Trying to make a feeding schedule...

[honeybee1985]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has any advice on feeding? I have an (aprox) 1 year old male veiled cham. I've only had him since christmas so I'm still trying to figure out what he likes.

Obviously I know a lot of people stick to crickets as the main food source, is that the norm?

At the minute I have mealworms, waxworms, crickets, hoppers, silkworms and superworms in (I just kind of bought anything I could get my hands on to see what he likes best.) He doesn't seem too interested in superworms, he loves waxworms and silkworms, not so keen on mealworms although he will eat them and he seems to prefer grassgoppers to crickets. He also has been munching on his Ficus plant and liked carrot when i offered it to him.

So my question is what would you recommend feeding? How many, how often?

Thanks, Amy

 

[sandrachameleon]

Yes, many people use crickets as one of the primary feeder insects. Crickets must be gut-loaded and dusted with calcium to be nutritious. Roaches are also a very popular choice. And Silkworms are good for them too.
I would avoid mealworms. Their skins are hard to digest and mealworms are not particularily easy to gutload. Id suggest use these only if they are freshly molted (white and soft) and no more than weekly. Waxworms are basically little sacks of fat. use these only as a treat, or not at all. Superworms can be gutloaded and make a decent feeder. Your chameleon may prefer these if they are also freshly molted (white or pale in colour). Grasshoppers, like crickets, are a good option when gutloaded. Moths, phasmids, isopods, hornworms and butterworms are other options. I highly recommend offering the widest possible variety of feeder insects. IMHO a variety of well-fed feeder insects is truly critical to the happiness and health of your lizard.

Veilds will also eat Greens (Romaine lettuce, dandelion leaves, mustard greens, collard greens), broccoli bits, grated carrots, small pieces of fresh fruit (like apple), alfalfa sprouts, hibiscus, etc.

At about a year old, when their growth slows down, many people reduce the amount of food their chameleon gets. Feeding five or 6 insects once every other day or so. I prefer to spread feeder offerings over several feedings throughout the day, with just a couple feeders at each "meal" and I feed my chameleons pretty much every day. Recently some folks suggested my chams might be a bit fat with daily feeding, though their weights are normal, but to be safe I reduced from three meals a day to two, and now feel okay to skip one or two evening meals a week without feeling guilty.

 

[honeybee1985]

Thanks! That's really helpful. I didn't really want to just stick to crickets so i think i'll vary his diet as much as possible.

I'll probably be the same with feeding him too much. My boyfriend recently told me off because my female leopard gecko was looking a little tubby so I cut down on her feeds...now she's started laying eggs though so she needs lots and lots of food!

Thanks again!