Worms for diversity

[scs]

I am looking for some more diversity for my female veiled. I mostly feed her crickets and some bugs from outside. She gets meal and wax worms as treats. The pet stores in my area don't offer a whole lot, so is there a particular type of worm that is worth ordering and breeding (and is easy to gutload) for her? It could also be some other type of bug/insect, but my mom is against Dubia because if they escape they will still be around for a while

Iggy is my only chameleon, so I don't need to bulk buy.... or breed.

 

[jannb]

Instead of mealworms and wax worms I recommend butterworms and Phoenix worms, they would be a much better feeder for your girl. Some silkworms would also be excellent. She would probably love Blue Bottle flies.

 

[kplatvoet]

I would suggest silkworms for the summer months PA should have some mulberry trees- (make sure they haven't been sprayed) - If you can find a tree it's all they eat and they are easier than hornworms to breed enough to keep you going all summer long and the eggs can be kept and hatched in the fridge so you can regulate how many you have.
Bluebottle flies are fun- and easy to hatch-but not breed- a member had an add with a bunch of other choices - stick bugs ect -

 

[scs]

Since I can't really go out and buy those worms/flies at a store, is there a certain distributer/website or something that has really good quality? And out of butterworms, Phoenix worms, silk worms and Blue Bottle flies which ones are the easiest to breed and maintain a small population of? I know I'm asking a lot, but I want to make sure I know as much as possible, so does anyone have tips to share about breeding those particular feeders?

 

[Psychobunny]

Chams do need a little fat in their diet.
I feed my guyz supers about once a month, maybe for 2 days in a row.
Anymore then that, they will be addicted to them.

As for wax worms, my guys don't seem to like them, and Noogie will not eat a worm of any kind!!

Waxies are loaded with fat!! they are like cheesecake for chams

 

[kplatvoet]

pigglett79 has a great blog about breeding silkworms
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/pigglett79/763-silk-worm-rearing-breeding-part-1.html
I would say they are the easiest to breed in small quanities -
There are a couple of sponsors who have them - check the list in the classified section - I've ordered from all of them I think (as they don't always have them in stock) and never had any issues - and been very pleased.
I get my Blue Bottle flies online at mantisplace.com - shipping for 100 is cheap and I have her fly food for gutloading. I'll split the 100 into 4 groups and keep 3 in the fridge until the first batch hatches & then so on - I have more to feed so I'll get the spikes too and they last a while - I'll give them crickets and let some loose in the cage -