Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello I found a Veil and am taking care of it. I am wondering about feeding. I have asked several people and have researched many sights including this one for hours. At the moment his meals include 12 crickets (daily) and 1 superworm (every other day). I have tried to put in a cut grape, greens and cut apple pieces, but he hasn't seemed interested. He is drinking from the leaves of plants and also from the small drinking bowl (not much water in it). I have read that he should be eating every other day, but he acts like he is looking for food at times. He does have an injury that I am doctoring daily. He apparently had a run in with a dog. Puncture wound to side and leg. The side is healing nicely with the wound on the leg the only question. But, he is still using it at the moment. I would appreciate any suggestions. I am taking in everything I can get.

How did you happen to find him??!!

I have kept veileds for many years now.

I feed my ADULTS (if the one you have is not an adult yet...let me know) every two or three days about 10 crickets per feeding. I give them superworms, waxworms (not too many because they are fattening), silkworms, etc....and decrease the amount of crickets when I feed them other insects. If its a male, as long as he doesn't get fat, you can give him a little more...but I have found that if they are not overfed, they seem to live longer.

I gutload all the insects so that they are nutritious for the chameleons...and at most feedings I dust the insects lightly before giving them to the chameleon with Rep-Cal calcium powder. I also dust the insects lightly twice a month with the Rep-Cal vitamins and since my chameleons get no direct sunlight, I dust with a calcium/D3 powder lightly twice a month. My chameleons all have a Repti-sun 5.0 UVB/full spectrum light on the cages and a basking bulb.

I feed them a mixture of dandelion greens, collards, kale, endive, ROMAINE lettuce, apple, pear, berries, melon, diced carrots, sweet red peppers, squash, sweet potato, etc. once a week...and most of them eat it. If its not eaten by the chameleon, then the free-ranging insects usually eat it, so the chameleon gets it anyway.

I use a mister to mist the plants and a dripper to provide water. Some will drink from pools of water that form in the cage but most prefer to drink from the leaves or the dripper.

Regarding the puncture wound to his side and leg....hopefully he didn't get any bacteria into his system from these wounds. If he did, he could have problems down the road.

Are you sure its a male? Does it have tarsal spurs?

Hope he does well for you!

Thanks for your reply. Luckily I have several freinds who have reptiles and are very knowledgeable, that got me started on the right foot. He is a male and from the size, it's body is the size of my hand and with it's tail I'd say he would measure 18 inches, I figured he was a male. So I may be feeding him too often? He hasn't left any crickets, yet. I probably ought to slow down the feedings slighty. I also attributed the eating with the stress and wounds that he has had. I have tried to get him outside for awhile every other day. Do you just put the vegees and fruit in the cage or do you cut it up into little pieces. I have tried parts of an apple, grape and lettuce, but he hasn't seemed interested. Thanks.

I'm sure that a little extra feeding for now wouldn't hurt. He may need it.

You asked..."Do you just put the vegees and fruit in the cage or do you cut it up into little pieces. I have tried parts of an apple, grape and lettuce, but he hasn't seemed interested"...I sliced the apples and pears and cut the melon into pieces. I tear the leaves into chunks and dice the sweet red pepper, squash, etc. The harder veggies like sweet potato and carrot I give them in slivers (just keep peeling them with a potato peeler.) I place them in a lid (like a peanut butter jar lid) on the bottom of the cage.

Here are some sites with lots of good information on chameleons that you might be interested in...
http://adcham.com/
http://adcham.com/html/husbandry/gutload.html
http://www.chameleonnews.com/
http://www.chameleonjournals.com/vet/