandrachameleon (updated / fix a broken link)
Tags feeders, food, gutloading, nutrition, vitamins



It is important to feed the prey insects well, in such a way as to ensure they provide the correction nutrients for your chameleon. This process is called gutloading the insects.

The "wet" portion of the gutload, which should be your principle gutload, can includes things like (switch it up with a different couple of items every other week): dandelion leaves, squash (butternut, spaghetti), hibiscus leaves and flowers, grape leaves, orange, papaya, carrot, alfalfa sprouts, mustard greens, romaine, spearmint leaves, arugula (rocket), basil, apple, mulberries , clover, garland Chrysanthemum, chickweed, cilantro, okra, a few blueberries, small amounts of raspberries, very small amounts of cooked quinoa, peas, sunflower sprouts, small pieces of steamed (then cooled) yam, leek bulb, Fuki, ... Fruits and veggies such as these are important both for the nutrients they give (via the insect) to your chameleon, and also because well hydrated prey results in a better hydrated chameleon.

The dry portion (the lesser portion) of a gutload can include (blend/grind fine with a coffee grinder or food processor): spirulina; dried seaweed/kelp/dulse; bee pollen; dried alfalfa; organic raw sunflower seeds; sesame seeds; flax seed; hemp seed; poppy seeds; fennel seed, dehydrated cranberry powder; beet powder; zucchini powder; dried Mulberries; fig powder; ground dried hibiscus; ground almonds; small amounts of ground brazil nuts; small amounts of ground/chopped beechnuts; small occassional pieces of oak leaves; small amounts of kale powder; small amounts of quality whole grain breakfast cereal (especially fortified, like GM whole gran Total); barley /oats / cracked rye /wheat germ / stabalized rice bran; small amounts of quality monkey, avian or ignuana food (read the ingredients, be cautious of too much Vitamin A or animal fat).

Limit your use of grains and other items higher in phosphorous than calcium (a little can be very good, a lot is not unless you compensate to fix the ratio). Good grain choices are stabalized rice bran and crushed whole barley.
Limit use of broccoli, beans (phytic acid), cabbage, bok choy, beet leaves, parsley, cassava, watercress, kale, collard greens, spinach, swiss chard, Soy/edamame , bran, buckwheat, almonds, rhubarb, sesame seeds, pine nuts, apricot, figs, kiwi, asparagus (anything high in phytates/Phytic acid, Oxilates/ Oxalic Acid, Goitrogens). Some is fine, possibly beneficial. Just not as a regular item.

Avoid dog food, cat food, fish food, and other prepared foods that are heavy sources of animal protien and/or fat and may provide excessive preformed vitamin A and also D (a little now and then is okay, but too much can lead to gout and other issues). Similarily avoid/limit milk, meat, eggs, etc.

Bug nutrition http://www.chameleonnews.com/02SepDonoghue.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/nutri...22/#post171073
http://chamownersweb.net/insects/nutritional_values.htm
http://www.geckotime.com/wp-content/...able-large.png
http://www.phish3r.com/feederinfo2.htm
http://www.organicvaluerecovery.com/...of_insects.htm
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/Misc/insectnutrition.html
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html(scrolldown to mixed list of feeders, fruit, veggies)
http://doubleds.org/newfeederpg.html
http://bamboozoo.weebly.com/the-feeders.html
http://www.planetscott.com/babes/nutrition.asp
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/zoo/Who...nal02May29.pdf
http://www.nagonline.net/Technical%2...02MODIFIED.pdf
http://www.organicvaluerecovery.com/...of_insects.htm
general http://webhome.idirect.com/~chameleon/owners/chapter4-sub1.html
http://www.ivanalfonso.com/2011/04/w...is-gutloading/
http://www.chameleonsonline.com/feeding.php
Nutrition values of Fruits, veg, seeds, etc
https://www.chameleonforums.com/nutritional-values-variety-common-gutload-items-33543
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/nutritional-information/
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/blogs...s-g-100-g.html
http://www.nutritiondata.com/tools/nutrient-search
http://www.greenigsociety.org/foodchart.htm
http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/cnf-fce/s...er.do?lang=eng
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutriti.../index-eng.php
Calcium:phosphorus rartio chart for veggies:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/blogs...oad-foods.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/diet_ratio.html
More about Gutloading: http://www.chameleonnews.com/05JunDescamps.html
http://screameleons.com/gut-loading/
Gutloading tips for new owner...
gutloading recipes
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/blogs...uary-2010.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/cerea...e-grain-20880/
http://www.adcham.com/html/husbandry/gutload.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/blogs...ing-links.html
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...10082/abstract
List of commonly used Feeders and info about each:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/blogs...4-feeders.html
Where to buy feeders: https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/blogs...rs-online.html
Calorie Info:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/blogs...-calories.html
Supplements:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/blogs...pplements.html

dry gutload recipies:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/blogs...gust-2012.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/blogs...ad-recipe.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/425-may-2011-gutload.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/blogs...uary-2010.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/sal...3984/salad-bowl-143984/blogs...tload-one.html
 
My Seymore loves loves loves mustard greens and all the other stuff I put in. I caught him yesterday reach down with his hand and picked up a piece of greens and ate it. It was cool to see. I'd definitely give your guy veggies. More nutritious options are always good
 
My Jax ate a small piece of raspberry one time. And the stinky eye he gave me when he realized it wasn't a bug was hilarious. I never did find that he wanted anything besides bugs, and highly active ones at that, but I would still occasionally offer greens or small bits of fruit. I think veileds are the ones that usually enjoy salads, but I'm sure there are folks out there with Panthers and other chams that snack on veggies/greens also.
 
Is it just Veiled Cham's that like greens? Or do Jackson's like them as well?

Panthers do not enjoy greens, bugs only. It is my understanding that Jacksons do not either. Veiled chameleons are the only ones out of the common/popular types of Chameleons that eat greens.
 
Feeding veileds a "salad" hqs a double benefit...feeds the chameleon something different and provides "gutload" for the insects too.
 
Back
Top Bottom