Chameleons are some of the world’s most intriguing species; as their name suggests, chameleons can adapt their body temperature by essentially changing their body color to any object.
Keeping a chameleon as a pet can have its ups and downs, the most crucial being to keep their diet healthy and clean.
Can Chameleons eat hornworms? As chameleons can eat nearly anything they are given, it is essential to keep a lookout for what you might be feeding your Chameleon in terms of vitamins and whether the worms are for the Chameleon or not.
Keep reading below to know more!
Can Chameleons Eat Hornworms?
Can chameleons eat hornworms? Yes, it is safe for a chameleon to eat hornworms, as hornworms are generally found in gardens with tomato plantations, hence if your tomato plant has hornworms munching on its leaves crawling around, then giving some to your chameleon wouldn’t hurt at all.
Hornworms are generally nutritious along with being easy to digest and chew for a chameleon; here are some of the benefits of feeding a hornworm to a chameleon:
- They are suitable for hydration.
- Have a good amount of nutrition.
- They are easy to digest.
Hornworms have some of the best calcium content, which is a necessity for a chameleon, hence feeding your chameleon hornworms will be beneficial, especially since they have a high mineral content and a reduced risk of impaction due to the relatively soft nature of the hornworm.
As always, it is feeding a chameleon too much of the hornworm will still pose a risk as it can make them overweight along with toxicity if a wild hornworm is fed.
Hence it is recommended to feed your chameleon hornworms bought through pet stores or online shops rather than from the wild.
Overfeeding a hornworm to a chameleon can result in symptoms such as diarrhea, upset stomach, etc.
Can chameleons eat hornworms? Yes, they can eat hornworms safely, but a chameleon should be fed only a single hornworm once or twice a week rather than every day.
Check out this article to know the List of Worms, Insects, and Fruits Chameleons can eat Chameleons can eat.
How Often Should I Feed My Chameleon Hornworms?
Can chameleons eat hornworms? If so, how much should I feed my chameleon hornworms? Usually, as hornworms might be a rather heavy treat for chameleons, it is recommended to feed a chameleon a single hornworm once or twice per week.
Feeding too many hornworms will lead to an upset stomach along with general bloating, that is not to mention that hornworms are rather pricey when bought from the stores and may cause a slight hole to manifest in the wallet.
Are Hornworms Poisonous?
Can chameleons eat hornworms, and are they poisonous? While hornworms are safe for chameleons to eat, wild hornworms, such as those that feed on tomato or tobacco plants, are relatively toxic for a chameleon.
Hornworms can also vary in size, and one may need to ensure that the hornworms are not more significant than the space between the eyes of a chameleon. However, their squishy natures can most often avert the potential danger of them being a choking hazard for a chameleon.
Hornworms are known to have a rather stinging bite owing to their habit of biting on plants. Therefore, it is recommended to feed a chameleon only small hornworms or slightly bigger hornworms with their head split open.
Besides this, a careful gut-loading of a hornworm should be done as introducing leafy greens such as cabbage, spinach, or something related to tomato will make the hornworm a poisonous meal for the chameleon, whether it is a young or an adult one.
Conclusion
Can chameleons eat hornworms? Hornworms are generally safe to consume for a chameleon as long as they are not obtained from the wild and they are fed once or twice a week as a treat rather than being fed regularly as part of a diet.
If your chameleon does happen to ingest a wild hornworm, then taking the chameleon to an animal vet would be a good idea.
Related Articles:
