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I exchanged my adult jackson to a experience breeder for a 3 month old veiled. I DONT WANT TO MAKE THE SAME MISTKAES I MADE WITH MY JACKSON!! Any help on how many crickets? dusting? and Why does he keep shooting its tongue at the branch?

At this age feed him all he wants, but more smaller prey will be better than fewer larger ones. Sometimes a cham in a new strange territory will shoot or touch their tongue on perches as they move along to "taste" whether any other chams have been there. Some chams leave a scent mark by rubbing themselves on a branch after defecating.

...I didn't know that! I had no idea they marked territory, though it does make perfect sense. Do they have oil glands (or comparable) like cats?

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)

No, they leave a bit of fecal residue behind. Not all chams do this apparently. I've seen melleri, verrucosus, and fischeri taste test "new" territory. It's not a for-sure explanation and might depend on the gender, but others I've talked to sometimes see it. I also think this could explain why chams who are roaming around a house do mini tongue shoots at carpet or furniture before they step on them. My male veiled did it all the time. My verrucosus was very cautious about any new perches in his cage and would do his shaky walk and tongue test every few inches. Once he covered the new area he seemed to accept the new route as his. It is odd, as chams don't have a very strong sense of smell or taste to begin with. Its just a neat little quirk I've seen.

Ive seen this with my male nosey be chameleon
but none of the others i have do it

Hi Carlton,

A reptile's tongue is used to locate/grasp food, 'smell' an enemy, and find a mate. Reptiles do these things by using the tongue to taste chemical particles in the air or in their environment. The particles are then transferred to a group of cells called the Jacobson's organ - which both tastes and smells them.

Watching chameleon behavior is never-ending fun, and I often see both males and female chameleons taste-test branches/leaves with their tongues. Most often I feel this is done to determine if the territory is occupied, but also to recognize their own habitat.

It should be noted that while tasting, the chameleon does not extend his/her tongue in the same manner as when hunting food items. A small, pointy portion of the tongue is used to extend out and downward.

We have a male veiled that usually tastes me while walking on my hand or arm. I often wonder if they feel rivalry when sensing the presence of another male chameleon.

To date, we have witnessed veiled; flapnecks; panthers; rudis; deremensis; jacksonii and melleri marking their territory. Not unusual is the occassional sperm strand left by a dominant male on a favorite branch. We have seen reactions from other chameleons using those same branches, so we often wash down the community exercise walkways to lessen stress.

Hopefully, one day, there will be an in-depth study done on the chameleon tongue. Until then, we humans will continue to be amazed by it's uniqueness.