Carrots are one of the best vegetable superfoods out there. And you can feed them to your chameleons once in a while.
“Can Chameleons Eat Carrots? This is a question new chameleon pet owners tend to ask.
Understanding your chameleon’s diet is a great way to ensure they survive and remain healthy.
Throughout this guide, we’ll explain:
- Can Chameleons Eat Carrots?
- How Often Can Chameleons Eat Carrots?
- Benefits Of Carrots
- How to Feed Carrots to Chameleons?
- F.A.Q.
- Can Chameleons Eat Raw Carrots?
- Can Jackson Chameleons Eat Carrots?
- Can Veiled Chameleons Eat Carrots?
Yes! Chameleons do eat carrots.
You can see pet chameleon eating carror in the video below.
While chameleons love to feed on insects, they are omnivores in nature. Around half of the chameleon population lives in Madagascar.
The rest of them live in mountains, deserts, and jungles. Most of the time, they receive their food by extending their tongues when insects come in reach.
But it is possible to feed your chameleon’s carrots every now and then.
In captivity, chameleons appreciate eating vegetables and the nutritional value that comes out of it.
Simply cook it and feed it to them by hand or drop it inside their tank.
Most young chameleons might not like carrots at first.
While they will refuse plant matter, giving them carrots and fruits will help them have the habit of eating them when they’re older.
How Often Can Chameleons Eat Carrots?
Since insects take up a majority of the chameleon’s diet, you should feed them carrots sparingly. Feed them carrots at least 1-2 times a week.
Carrots are great for your chameleon’s health, but they’ll mainly need insects because their bodies provide the protein they need.
However, don’t excessively feed your chameleon carrots.
Doing so will make them addicted to carrots and only accept that as food. So always give them insects when they’re hungry.
Benefits Of Carrots for Chameleons
- Eye Health
Your chameleon uses its eyes to track and hunt their prey. By feeding them carrots, you’re giving them beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is used to protect chameleons from eye-related diseases like macular degeneration. Keep your chameleon’s eyes healthy by feeding them carrots frequently.
- Intelligence
Giving your chameleons carrots will help improve their intelligence. Carrots contain luteolin that keeps their brain fresh. Not only do they help improve their memory, but they can be used to stop their brains from declining.
- Reduce Inflammation
Now that we know that carrots are rich in beta-carotene and Vitamin A, they also play a key role in reducing inflammation. Carrots have fiber which improves their gut health.
Research shows that lutein’s inflammatory properties will help it with fighting lung cancer. Regardless, the carrot will add more years to your chameleon’s life.
- Heart Health
Want to improve your chameleon’s heart? Try giving them carrots every now and then. Carrots have Fiber which improves the blood flow inside their heart. Thus, giving your chameleon the energy to continue chasing after insects!
- Skin
Carrots can be used to improve your chameleon’s skin. The carrots have chemicals such as biotin, lycopene, and retinol that are hidden inside of it. Make sure to feed them carrots to ensure they keep their healthy, slimy skin!
- Antioxidants
Carrots are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds used to fight off free radicals. Free radicals can cause oxidative stress in your chameleon, which reduces its health over time. Therefore giving your chameleon a supply of carrots is a great way to keep its body maintained.
How to Feed Carrots to Chameleons?
You’re going to have to hand feed your chameleons carrots. Unlike insects, chameleons won’t eat the carrot unless it’s given to them. Start by cleaning off the carrot first. Doing so ensures there are no unnecessary pesticides hidden inside of the carrot.
Then, you’ll want to steam the carrot. Steaming the carrot also helps sterilize the carrot from any additional germs that might be present.
Fill up a medium-sized pot with 2 inches of water. Next, you’ll want to get a steamer pot. Place the carrots inside the steamer pot. This ensures that the carrots will be steamed properly and increase their taste.
Place the carrots inside the pot and steam them for at least 8 minutes. You’ll know when the food is ready when it has a tender appearance.
Then, use a knife to chop the carrots into smaller chunks. This prevents the chameleon from accidentally choking on it. Place the small carrots chunks into a plate and walk towards your chameleon tank.
Slowly give your chameleon a few carrots to see how it reacts. If the chameleon eats them, then feed them a few more. However, give them insects instead if they don’t seem interested in the carrots.
Never overfeed your chameleons. Overfeeding will make it become obese and less effective at climbing trees. Now that your chameleon likes carrots, you can feed them regularly.
Can Chameleons Eat Raw Carrots?
While your chameleon may be able to eat raw carrots, it’s best to make sure they’re cleaned beforehand. Giving raw food to your pets can be detrimental to their long-term health.
Vegetables can contain parasites and other germs if left uncleaned. To clean the carrots, place them on top of the sink and start quickly washing them. Doing this ensures that your chameleon will have a clean meal that will help them grow properly.
Can Jackson Chameleons Eat Carrots?
Jackson chameleons have a diverse diet. Did you know you could feed an adult Jackson Chameleon 6-8 medium to large-sized crickets every 2 days?
When it comes to carrots, these chameleons will eat them if you feed them to them by hand. After a while, the chameleon will get used to the taste and eat the carrots immediately.
Still, you want to keep your chameleon’s diet balanced. With any chameleon pet, insects are their primary source of food. You can give them carrots, but keep in mind 1-4 insects a day will result in better growth.
Can Veiled Chameleons Eat Carrots?
Carrots are fine for veiled chameleons. To give them the best nutrition, don’t feed them oversized carrots. While they do like carrots, you’ll want to keep the carrots dice-sized. Doing so will ensure your chameleon gets the optimum nutrition out of this tasty vegetable.
References