MY chameleon ate a florida lizard what are the risk of him eating wild lizards i live in florida an he lives outside one got in the cage an i was trying to get it out an he attacked!!!
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MY chameleon ate a florida lizard what are the risk of him eating wild lizards i live in florida an he lives outside one got in the cage an i was trying to get it out an he attacked!!!
Small lizards are occasional prey for wild chams. The only real concern would be parasites, and you can easily check for this. Remember, chams will probably always have some parasites as they occur in just about every feeder they get. Get a fecal done on a regular basis so you know what's present. It doesn't mean you need to eradicate EVERYTHING, just that you keep track of the general level of organisms, what types, and whether the load is growing for some reason. If the cham develops other health problems that is when a parasite load can bloom and become a stressor.
I would worry about insecticides too...if they were sprayed on the plants where the "wild" lizard had been it might bring some of it to your lizard.
Just a thought..
I realize this is a little late for posting an answer but Having lived in Fla. for 12yrs and having kept Chameleons outside the whole time I've lived here (veileds,panthers,parsons,jacksons,oustalets,verrocusus etc. weather permitting.) I might have a little insight into this subject. Quite simply I wouldn't worry about it. The first time I had a panther take an anole I'll admit I was a little worried about parasites but if you keep chams outside here they are going to eat anoles(and other lizards like skinks.) from time to time it's just the way it is and no matter how secure you make your cage they still manage to get inside. I have a freind in the jacksonville area who works with Oustalets and his Chams go nuts over anoles. Panthers like them quite a bit and if you get the chance to ever work with Parsons, they take them to a certain extent but not like the former two (they definitely like baby day geckoes much better.) Parasites are obviously a concern however the benefits of keeping chameleons in a seminatural enviroment far outweigh the risks of them ingesting the occasional anole.
Yeah he eats at lease 3 a week!!! its hard to keep those things out the cage!! he was sick now he has turn out much better an more active
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