Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am in the early stages of considering aquiring a male pygmy leaf chameleon, so I am trying to gather up as much information as possible before I make a final decision.

My biggest question: is it possible to maintain a healthy pygmy leaf chameleon on a non-live insect diet? (Such as canned/dried fruit flies, mini crickets, etc.) I ask because I don't have access to live insects in my area that are small enough for the chameleon to eat. The local pet stores only carry crickets that are much too big. Of course I want to be able to properly care for the animal, and this is my biggest concern! Also, is there a "commercial" chameleon diet available? I have a box turtle whose staple diet is a commercial turtle food, along with dried insects and fresh fruits and veggies, and she has been very healthy for the five years I've had her so far. Of course, chameleons are very different, so who knows

Any info regarding this, and also any general knowledge on pygmy leaf chameleons, will be very greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Where do you live? You can get fruit flies and crickets of all sizes shipped to you if you live anywhere near the usual civilizations. (I don't know about Greenland or Siberia, etc...)
Chameleons usually need their prey to move for them to recognize it.
Bill

To one cat woman from another

I got three cbb Rhampholen brevicaudatus (Tanzania stump tail) from Kammerflage Kreations (see link below) a few weeks ago. I feed them fruit flies which your local petstore (chain store e.g. Petco) should carry. One culture is $4.99 and should last about three weeks. Just be sure you get ones that look new (bright green medium and fewer FF) as I have often found old/moldy ones there. Just b/c there are lots of FF in one doesn't mean it's a bargain. It means that they have been around for awhile, thus won't last as long. I am now going to order my ff online and keep several cultures going (haven't decided who I will purchase them from yet). I will also be buying pinhead crix and mini-mealworms from Grubco.com.

They need moving prey so feeding them something from a can wouldn't work (as far as I know) plus half the fun of having cham's is to watch them find and shoot their meals!

Just a thought...I got three b/c these are a spp. that can live together given enough room. I have 2 females and one male in a 10 gal. who will be moved into a 30 after they have matured. I have it setup with lots of plants, rocks, a natural wooden "bridge" and more. So you might consider getting more than one. If you don't want to raise the offspring than get 2 or 3 females. Just my personal thoughts

Here are some crix and ff sites:
http://grubco.netstorekeeper.com/ (pinhead crix and mini-mealies)
http://www.timberlinefisheries.com/fruit_fly.html (FF)
http://www.edsflymeatinc.com/ (FF)
http://www.drosophila.herpetology.com (exclusively FF)

Their food needs to be dusted from time to time with supplement and Liddy (breeder) recommended Montane Fruit Fly from http://www.herpnutrition.com/

hope this helps! oh, and btw - these little guys are great!!

lele
Kammerflage Kreations

Bill and Lele, thank you both for your replies. I live in the USA (Georgia) but I checked with the pet stores in this area and they only sell regular-sized crickets, mealworms, and superworms. Shipment might be an option and I'm going to look into that now.

Thanks again!

>>Bill and Lele, thank you both for your replies. I live in the USA (Georgia) but I checked with the pet stores in this area and they only sell regular-sized crickets, mealworms, and superworms. Shipment might be an option and I'm going to look into that now.
>>
>>Thanks again!

I agree, it seemed weird to me that none of the PetsMarts would sell them. (No PetCo nearby.) I asked in-store, the guy checked a sign that had the feeder insects available for sale. Tomorrow I will call and double check just to be sure.

Yes, do check back. They come in plastic cups about 4" high with green medium (typically) and are usually on a rack as opposed to in the fridge or in the back so it may not be on their standard list. But since you don't have your cham yet you have time to line all this up in advance. Have you decided on a breeder yet?

lele

>>I agree, it seemed weird to me that none of the PetsMarts would sell them. (No PetCo nearby.) I asked in-store, the guy checked a sign that had the feeder insects available for sale. Tomorrow I will call and double check just to be sure.

Wouldn't you know, a new PetCo just opened up not too far from where I live, and I was looking at their flyer today and what do I see? "PetCo offers crickets, mealworms, wax worms, super worms, earthworms and FLIGHTLESS FRUIT FLIES." Woo hoo!

Lele, I think that since you directed me to Kammerflage Kreations, I would go with them. Their site is very informative and I can tell that they really care about their animals. BTW, thanks for all your help with this! I certainly do appreciate it, and I'll keep you posted as the journey continues!

>>Wouldn't you know, a new PetCo just opened up not too far from where I live, and I was looking at their flyer today and what do I see? "PetCo offers crickets, mealworms, wax worms, super worms, earthworms and FLIGHTLESS FRUIT FLIES." Woo hoo!
>>
>>Lele, I think that since you directed me to Kammerflage Kreations, I would go with them. Their site is very informative and I can tell that they really care about their animals. BTW, thanks for all your help with this! I certainly do appreciate it, and I'll keep you posted as the journey continues!