Can Veiled Chameleons Eat Grapes?

Keeping chameleons as pets can be a lot of fun- there is never a dull moment with them. They can change color from green to black and many shades in between. If you want your veiled chameleon’s color to stay bright, you need to take care of their diet. 

Despite its omnivorous nature, Chameleons should be fed a variety of foods in captivity. You can also feed your chameleon few fruit and vegetables, depending on what species it is. Veiled Chameleons devour insects apart from consuming fruits and vegetables.

Primarily, their diet consists of insects, but you can balance it out with selected fruits and vegetables. Using the wrong food can stress chameleons. Always remember that they require a lot more care when compared to other reptile pets.

Can you give grapes to chameleons?

Yes, you can feed grapes to chameleons. However, be cautious about what quantity you feed. Grapes are composed of oxalate, which binds to calcium in the body.

With a high quantity of oxalate, it’s possible that your chameleon cannot absorb calcium from its body. You will risk your pet’s health, especially with metabolic bone disease.

You should not stress if you have fed grapes to a chameleon. The oxalate quantity in grapes is very small, and feeding grapes in limited quantities is safe.

How do grapes benefit chameleons’ health?

Grapes are not only good for humans but also chameleons. They are full of nutrition like Vitamin C, fiber, and a few more. All this nutrition helps chameleons stay healthy. These are just a few of the health benefits grapes provide to chameleons:

Help prevent or reduce damage in cells: Grapes consist of antioxidants. They damage body cells and lead to sickness and diseases. Antioxidants prevent the body from producing free radicals, which are harmful components.

These are caused by the food the chameleons eat and by radiation. Antioxidants in grapes help prevent chameleons from getting sick or developing any kind of diseases.

Promote a healthy digestive system: As mentioned above, as a good source of fibre, grapes can help maintain a healthy digestive system. The act of moving the food through the digestive tract and promoting regular bowel movements will prevent constipation in chameleons kept in cages.

Is it okay to feed baby chameleons grapes?

The answer is once again – yes. However, the quantity is even lesser for baby chameleons. Too many grapes could pose health issues to your baby chameleons. 

At a young age, it is best to feed them with crickets and other insects in good quantities. Insects should be their primary diet. If you want to give them grapes, give only the flesh part. Remove the skin and the seeds.

You should notice the behavior of baby chameleons post-feeding their grapes. Some may enjoy eating grapes, and if that is the case, you can feed them a small piece once a week. However, if you see some negative reactions like vomiting or diarrhea, stop feeding them grapes.

In what ways should grapes be fed to chameleons?

There are two ways in which you can feed grapes to chameleons. Pick the one you are comfortable feeding and your pet in consuming:

1.) Making use of your hand: For better bonding with your chameleon, you can feed them grapes using your hand. However, be careful as they may bite your hand by mistake.

If they do, they will release your finger immediately. After all, they are your pet, but you will end up having a small scratch on your finger.

2.) Making use of a cup: The easiest and safest way is to feed them grapes by placing them in a cup. Hang the cup from the branches of the tree.

Whenever your chameleon is hungry, it will go to the cup,  will investigate it, and then if it likes it, it will take a bite.

What is the recommended amount of grapes to feed chameleons?

We mentioned above that you need to feed them in small quantities. The real question is – how small? The first thing to note is that you need to feed them grapes occasionally. These cannot be their daily food. 

You can give half a grape to the baby chameleon. Adult chameleons can have a whole grape. In both cases, ensure you remove the skin and seeds.

See also: Are Veiled Chameleons Nocturnal?

What other fruits can you give chameleons?

You cannot give every fruit available in your home to chameleons. Other than grapes, you can give the below fruits to chameleons:

1.) Apples – Chameleons love apples but you should not give them in excess. These are packed with vitamins, nutrition, and antioxidants.

2.) Bananas – Bananas are high in nutrients and make a delicious treat for chameleons. However, they are high in sugar and so you need to be careful with the quantity.

3.) Strawberries – Giving a strawberry every once in a while is fine. This will also allow them them to enjoy the fruit.

Other than the above mentioned fruits, you can also feed peaches, blueberries, melons and cantaloupe since these fruits are high in nutrients. 

You need to ensure the fruits (or vegetables) you feed to your chameleon are fresh. Don’t serve them leftovers from your kitchen or refrigerator.

Avoid giving them the following fruits and vegetables – cabbage, figs, apricots, iceburg lettuce, and spinach.

All the food you are giving them should be free of fertilizer and pesticide residue as these can be dangerous to them. Carefully rinse off all produce and foliage before giving it to your chameleon.

Conclusion

Grapes make a great food for your chameleon. It is always good to feed chameleons with a variety of food, and grapes are a good change from them once a week.

Once or twice a week, you can add grapes to your pet’s diet to enhance their nutrition and also feed them a tasty treat.