My chameleon will not. specifically crickets. i can get him to eat maybe two or three mealworms everyday but he has completely stopped eating crickets all together. And i dont think 1-3 mealworms is sufficent for him. also now when i try to give him food or open his cage he lunges at me to climb onto my hand. He is still fairly young he just started getting his color about two months ago. can anybody help!?
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panther chameleon not eating
brakelazy
Oct 30, 2006 12:03 PM
Replies (4)
ChamCrazy
Oct 30, 2006 02:30 PM
Hi,
Try offering a variety of foods to your chameleon. When chameleons are only offered one or two types of feeder insect, they often get bored and go on a "hunger strike." In order to break them of this habit, it is important to offer different insects for consumption. Try silkworms, waxworms, and just about anything that flies including houseflies, moths, etc. Hope this helps,
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Christopher Luecht
Chameleon Crazy
www.chameleoncrazy.com
Email: info@chameleoncrazy.com
brakelazy
Oct 30, 2006 03:20 PM
cool thanks for you advice ill see what happens. Any info on why he is so determined to climb on me when ever i go near the cage?
ChamCrazy
Oct 30, 2006 05:23 PM
Some chameleons, especially males, in my experiences are pretty active. I believe it has to do with being in a cage all day. I have had some who would do the exact same thing, but once they were out in the large outdoor enclosures for the summer, they seemed to stop this habit. Best of luck with him,
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Christopher Luecht
Chameleon Crazy
www.chameleoncrazy.com
Email: info@chameleoncrazy.com
sandrachameleon
Nov 20, 2006 04:41 PM
I think it likely yours is going through a phase and will return to enjoying crickets eventually. I have one picky eater who refuses to eat the same insect more than twice in a row.
If indeed your cham is just showing a preference, try to find other alternatives, as mealworms are not a great diet. I agree with CCrazy post - offer as much variety as possible: butterworms, silkworms, roaches, moths, etc (try not to offer waxworms very often - too fatty).
Is it possible the crickets are not as easy to see as the mealworms? Some chams are better hunters than others.
Another possibility is that a cricket has a negative association from a recent incident. Is it possible you offered a cricket that was too large recently that either bit your cham or had large hind jumping legs that may have got caught in its mouth?
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SandraChameleon@gmail.com
BC Canada
