Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As far as I can tell, my cham hasn't eaten any crickets since he arrived Wednesday. Orginally I had some in a small cup. He ate a mealie out of the cup, but no crickets. I thought maybe he likes things that move around a lot, so I made a bigger cricket cup out of a gallon jug. I tempted him again with a mealworm. He ate that and then sat and watched the crickets for awhile. I thought he would eat one but he never did.

I'm worried he's going to starve! He knows where the crix are but just won't eat them! Should I give him some more mealies so he has something to eat? I only planned on giving him a couple of those a day.
-----
~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)
0.1 African Hegdehog (Kaimah)

He ate a mealworm out of my hand, but wouldn't go for the cricket. Is he just being picky? I'm hoping he'll get the idea soon.

Here are his hunting colors.

-----
~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)
0.1 African Hegdehog (Kaimah)

He is cute!! He may just be being picky. Or, whom ever had him before maybe gave him only mealies; OR, gave him mostly crix, and now he is on a mealworm rampage. I would give him a bunch of mealies a day for now, and see if he comes around to eating crix in the next week or two. They won't be too bad for him, just make sure he is well hydrated. Sometime's chams go on fits where they will only eat one type of bug (my female panther went about a year ONLY eating superworms... that was fun). Also, the change in environment may be having an affect on him, and when he settles in he may go for the crickets more. Just keep an eye on him, and for now he gets lots to eat, even if they are just mealies. You can make it a little better by making sure they are well gutloaded and hydrated.

Okie dokey. Thanks for the reply.

How many mealworms should I give him each day? As many as he would eat, like crickets?
-----
~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)
0.1 African Hegdehog (Kaimah)

Yup.. For a baby he'll probably eat anywhere between 10-20 depending on the day. Sometimes less than ten, some days closer to 20. After he gets on a healthy eating schedule and he is settled in a bit mroe (a week to two weeks) make him take a day off eating, then the next day give him crix. If he still isn't interested, but looks hungry go back to mealies. I'm sure eventually this will work and he'll take some crickets.
When my panther was young she LOVED mealworms. She'd still eat crickets, but wouldn't touch silkies. Now she loves silkies and everything else. I think their tastes change over time.

Also...are you sure your chameleon is food dish trained? My male tamatave will eat any type of worm out of a dish...but wont touch crickets, if I let them free roam he practicly trips over himself to get the crickets. I've tried everything to get him to feed out of a cup..but he wont.
-----
From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther
1.1 Ambilobe Panther

How are you sure that they have all been eaten? I'm worried that if I let some free range they could hide and then come out and nibble on him at night.
-----
~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)
0.1 African Hegdehog (Kaimah)

If you free range just leave a bit of carrot or something where the crix can get at it. I would try it, it's worth a shot

since mealies are harder to digest I am not sure that a diet of them exclusively is a good idea. I could be wrong here folks, I am just going by what all of you have taught me! lol!

Are the crix small enough for him? silkies, wax and butterworms are good, too. Silkworms and butterworms are high in calcium so a good choice for a growing boy!

Diesel is going to have to grow in to that name!
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (both MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog (for summer)
0.5 Mad. Hissers (for summer - all girls, no little ones, whew!)

I tried the free range idea, and he snapped them up!
-----
~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)
0.1 African Hegdehog (Kaimah)

-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (both MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog (for summer)
0.5 Mad. Hissers (for summer - all girls, no little ones, whew!)

Good deal! Alot of chameleons take some time to learn to eat crickets out of a dish for some odd reason. I personaly like to put a few free range in the cage..even if the chameleon will eat out of a dish....gives them something to do during the day, they love to hunt.

I would not worry about crickets eating the chameleon as long as you dont put to many crickets in the cage and you give them something to snack on at night.
-----
From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther
1.1 Ambilobe Panther

It's true. It's better if you can feed freshly molted ones. Sometimes if that's all the cham will eat though, it's not bad for a while, as long as you encourage it to eat other things. Orion ate only superworms and mealworms for almost a year. The main problem I had with her was keeping her hydrated.