Safe bug?

[betsyjean79]

Has anyone fed fish flies/ May flies to their cham? It's that time of year these things come out like crazy, and I was wondering if it would be safe to feed to my cham. Thanks for any input. Love the forum!

Betsy

[katev17]

Welcome to the site, Betsy!! :) Glad to have another cham person here!

I really don't see the problem with them, as long as they're the right size... Although my cham eats EVERYTHING in its path (haha Trace, you weren't kidding!)...

I guess as long as you're sure they're not all pesticide-y , I don't see a problem. *BUT* I'd wait till one of the 'guru's' around here had their input :p

Welcome, again!!!
Kate

[Trace]

Welcome Betsy! :D I'm glad you enjoy it here. I'd love to see some pics of your chameleon. What kind do you have?

I personally haven't tried May Flies with my chameleons. Most of my chams are HUGE and they probably couldn't be bothered to eat something so little. I did a quick search on Yahoo and I couldn't find anything saying May Flies are toxic, but don't quote me on that. Maybe some of our resident bug experts can answer that question with some certainty.

Now that summer is here I do look for "wild caught" insects for my chameleons. They LOVE grasshoppers, moths and butterflies. A variety of insects is good for proper chameleon health. Kate is right... collect any wild bugs from areas that are pesticide free, you wouldn't want your chameleon to get sick from that.

Although my cham eats EVERYTHING in its path (haha Trace, you weren't kidding!)...

Told ya! That boy has a bottomless pit for a stomach! Is he getting any bigger for you yet?

Cheers!

Trace

[katev17]

Do you remember what he was measured at ? He's 26.5 CM from nose to tail now, it seems to me like he's gotten longer, and lately I've definitely noticed he's been getting bigger... I try to always have a cricket or two roaming his cage just in case, but it's almost as though he feels he NEEDS to eat them lol... He loves the pothos, too!! I've gotten him to eat a couple of moths that have gotten into my house... he's an AWESOME bug catcher, LOL cuz there's no way I'm touching those moths *my only bug fear is moths and butterflies*...

So yea, do you remember what we'd measured him before? His tail's also looking a lot better :) It's stronger, too!

Kate

[betsyjean79]

I have a veiled, she is about 4 mths old, and her name is Shirley.

[betsyjean79]

Ok, I think I have a better handle on the picture posting thing. Let's see how this works.

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/512/2350mvc-018s-med.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/512/2350mvc-019s.jpg

[katev17]

Beautiful pictures, she's very pretty! Your setup is awesome too! I'd love to see pictures of your cage :)

Kate

[Trace]

SHIRLEY! Could that be the best chameleon name EVER! What a little sweetheart. She looks great, keep up the good work with her.

And Kate... I believe his SVL was about 8 or 9cm when I gave him to you. It sounds he's doing well in your hands. It was sad to see him leave, but I know he's got a great home.

Cheers!

Trace

[betsyjean79]

The cage is a homemade and was kind of a rush job. I am new to reptiles in general. Bought her at a pet store, the clerk tells me a 29 gal. aquarium is a good size for an adult cham, and all I have to do is spray her a few times a day feed her some crickets, keep a water dish in the tank, and a salad bowl, and some other things that I later found out to be incorrect. So, of course I'm convinced it will be a piece of cake. WRONG! After researching, I built her a cage to fit on top of the aquarium stand I bought at the pet store. Now, since I'm not happy with the current cage, I've ordered an Apogee reptarium, and giving her a penthouse. Forgive me for being such a windbag, but here is a picture of her current set-up.

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/512/2350mvc-021s.jpg

[katev17]

Well I'm glad to hear you were smart enough to do the research, many people would just follow the pet store's advice!! :)

I built my cage too...
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1178fullcagedooropen.jpg

I think it turned out being cheaper making my own, for the aesthetics involved with it :)... I hope your new one turns out to be what you expect! And now you always have a second cage that maybe you can use outside?? :D

Thanks for sharing :D
Kate

[betsyjean79]

With the scrap from the first on, I made a mini one for outside.:)

[katev17]

Cool!! Good idea!! :D I'm going to have to look into building another one for outside.. seeing as it's FINALLY nice out!! :) Is she the only reptile you have so far?

Kate

[betsyjean79]

yeah, I'm not really into reptiles, but she's so darn cute. I couldn't help it. Now look what I got myself into. :) Your cage is very nice, I am not the craftswoman you are.

[katev17]

Hehe, you'll find yourself into them in no time, especially in being on this site! She IS so darn cute, I'm jealous ;) .. Thanks, I designed, but I only HELPED my dad build, it was a team effort :)...

Kate

[dank7oo]

THOSE CAGES ARE STUNNING!
i wish mine looked that nice ... mine is all .. bleh (and full of duct tape from crix biting holes through the mesh!)