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Fruit can also form part of your Chameleons diet, depending on the species. Veiled (Yemen) Chameleons will eat fruit and veg, however, Panther Chameleons usually won’t.
Mealworms are a popular feeder insect for reptile pets like bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and chameleons. As chameleon owners, it’s natural to wonder whether these worms make a good treat or staple food for your pet. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at mealworms and how to feed them to chameleons safely.
What Are Mealworms?
Mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor. They are not actually worms at all but insect larvae.
In their natural habitat, mealworms feed on grains and cereals. When farmed as feeder insects, they eat a diet of oats, wheat bran, and vegetables. This is important because what mealworms eat can affect their nutritional value.
Mealworms have a high moisture content of around 64%. Their exoskeleton is made of chitin, the same substance that makes up the outer shells of insects.
The Pros and Cons of Feeding Mealworms
There are some advantages and disadvantages when it comes to feeding mealworms to chameleons
Pros:
- High in protein and healthy fats
- Contains vitamin B12
- Moisture helps hydrate chameleons
-Omega-3 fatty acids support skin and eye health - Mealworms can’t bite or harm chameleons
- Easy to store compared to crickets
Cons:
- Risk of impaction from chitin exoskeleton
- Can cause addiction/food refusal of other foods
- High phosphorus levels can cause bone issues
- Can transmit parasites to chameleons
- Dried mealworms lack nutrients
Now let’s explore these pros and cons in more detail.
Benefits of Mealworms for Chameleons
Mealworms contain about 17-25% protein, which helps support muscle growth and function in chameleons. The protein quality is considered decent.
These worms also provide key fatty acids like linoleic acid for skin health and omega-3s for eye and brain function. The fat content ranges 10-22%.
Mealworms are a great source of vitamin B12, which aids metabolism and energy production. They also contain some vitamin B5.
The high moisture content, around 60-70%, helps hydrate chameleons. This can be beneficial for dehydrated pets.
Unlike crickets, mealworms can’t bite or harm chameleons. This makes them a safer option for some owners.
Mealworms are also easy to store at room temperature for up to 2 months when kept dark and cool. So you don’t have to feed them immediately like crickets.
Potential Problems with Feeding Mealworms
The main concern with feeding mealworms is impaction risk. Their chitin exoskeletons are difficult for some reptiles to digest, which can lead to intestinal blockages. Impaction is life-threatening and requires vet treatment.
Another issue is that chameleons find mealworms to be addictive. Some may start refusing other foods and only eat mealworms. This can lead to nutritional imbalances long-term.
Mealworms also have a high phosphorus content compared to their calcium levels. Over time, improper calcium:phosphorus ratios can cause metabolic bone disease.
Unhealthy and contaminated mealworms may transmit parasites to chameleons as well. Good husbandry practices by reptile food breeders can prevent this.
Finally, dried mealworms bought in pet stores often lack freshness and nutritional value. They should only be fed in emergencies, not as a staple diet.
So while mealworms offer some benefits, they also pose notable risks you should keep in mind.
Can Chameleons Eat Mealworms Safely?
Yes, chameleons can eat mealworms safely if fed properly. Here are some tips:
- Only offer mealworms 1-2 times per week at most
- Never feed mealworms daily or as the sole diet
- Prioritize fresh, gut loaded mealworms over dried ones
- Dust mealworms with calcium powder before feeding
- Monitor stool quality to watch for signs of impaction
- Discontinue mealworms if impaction occurs
Mealworms should always be part of a varied diet including crickets, roaches, hornworms, silkworms, and other staple feeders. They work better as a supplemental feeder rather than the main protein source.
It’s also essential to gut load your mealworms before feeding by providing nutritious fruits and vegetables. This boosts their nutritional value. Lightly dusting them with calcium powder also helps balance the calcium:phosphorus ratio.
Pay close attention to your chameleon’s stool and health when offering mealworms. Discontinue them immediately if you notice signs of constipation, difficulty passing stool, loss of appetite, or other issues.
Alternatives to Mealworms for Chameleons
If you want to avoid using mealworms completely, some alternatives to try include:
- Crickets: A staple feeder, gut load with nutritious foods.
- Dubia roaches: Excellent protein and fat source, can’t climb or fly.
- Black soldier fly larvae: Higher in calcium than mealworms.
- Hornworms: Contain moisture and soft bodies for hydration.
- Silkworms: Fattening but digestible for variety.
- Grasshoppers and locusts: Good protein when freshly caught.
These options all make excellent additions to a varied staple diet for chameleons. Combine 2-3 different feeders for the best nutrition.
FAQs about Feeding Mealworms to Chameleons
Can baby chameleons eat mealworms?
It’s best to wait until chameleons are at least 3-4 months old before offering mealworms. The impaction risk is higher when they are younger. Stick to pinhead crickets initially.
What about superworms instead?
Superworms are larger and higher in fat than mealworms. They also have more chitin, so impaction risk may be even greater. Use superworms sparingly for adult chameleons if at all.
Is it ok to feed dried mealworms?
Dried mealworms lack moisture and nutrients compared to live mealworms. It’s best to avoid them if possible or rehydrate before feeding. Even then, they won’t fully regain nutritional value.
How often can I feed mealworms safely?
Once or twice a week is a safe amount for most chameleons. Never offer mealworms daily, as they lack full nutrition chameleons need. Monitor health closely when feeding them regularly.
The Verdict on Mealworms for Chameleons
While mealworms offer some benefits, they should only be fed sparingly as part of a varied diet. Prioritize fresh, gut loaded worms dusted with calcium. Monitor your chameleon’s health closely and watch for signs of impaction when feeding mealworms. Talk to your exotic vet if you have any concerns.
How much should a Chameleon eat a day?
This has always been dependent on age for me:
- A baby or young Chameleon (0-6 months) should be fed two to three times a day, and fed for about five minutes.
- Then at 6-12 months I feed once daily again for five mins.
- At 12 months, and pretty much full adult, most of their growing is done. There are still a few months of growth left, but all the high protein important growth is done. It’s now about maintaining variety, and nutrition.So at this stage I feed about 3x a week. And yes, again for about five mins.
You’ll definitely notice a Chameleon feeding habits are often a little sporadic when adult. They’ll eat several bugs one feed, then the next only two or three. Don’t worry about this either, it’s a case of quality over quantity. Another reason why variety is so important.
Is your Chameleon bored of his food?
What do Chameleons eat?
Chameleons can eat:
- Crickets
- Worms including: silkworms, calcium worms, earth worms, buffalo worms, morios, butter worms, meal worms, wax worms, bamboo worms and pachnoda grubs
- Cockroaches
- Locusts
- Indian stick insects
- Flies, including blue bottles, green bottles, curly wing fly, black soldier fly, wax month and fruit flies.
In fact there are easily around 30+ different feeders.
You have to remember that all the above vary in their nutritional content. So all crickets are not the same. Likewise with a roach, and worms. At their core value, they all differ.
But again to ‘enhance’ this still you will be needing to gut-load those bugs. No matter what bug it is (see the gut-loading section).
So remember, it is important to offer as many feeder bugs as possible.
And in the UK, between online ordering from the likes of Northampton Reptile Centre, as well as private breeders of live-food on various Facebook groups (like mine Chameleon Network) the bug variety at your disposal is huge. So no excuses.