Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have done my research on how to take care of the roaches, but I couldn't really find anything on how to feed them to my chams. I know that they are rather quick and can climb almost any surface. The last thing I want is a bunch of roaches sunning around my house. What is the most effective way to feed chams roaches? Should I get a fairly large container and coat the rim in vasoline so they can't escape? Does putting vasiline on the rim of a container ensure they don't get out? Because I bought them for my mellers, and he doesn't like me in the room, let alone watching him eat. I want to be comfortable leaving the room and knowing that the roaches won't get out. Also I heard they are quite fast and it was recommended that some of the legs are cut off. Is this necessary? Thanks

What species of roach are you using?
Lobsters seem to be the biggest pain in the @$## when it comes to feeding chameleons. They only work well if you hand feed, if you drop them in the cage they hide and escape, same with bins.
I hand feed all my chameleons roaches, and free range crickets in their cages as a staple. I'm using some of the large blattodea species.. they can't climb glass, you only have to feed one roach at a time, & they're large enough for one meal.
You could try working with your chameleon to get him to hand feed. If you're patient enough, and the chameleon is hungry enough, he'll come around. (esp if there's a squirming roach for him to eat.) I sometimes use tweezers or feeding forceps & grab the roach leg or wing...it makes them squirm like crazy and the movement intices the chams to eat. Just be patient and slow, they eventually get the idea.
garrett

I ordered lobster roaches. They where a real good deal, like 350 for 25 bucks. I didnt realize roaches were such a hassle. But I dont really have a choice, my mellers just isnt that interested in crickets. But thanks for the info. But is the vasoline thing true? Can roaches not clumb past it?

The vaseline will work as long as you don’t stir them up and excite them (I have lobster roaches and they are very shy). Eventually the vaseline will get dry so I run a cigarette lighter across it a few times to make it ooze. I also taped a piece of window screen to the top part of the critter container I keep them in just to be sure no tiny ones get out. I know the Vaseline works since I never see them up on the screen past the vaseline layer (which is about 2 inches wide). Feeding them to the cham is difficult – go with the hand feeding advice. I mainly use them for the nymphs to feed to my leaf chams.

-roo

The vasoline would work in the feeding bin, but you run
the risk of the chameleon getting vasoline on his tongue.
You could try a very large bin, like shoe box size would work pretty well, should be easier for him to shoot without hitting the sides. There's a product out there called "bug stop", that would also work on the rims, it's not as messy as vasoline.
If you're going to be feeding mellers, I would get a colony of the larger roaches going. It takes a while for them to breed, but once they're established they're great. I like
orange heads, and e. distanti.. the distanti are my favorites,
they're vegetarian and wont eat the others wings and antennae, they're not jumpy, and very heavy bodied.
They are a little slower on the reproduction tho. I don't like
discoids or deaths heads,..one of them (i forget which) is very jumpy and they secrete a musky odor, nasty. (the lobsters also secrete a musky liquid when grabbed,.. yuck!)
garrett