Do you want to make sure you are feeding your panther chameleon the best food?
Are you interested in learning more about a panther chameleon’s diet?
If you are new to owning a panther chameleon you might ask:
What do panther chameleons eat?
Panther chameleons have a diet comprised of a variety of insects. They primarily eat crickets, but enjoy a varied diet of insects including cockroaches, silkworms, wax worms and many more.
For more information on what a panther chameleon will eat, continue reading this post.
Table of Contents
Panther Chameleons Diet
Panther chameleons, like other species of chameleons, are insectivores, getting their nutrition from the bugs they eat.
In captivity, this species, known for being exceptionally colorful, will enjoy a varied diet of insects.
The most common insect to feed a panther chameleon is a cricket, but variety will give them more balanced nutrition.
In addition to having better nutrition, a variety of insects will ensure the animal does not grow tired of having the same thing day after day.
Below is a list of some insects panther chameleons can eat:
- Crickets
- Worms: silkworms, mealworms, wax worms, butter worms
- Cockroaches
- Locusts
- Stick Insects
- Flies
- Grasshoppers
There are other feeder insects available for feeding.
Beware of feeding your panther chameleon wild-caught insects as they can carry diseases or parasites.
Those diseases or parasites can be deadly for your pet if they consume the infected insect.
Besides, parasites and diseases, these wild-caught insects may also have been exposed to hazardous pesticides.
What Do Panther Chameleons Eat In The Wild?
The list above doesn’t differ greatly from what panther chameleons would be eating in the wild.
Chameleons will eat whatever insects they come across in the wild, especially because they never know when their next meal will come along.
In the wild panther chameleons might also feast on snails, caterpillars, small tree-climbing rodents, small birds and even geckos.
This all depends on the size of the panther chameleon and if they are given the opportunity to catch them.
Where To Find Feeder Insects
Feeder insects, especially crickets, are easily found online or in local pet stores.
Online, you will be able to find a variety of insects available for purchase.
And by purchasing your feeder insects through a website you will have access to insects you might not otherwise find in local pet stores.
While your pet store will have a few different kinds of insects, they won’t usually have the same variety, because there isn’t as much demand.
Making your purchase online also means the insects will be shipped directly to your door, eliminating the hassle of having to drive to the pet store and pick up the insects.
You can also become your own insect farm, by raising feeders in tanks in your home.
This is a great way to have a constant and ready supply on hand to feed your pet, but this does require some research and additional equipment.
You might also not have the space to house several different kinds of insects, eliminating some of the variety you want to include in your chameleon’s diet.
Again, do not just go outside and collect insects to feed a panther chameleon.
Supplementing Your Panther Chameleon’s Food
There are a few ways you will be able to add nutritional value to a panther chameleon’s diet.
The first way is to dust the insects with powdered supplements before feeding them to the chameleon.
These powdered supplements will give the animal calcium and vitamin D3.
Calcium and vitamin D3 is vital to maintaining their health.
This coating of powdered supplements on the insects should be light.
You do not need to overdo it with the supplements on the insects and make them completely white as ghosts before feeding them to the chameleon.
Another way to ensure your chameleon is getting everything they need is to gut load the insects you feed them.
Gut loading means you are feeding the insects high-quality food with good nutrition before they are fed to the chameleon.
By doing this, your chameleon will be able to absorb all the vitamins and nutrients from the food the insects consumed.
Think of the feeders like a vessel getting vitamins and minerals into your chameleon’s body.
It doesn’t matter what bug you are feeding the panther chameleon.
It is always a good idea to practice gut loading for the benefit of your pet.
Feed the insect’s greens, vegetables, and fruits about 24 hours before you feed them to your chameleon.
Why Is My Chameleon Not Eating?
If you are having trouble getting your panther chameleon to eat the insects you put in the enclosure, there are a few things you can check to understand why they aren’t eating.
Your chameleon might not be eating because they are bored with or don’t like the food being offered.
This is easily fixed by changing up the feeders and offering your pet more variety.
There are some more serious reasons your chameleon might be avoiding food.
Panther chameleons will not eat if they are sick or have parasites.
Parasites are not uncommon in chameleons and can be treated by contacting your veterinarian.
If you have a female chameleon, she will not eat right before she lays her eggs.
This is a normal occurrence for the female to stop eating approximately a week before she lays her eggs.
Once you notice this, be sure to have a laying bin ready and give her proper hydration.
Be sure to check to make sure your chameleon has a proper set up in their enclosure.
If the UVB light or the heat source is not producing the proper output, your chameleon will not be eating.
This could be too much or not enough, so do a thorough check of the outputs to ensure they are correct.
Conclusion
Panther chameleons, like most other species of chameleons, get their nutrition from a diet of insects.
While they primarily eat crickets, a varied diet of insects will provide the animal with better nutrition.
We hope you know have a better understanding of the diet of a panther chameleon after reading this post.
