Training a cham. to eat from a bowl?

[TRohr]

Hey guys, hope everyone is doing well.

Anyone have any surefire ways to get a chameleon to eat from a feeder placed in it's enclosure?

I've been trying to get my little Gratch to eat from a feeder that I fill with crickets every day, but so far things aren't going so well. I've never actually seen him climb over to the thing and eat from it, but a few of the larger crickets that I placed inside have mysteriously gone missing.

Generally I have to hand feed him by free ranging crickets on his free range setup outside, and sometimes he'll eat from a dish.... I want to get him to eat from a feeder soon because I can generally only feed him later in the day- not quite sure how good it will be for his metabolism and digestion in the long run....

Help! Thanks!

TRohr.

 

[beeze]

What kind of a cup are you using? I wouldn't feed late in the day, just dump a bunch in his cage loose in the mornings and he should eat them during the day.

 

[draetish]

Not sure what part of the world you're in, but I use the disposable tupperware type bowls. They're plastic and you can bend them. I pull one leg off the cricket so it doesn't jump out. Put your crickets in the bowl and hold it up to your cham like you are going to feed it. When the cham spots it and starts moving towards it, slowly move it to a place between branches "under your chams basking perch. He will soon figure it out.

 

[TRohr]

What kind of a cup are you using? I wouldn't feed late in the day, just dump a bunch in his cage loose in the mornings and he should eat them during the day.

It's a washed out cashew container- looks just a little bit like this, but it's clear and the mouth is a whole hell of a lot bigger:

http://product-image.tradeindia.com/00356790/b/3/Plastic-Container-For-Food-Supplement.jpg

I know he's seen the crickets inside before, but I guess he's probably just a bit too afraid to stick his head inside. I might try cutting a great big opening out of the side of it, hope he eats from it or at least a few jump out and he hunts them down. I'll get a few to stick to the top of the enclosure too- generally all the crickets hang around the basking light.

 

[TRohr]

Not sure what part of the world you're in, but I use the disposable tupperware type bowls. They're plastic and you can bend them. I pull one leg off the cricket so it doesn't jump out. Put your crickets in the bowl and hold it up to your cham like you are going to feed it. When the cham spots it and starts moving towards it, slowly move it to a place between branches "under your chams basking perch. He will soon figure it out.

Aaaah, awesome! Problem- probably- solved :]

Thanks for the help!

 

[jastate09]

That's a pretty scary looking feeder cup. Try a plastic cup or deli cup and don't leave crickets in the cage at night, they'll eat holes right in your chameleon.

 

[TRohr]

That's a pretty scary looking feeder cup. Try a plastic cup or deli cup and don't leave crickets in the cage at night, they'll eat holes right in your chameleon.

That's the main reason why I want him to feed from something that crickets would have an extremely hard time getting out of. I have enough time to give the cage a thorough search every night, but odds are high I would miss one or two ; ;....

 

[TRohr]

Thought I would check back with a little update for future readers.

I've been pinching my crickets legs with my fingernail at the joint, and they pop right off. I give em a bit of a dusting, toss em in a very, very shallow cup, set them down somewhere, and they're gone in an hour or two.

 

[beeze]

Thought I would check back with a little update for future readers.

I've been pinching my crickets legs with my fingernail at the joint, and they pop right off. I give em a bit of a dusting, toss em in a very, very shallow cup, set them down somewhere, and they're gone in an hour or two.

Glad to hear that you got him to eat. Are you planning to cut feed all the time? I cup feed and free range feeders in the cage. When they don't have to work for the food they can get the lazy tounge. https://www.chameleonforums.com/short-tongue-42692/

 

[timebomb]

my veilds cage is huge so if i let crickets run free i usually end up with a bunch of dead ones all over the place so i use a tall clear plastic storage cup and wire tie it right below their favorite perch and its deep enough they have to use their tongues, my female i have to be a little cautious with cause shes very aggressive when i feed her she will shoot her tongue at the plastic bag or the side of the container so i kinda shoo her away and after crickets are in i tilt the cup towards her so she can see inside and don't shoot at the side of the container and hurt herself

 

[reptimanny]

That's a pretty scary looking feeder cup. Try a plastic cup or deli cup and don't leave crickets in the cage at night, they'll eat holes right in your chameleon.

I have free range crickets in my chams cage all the time and they never touch her, Then again she is full grown and she is up high but maybe others would have that problem

 

[jannb]

I have free range crickets in my chams cage all the time and they never touch her, Then again she is full grown and she is up high but maybe others would have that problem

Don't leave crickets in with her at night while she's sleeping. I have seen pictures on here of what crickets did to adult chameleons and it was not a pretty sight.

 

[reptimanny]

Don't leave crickets in with her at night while she's sleeping. I have seen pictures on here of what crickets did to adult chameleons and it was not a pretty sight.

It's a pretty big enclosure and its hard to track down every free range cricket i put in there. For the most part i only put what i know she will eat and maybe thats why i haven't had a problem. Do the dubias eat at chams if left overnight or is that a cricket thing?

 

[Elizadolots]

Chameleons handle clear cups? Mine found that confusing...I'd suggest at least a semi opaque container...there are loads of threads here about making feeder bins from milk jugs and stuff...just look around.

I leave crickets in my cage...it's never been a problem, but then I've only had him 18 months. I guess I could just be lucky.