Chameleons are principally insectivores meaning they eat different bugs. A portion of the bigger ones likewise feed on little reptiles and warm-blooded creatures, and other species, for instance, the veiled chameleon, will even eat plant matter.
You ought to give your pet food day by day regardless of whether he doesn’t eat it. Chameleons and different reptiles will frequently go through periods where they don’t eat or eat practically nothing. This is because of changes in the climate and the season. If your pet looks sound and is regularly acting, there is generally nothing to stress over.
The following are the food sources and dietary enhancements required for a pet chameleon. By giving a balanced amount of food, you help guarantee that your reptile carries on with a long and sound life.
Chameleon Diet overview
Chameleons are Omnivorous animals. This is something beyond a dietary inclination; chameleons in their common territory should eat a combination of meat and veggies to acquire each of the supplements they need to survive.
Young chameleons eat continuously as compared to grown-ups and ought to have a consistent approach to food. The feeding cycle can be decreased to once a day or every second day after your chameleon arrived at adulthood.
While insects will frequently be caught up rather rapidly, your chameleon may not generally be as intrigued by his greens as insects. Any greens not eaten following an entire day ought to be removed.
What do Chameleons eat
Chameleons can eat a variety of food which includes:
worms including calcium worms, silkworms, wax worms, earthworms, butter worms, bamboo worms. Furthermore, they eat locusts, cockroaches, different types of flies. These all add up to around more than 30 feeders for the Chameleon.
You need to keep in mind that all the above may differ in the nourishment they provide. So all crickets are not the equivalent; the same is the case with a bug and worms. At their primary value, they all vary.
Insects:
Different insects will be the essential food of a chameleon. Crickets and mealworms are easily accessible at pet stores and on the web and are moderately economical.
Waxworms and super worms can likewise be utilized to treat or change up your reptile’s eating routine. In general, these bugs will be more greasy and ought not to be fed to your pet in massive amounts.
You should gut-load all bugs that you are feeding your chameleon. Gut-stacking is giving the bugs nutritious food, which will at some point be passed to your pet when the bugs are eaten. There is a wide variety of commercial gut-loads accessible that supply the fundamental supplements.
Best staple insects for Chameleons
It is important to have a staple insect that you can feed your Chameleon regularly. The few best staple insects for the Chameleons that you can provide periodically are mentioned below:
- Hornworms
- Crickets
- Dubia Roaches
- Reptiworms
Insects to feed sparingly
Too much fat content is terrible for your Chameleon’s health, so you must watch out not to overfeed the fat content to your pet. Few insects which work fine only for occasional feeding are listed below:
- Superworms
- Waxworms
- Mealworms
Gut-Loading and Dusting your Chameleon’s insects
It’s important to feed a healthy diet to your Chameleon, and your pet will eventually devour.
It’s good to have the insects gut-loaded with papaya, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, watercress, and dandelion leaves. When fed to the insects, these nutrients are passed down to the Chameleons who consume those insects.
It’s also important to have essential vitamins in your pet’s diet. Dusting the insects with supplements before feeding them to your pet Chameleon is one of the effective ways to meet the vitamin’s need of your pet.
Green and veggies
The eating habits of greens for this pet may differ from Chameleon to Chameleon. Some Chameleons consume a lot of plants, while others don’t even go close to the veggies. That’s the reason why gut-loading your Chameleons food with veggies and nutrients is important.
Types of Greens
Greens with leaves are suitable for your pet Chameleon if they enjoy eating plants in their food. Few plants that you should add to the diet are listed below.
- Mustard Green
- Dandelion
- Endive
- Collard Green
- Escarole
Types of Vegetables
Some of the Chameleons avoid consuming vegetables. However, if your pet Chameleon has an inclination towards eating vegetables, the following would be an excellent choice to feed him.
- Squash
- Carrots
- Sweet Potatoes
Dietary Supplements
Supplements are important to maintain the nutrition level of your Chameleon. Nutrients A and D3, phosphorous, and calcium are an altogether superb addition to your chameleon’s eating routine. You can buy these nutrients separately or in a uniquely planned mix, which will accomplish the ideal outcome.
Furthermore, adding a lot of nutrients in powdered form to the food of your pet Chameleon is not necessary; a light dusting of nutrients would do the needful.
Feeding Mice to Chameleon
Mice can be added to the diet of adult Chameleons as they can chew and digest them. However, it should not be added regularly to the diet, as they have a high content of fats which can be harmful to the Chameleon.
If you are feeding mice to Chameleons, make sure to use pre-killed mice, as it is the right way to feed your pet. Frozen mice can be stored for a long time and are inexpensive too. The mice you’re feeding your Chameleon should be thawed entirely and left at room temperature before putting them in front of the Chameleon.
Keeping your Chameleon hydrated
Chameleons do not drink from a dish of water; it is very unlikely of them to drink water placed in front of them in a container or bowl. Chameleons drink water from droplets formed on leaves after the mist. A proper misting system installed in your pet’s enclosure will provide enough water to the pet Chameleon.
Tap water can also do the deed, only if it doesn’t contain a high amount of metals or chlorine. You can use distilled water to avoid any health issues in the Chameleon. Another way to keep your Chameleon’s hydration level intact is by feeding it greens and vegetables, which every Chameleon might not consume, so regular misting is best in any case.
Foods to Avoid
There are few food items which aren’t healthy for your Chameleons and must be avoided. Following is a list of such things:
- Kale: It can be harmful to your pet’s digestive system.
- Broccoli: It can be dangerous for your Chameleons’ nutritions level
- Fireflies: They can be poisonous to your pet.
- Wild-caught bugs: Try not to feed your Chameleons on the insects you catch randomly from your house. There is a high chance that these insects will introduce parasites to your pet Chameleon.
Fruits are a good treat for your chameleon, yet acidic fruits should be kept away from your pet. Additionally, give close consideration to what consuming different insects mean to your chameleon’s bowel movements.
Many chameleon keepers report harmful impacts when feeding their chameleon with mealworms. This may appear to be somewhat alarming considering the prevalence of mealworms as a part of a chameleon food; however, it’s better to be cautious at all times.
Chameleon treats
Out of all the food which has been listed for the well-being of your Chameleon, some are considered to be treats. These food items are mainly more like a treat because of their fat content. Bamboo worms, Morio Worms, Butter worms are Chameleon treats.
As these are just treats for the Chameleon, so they must be fed to your Chameleons in a minimal amount. Providing excess of these foods would lead to health issues in your pet. You must decide the routine to give these food items to your pet.
Conclusion:
The dietary necessities of your Chameleon, the familiar saying of “you are what you eat,” has never been so true.
- Treat the feeder bugs as pets themselves.
- Keep your Chameleon well hydrated (do this every day or after every day).
- Keep Your Chameleon clean (twice a week, remove dead bugs from the skin of your pet).
- Give them their space to move around (don’t keep them in the tubs they are bought in).
Keep your Chameleon’s eating routine changing so it doesn’t get frustrated. What’s more, this takes into consideration the ideal healthful conveyance for your Chameleon. Remaining hydrated = better digestion and eating likewise, so discover what works for your set-up. Doing this will pass the advantages to your Chameleon.
