How Many Meal Worms Should I Feed My 3 Month Old Veiled Chameleon?

Young veiled chameleons should be fed mealworms sparingly.

Ten Per Day

Young veiled chameleons require approximately 10 small-to-medium prey items on a daily basis to thrive, and mealworms are an inexpensive prey item that can also be cultured at home. Mealworms are also high in fat, which can put weight on a young chameleon faster.

Five Per Week

Mealworms have little nutritional value and a high amount of chitin, the material that makes up their outer shell, which can be difficult for animals to digest. When compared to other feeder insects, mealworms have little calcium, which is necessary for reptile bone development.

Bottom Line

A few mealworms can be fed to the young chameleon each week, but the chameleon's diet should be primarily composed of other nutrient-dense and easy to digest prey items like crickets or silkworms, as well as vegetation like foods such as mustard greens and blueberries. The number of mealworms fed per week can be increased if the chameleon is underweight in order to provide it with a diet that is higher in fat.

References

• Chameleons Online: Insects
• Martin's Reptiles: Veiled Chameleon Care Sheet

Resources

• Kingsnake: The Veiled Chameleon Purchase and Captive Care