pinkies

[Blink182]

i thinking of feeding my veiled chameleon a pinkie since i heard they can eat tham i i just saw the pics of the panther i think it was eating one. can veiled eat them? i try to mix up my chams food by giving him some superworms, and hornworms. would he eat it? oh he's just about 8 months old

thnx in advance

[Trace]

Hello Blink!

That was pics of my Panther Chameleon eating the pinkie. I do occasionally feed my Veiled's pinkies as well. I don't do this often though... maybe once a month? Most chameleons in the wild will take the odd mouse, lizard, bird etc, but they are primarily insectivores. You are correct in trying different kinds of insects for your cham. Veiled's can be particularly picky eaters so giving them a bit of variety is good for them. I also will catch "wild caught" insects in the summer for my chameleons... they LOVE grasshoppers and moths! Remember though, if you catch any "outdoor" bugs, get them from an area that has not been sprayed with any insecticides!

Here is a pic of my Veiled eating a pinkie!

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/405116-1656-med.jpg

Ooops! I almost forgot! The pinkie must be live... chameleons have to see it moving, otherwise they don't perceive it as food. Feeding live food to chameleons can be a bit disturbing as they are the only lizards that chew their food before they swallow it. When chams bite into that pinkie, it does make some errrr interesting crying sounds....

Hope this helps!

Trace

[Dom]

I can vouch for it .. lol It was quite discusting and cool to look at.. My poor baby rat .. I raised them for my snakes and they ended up in a chams mouth .. the tragedy!

RIP Algernon :):):)

[tHeGiNo]

ok kool thnx a lot htats a kool pic. is that the cham that got badly burned?

[Blink182]

my bad forgot to switch accounts ^

[Trace]

Yeppers, that's Bacchanal, my first rescued chameleon. I'm so used to his appearance, I forget when I post pics of him that others may be a little shocked by his looks!

Cheers!

Trace

[katev17]

Only if you mean shocked by his astonishingly good looks!! ;) He's adorable, Trace! [only a few more days till I FINALLY get mine.]

Kate

[KaHane]

Pinkies are fine in moderation, It's best to give your Chameleons a variety of foods. I've fed pinkies to our Panthers, veileds, fischers and rat pups to our large Meller's. I dont't recommend them to brookesia's, The Pinkies might eat THEM!!:D LOL!

[Jaylyn]

Just wanted to give the flip side of feeding pinkies....

Mice are rarely a part of a chameleons natural diet. They are very high in protein (which may contribute to edema and/or organ dysfunction). They require specific enzymes to digest properly that chameleons do not have. Mammal bones are more difficult to digest than those of birds (larger species - such as Parson's can be fed finch hatchlings). Mice also may have natural flora in their gut that may cause intestinal problems in your cham.

I've never fed pinkies to my chams. I see no reason to do it - and several reasons not to. A wide variety of insects is more natural. Strive for 4-5 kinds of bugs. Your veiled may enjoy friuts and veggies (mine doesn't despite all coaxing). Lots of veileds like slices of apple, pear, greens, etc. If he won't take slices from your hand - try chopping them up really fine and putting them in the bottom of your worm dish.

If you insist on feeding pinkies - I wouldn't do it more than once a month.

Jaylyn

[fr0glet]

You can convince nearly any lizard to eat a dead rodent by jiggling it with tongs.

Also Trace, my bearded dragon chews his food!