Crickets should be no larger than the width of your chameleon’s head. [1] X Research source Baby chameleons can be fed every day. Chameleons up to three months old should be given as many small crickets as they can eat. Depending on the species, you can start feeding them every other day when your chameleon is between six and twelve months old. Most adult chameleons will eat between five and twelve crickets per feeding. [2] X Research source
Silk worms Mealworms Wax worms Flies Moths Cockroaches[3] X Research source Locusts Hornworms Butterworms[4] X Research source
Leafy greens such as mustard greens, alfalfa, watercress, collard greens, and dandelion leaves Just make sure not to feed any type of lettuce because that’s prevents his or her calcium to develop fully Sweet potato Carrots Oranges Mango Broccoli Apples
For young chameleons, you will need to dust their food with calcium supplements two or three times a week. You can use a general multivitamin dust once every two weeks. Mature chameleons may only need their food dusted with calcium once a week. [7] X Research source Chameleons are susceptible to Vitamin A deficiency. While gut loading insects with foods high in Vitamin A might be sufficient, you can also add a vitamin A supplement dust to the insects. [8] X Research source A good calcium dust will contain twice as much calcium as phosphorus. [9] X Research source Read the label to make sure that there is a good ratio. Dusting your chameleon’s food with calcium will prevent it from getting MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) Different brands have different ratios of vitamins. Always read the label to find the right dosage for your chameleon. [10] X Research source
Chameleons up to three months should be given as many small crickets as they can eat. They may also enjoy fruit and house flies. Veiled and Panther Chameleons: Chameleons up to six months old should eat between ten and twelve crickets a day. Between six and twelve months, they should have ten to twelve crickets every other day. Adults over a year old should eat between seven and ten large crickets every other day. [12] X Research source [13] X Research source Jackson’s Chameleons: Chameleons up to six months should eat between ten and twelve small crickets a day. Between six and twelve months, they should eat between eight and ten medium crickets every other day. Adults should eat between six and eight medium to large crickets every other day. [14] X Research source Pygmy Chameleons: Between three and six months, they should have between six and ten small crickets daily. After six months, they should have between four and six crickets every other day. [15] X Research source Flapneck, Graceful and Senegal Chameleons: Between three and six months, they should be given ten to twelve small crickets daily. Juveniles between six and twelve months should eat ten to twelve medium crickets every other day. Adults need five to seven small to medium crickets every other day. [16] X Research source
You may want to keep track of your feedings with a planner, calendar, or schedule. Check off dates that you fed the chameleon to make sure that they are fed the proper amount at the right times.
The chameleon should see the insects moving and will slowly move towards them. You may want to watch your chameleon to make sure he notices the insects and that he is feeding on them. Do not leave too many live crickets in the cage at once. Some insects are aggressive and may bite your chameleon at night. [18] X Research source Check under the rocks, plants, and other objects in the cage to make sure that there are no crickets hiding. [19] X Research source
Some chameleons will even eat fruit. You can cut up a small slice of mango or apple, and place it in their cage. Do not be worried if they do not eat it. It just means that your chameleon does not want fruit.
You should use a cup that has opaque sides. If you use a clear cup, the chameleon may not realize that it is there, and they may injure themselves trying to reach the insects. [22] X Research source You may have success with an eight ounce cup. Some recommend that you use a cup as large as sixteen or twenty-four ounces.
You can also punch holes in the cup, and hang it from a plant in the cage. Make sure that you use the same feeding cup for each chameleon. Do not mix the cups, or you risk spreading germs between cages.
