Veiled Chameleon live food

I don't want them escaping

Feeder insects will escape.

The roaches and crickets you buy as feeders will not survive or breed in a house--they need more heat.

I have a pest control company come in and spray around the baseboards, doors and windows. (I live in an area loaded with scorpions.) Anything that walks across the dried sprayed area will die even months later. Some on the forum will suggest it is not safe, but if it is approved for a house where a baby might be crawling around, I suspect it is not a problem for my chameleons what never are on the floor. The spray is more like a stream than a spray, so there isn't any over spray. If a cricket escapes and I catch it, I won't use it just in case.

Is it the "ick" factor of handling insects? Is it a rule someone in the house has imposed?

I don't recommend you rely on one feeder. Although silkworms are a great feeder--my favorite--some chameleons won't eat them. I hand feed roaches most of the time. A green banana roach is a very pretty insect--there is nothing cockroach-y about an adult banana roach.
 
Feeder insects will escape.

The roaches and crickets you buy as feeders will not survive or breed in a house--they need more heat.

I have not found this to be true. I have absolutely no problems getting dubia roaches to thrive and breed at room temperature. Part of the reason I gave them a shot was this supposed inability to breed at "cooler" temps, but with no heat tape, light, or any external heat source, they multiply just fine. Food for thought.

But I absolutely agree with everyone else here. If you can't provide at a bare minimum live crickets, then a chameleon isn't for the OP right now.
 
It's not like the crickets are going eat your fingers in your sleep.

or will they? Dum dum dum!

\n/ Crickets \n/

----They Eat----

Coming to a theater near YOU!


:D
 
I live in Florida so we also have a guy come every three months to spray. I take my Cham outside while the guy is here but we haven't had any issues either.
As for surviving at room temperature. I live in Florida so I'm not sure about Dubias but green bananas and Discoids both died at room temp in my house. Overnight my air conditioner is set to 68 degrees. My suggestion would be if you have an escape let the temp drop in the house to high 60's. Your Cham will be fine and the feeders will die.
I did start my chameleon journey firmly insisting I would never have roaches. After housing crickets for a while I changed my mind. They are much cleaner, don't smell and you can easily find one that doesn't jump or climb.
 
I think when it comes down to it...if you want a Chameleon, you HAVE to get over fear of bugs, worms etc. Some WILL escape, there's no ifs ands or butts. If the crickets are that big of an issue, I would suggest looking at a different type of pet, maybe an herbivore as someone suggested. You don't want to keep a Chameleon and risk it's health because you can't handle the bugs. Not trying to be harsh, but you have to take the animal into consideration as well.
 
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