What do chameleons eat? A chameleon’s dietary needs are comprised of three main components: a balanced diet, vitamin supplementation, and mineral supplementation.
Let’s start with diet…
What Will I Learn?
Diet
A chameleon’s main diet typically consists of a variety of live insects such as crickets, mealworms, roaches, or silkworms. Some larger species of chameleons might also eat small lizards or birds. Some chameleons, like the veiled chameleon, can also consume a small amount of plant matter.
Feeding a variety of different insects is key to ensure a balanced intake of nutrients. Mistake #5 in the 6 deadly mistakes chameleon owners make is not providing a high-variety of insects to eat.
Vitamin Supplements
Vitamins are vital for your chameleon’s overall health.
A multivitamin supplement should typically be provided twice a month.
This multivitamin often includes essential vitamins like vitamin A, D3, E, and a range of B vitamins, as well as trace minerals.
Now over-supplementation can cause health issues, so it’s important to stick to the recommended dosage.
Mineral Supplements
The main mineral supplement for chameleons is calcium.
Calcium deficiency is a common issue in pet chameleons and can lead to serious health problems such as metabolic bone disease (MBD).
A calcium supplement should be used more frequently than a multivitamin, often several times a week.
In some cases, such as when the chameleon has limited UVB exposure, a calcium supplement with added D3 should be used, as D3 is necessary for the proper absorption and utilization of calcium.
Dusting insects with calcium
Calcium supplements should be provided at almost every feeding for young, growing chameleons, and a few times per week for adults. You can simply dust the insects with a calcium powder before feeding them to your chameleon. It is crucial to ensure that the calcium supplement doesn’t contain Vitamin D3 if your chameleon is already receiving adequate UVB exposure.
Calcium with Vitamin D3
If you’re certain your chameleon isn’t getting enough UVB light (for example, if your chameleon is housed indoors with limited natural sunlight), a calcium supplement with Vitamin D3 is required. Vitamin D3 aids in the absorption and metabolism of calcium. This supplement should be used sparingly, typically twice a month, as an overdose of Vitamin D3 can lead to health issues, such as hypercalcemia.
Here’s a potential weekly mineral+vitamin supplement schedule for a mature chameleon:
- Day 1: Calcium without D3
- Day 3: Calcium without D3
- Day 5: Multivitamin
- Day 7: Calcium with D3
For younger chameleons, you might dust the insects with calcium without D3 at every feeding due to their rapid growth and increased calcium needs.
Balance the Calcium with phosphorus
Chameleons need a certain ratio of calcium to phosphorus in their diet. The ideal ratio is around 2:1 calcium to phosphorus… but too much phosphorus can interfere with calcium absorption. Insect prey usually contains more phosphorus than calcium, which is why dusting with a calcium supplement is necessary.
How Much Water Do Chameleons Drink a Day?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to how much water chameleons drink daily due to their unique drinking habits and individual needs.
The amount of water a chameleon drinks per day can vary significantly based on several factors, including the species, the size of the chameleon, its environment, and the humidity levels of its enclosure.
So the best approach to keeping them hydrated is to make sure they have access to water through appropriate environmental humidity and watering techniques.
Unlike pets that have a clear daily water intake, chameleons’ hydration needs are more nuanced due to their unique method of drinking water by licking droplets off leaves rather than drinking from a water bowl.
In a controlled environment, like a home terrarium, ensuring that chameleons have constant access to water through misting or a dripping system is more important than measuring an exact amount of water consumed.
Misting the enclosure several times a day or using a drip system that simulates raindrops on foliage can help maintain proper hydration. The goal is to mimic their natural habitat, encouraging them to drink as they would in the wild.
Observing your chameleon’s behavior is crucial. Signs of dehydration include sunken eyes, a lack of appetite, lethargy, and skin that does not return to place quickly when pinched and released. If you notice any of these signs, you should reassess your hydration methods and consult a veterinarian specialized in reptiles.
Provide UVB light
Your chameleon’s enclosure should have a UVB light. This is a special type of light that emits the UVB rays needed for vitamin D3 synthesis. The light should cover most of the length of the cage and should be positioned so that the chameleon can get within about 6-8 inches of it.
They sell various UVB reptile basking lights on Amazon, including the “Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB” or the “Exo Terra Solar-Glo Mercury Vapor Bulb.”
Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB
Exo Terra Solar-Glo Mercury Vapor Bulb