Feeding Chameleons
Chameleons are the most feeder-dependent reptiles most keepers will own, and the least forgiving of a monotonous diet. Variety is not enrichment here — it is nutrition.
Rotate at least three feeders
Crickets and discoid roaches form the base. Hornworms provide hydration, which matters enormously for a species prone to dehydration and kidney problems. A chameleon fed one insect type indefinitely will develop deficiencies that are difficult to reverse.
Mealworms can also be offered occasionally as a treat, but they shouldn't replace the more varied staple feeders in the regular rotation.
Gut-loading matters more here
A chameleon's nutrition is essentially whatever its insects last ate. Feed your feeders well for a day before offering them, and use foods appropriate for the animal that will ultimately eat them.
Our Care & Storage guides cover holding each species.
How often
Growing chameleons eat more often than adults; judge by body condition rather than by a schedule. Feed by movement — a chameleon will not take prey it cannot see move, which is why a dish alone rarely works for them.
Hydration
Most chameleons will not drink from standing water. They take moisture from droplets and from what they eat, which is what makes high-moisture feeders such as hornworms useful alongside misting rather than instead of it.
Sizing
Prey should be no wider than the space between the eyes. Chameleons will often attempt prey that is too large, so the judgment is yours rather than the animal's.
See the Feeder Size Guide.
Which size to buy
| Stage | Crickets | Discoid roaches | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juvenile | Small 1/8" → Small/Medium 1/4" | XS 1/8-1/4" → Small 1/4-1/2" | — |
| Sub-adult | Medium 3/8" | Medium 1/2-3/4" | Small hornworms |
| Adult | Large 1/2" | Medium 1/2-3/4" → Large 3/4-1 1/4" | Medium to Large hornworms; Medium mealworms, occasional |
Never wider than the space between the eyes. Movement matters to a visual hunter, so crickets earn their place even when roaches are the staple.
What to buy
Feeders for chameleons · Crickets · Discoid roaches · Hornworms · Mealworms
Feeding & care note: The information provided here is general feeder-insect care guidance. Reptile dietary needs vary by species, age, size and health. Follow husbandry and feeding recommendations appropriate for your individual animal.