Chameleon Questions...

Question

I need to ask... my chameleon is probably about the size of a little finger. The breeder told me he was about 2-3 months old. He is a male. I was told that their main food is crickets. I tried to feed him the smallest crickets I could find. He wouldn't eat them, but he would he would eat mealworms without any problem. Is there any reason why he could be doing this? Please tell me! Also... I have a nightlight for him. It is one of those red ones. He doesn't seem to sleep during the night. I don't know if this is just a phase or something or if they are actually nocturnal. Finally, I have an aquarium for my chameleon, and I heard that glass walls stress them out since they can't climb them. Should I get a wire-like wall cage? Please help with all my questions! This is my first chameleon and I really need help! Thanks!

Answer 1

im not sure why he wouldnt eat the crickets because my sisters blue tounge lizard doesnt eat them either. but ive found that my sisters lizard might eat heaps for a week and then stop eating for a month.

if you only turn on the light at night maybe the lizard stays awake because the warmer they are the more theyl move. thats why animals go into hybernation in winter.  

Answer 2

For the feeding issue, try dusting the crickets (which is putting them in a little plastic baggy full of particular dust and shaking it around so the dust covers the crickets) something with calcium and vitamins. I use Chameleon Dust by T-Rex. And also try feeding your Cham in a separate and smaller containter since the crickets are fast he just might not want to catch them and so he has nothing else to be distracted by, also you can try stepping out of the room sometimes Chameleons can be shy eaters.

The red light will be an issue, most Chams do not sleep with red lights, mine definately wont. Use a heat lamp instead, it gives off no light but is used just like a light - it only radiates heat, you can this at a local pet or reptile store and you leave it on all day and all night. During the day you should also have a UV light (full UVA and UVB) along with the heat lamp but turn it off during the night.

Sometime the glass does indeed stress them out for two reasons: 1.) They love to be able to climb   2.) They don't like other Chameleons, so seeing their reflection in the glass stresses them out. Try using a mesh cage, if you can't afford another cage though, try covering the sides of the cage with vines, plants, bamboo, branches and so forth - that way he can climb and he won't be able to see his reflection.

Good luck with your Cham, they're great pets to have, I wish the best for the both of you.

Answer 3

Please make sure he has a UVB light, a true and effective one will cost between 70 to 80 dollars, but without it he will die a slow and painful death. Because they grow so fast they need it to metabolize calcium properly. They are wonderful pets, and I kept my male veiled in a plexiglass cage that had holes drilled in it. As long as they have enough vines to climb they will do fine in glass.  Make sure he has moving or dripping water to drink because they will not drink standing water. I love love them but they are very difficult to care for, and a source of much stress if they get ill. I fed mine crickets, mealworms, and waxworms, he always preferred the worms but as he gets bigger crickets should be a main food source. Make sure he doesn't have extra ones in the cage that he doesn't eat, because they could torment and bite him. Also please use a vitamin supplement. I know this might be stuff you already know, but alot of people do not know and then the innocent little "million" dies.