Chameleons are creatures that love to have variety in their diet and they easily get bored if you feed them the same thing repeatedly. They are fond of trying new things. Also, the owners find it difficult to know what foods they can try to give to their pets so that they do not get bored.
The chameleons can eat bananas and it does not have any side effects on their health. But these should be given to them occasionally. The bananas should not be part of their staple diet and only be used as supplementary food.
The pets can eat a lot of different food and this maintains their well being. The animal is curious and if you change things occasionally the chameleon has satisfaction.
Contents
Bananas and chameleons
It is good to add fruit to your chameleon’s diet. This is because by doing this you are able to maintain their interest in food and also keep their curiosity alive. Bananas are a good choice to feed the chameleons.
Bananas are seen to be present in the world in abundance and are cheap also.
Chameleons can eat bananas and these are good food for them. But this is only when they are fed it a couple of time a month or once a week. Daily feeding bananas are not good for health. Also, since chameleons like different foods and a variety of them, therefore, it is important that you feed them different tastes after intervals so that their interest is maintained.
Bananas need to be given as supplementary food and not particularly as a diet. If you feed bananas you are spicing up things and also engaging them in eating.
By giving them bananas you are also making sure that their needs are fulfilled and they stay healthy. Also, it is seen that if you only feed them insects and crickets their nutritional needs will not be fulfilled. Adding some amount of extra food such as bananas will ensure that you are meeting the nutritional requirements of chameleons.
Nutrition from bananas
If you give your pet bananas then it will get a number of nutrients along with that. Some of the vitamins and minerals that you will get along with the banana are listed below:
Vitamin B6:
This vitamin is also called pyridoxine. It is a vitamin that is soluble in water. Also, this vitamin is responsible for creating red blood cells. This vitamin helps in keeping the skin healthy as well as developing a stronger immune system.
Vitamin C: This vitamin is referred to as ascorbic acid. This is necessary for the development and growth of the body. The vitamin helps in the absorption of iron, keeping strong immune, maintaining the teeth and the bones.
Carbohydrates: this provides good energy to the pet. It also helps in keeping them active and alert.
Fibre: If the pet owners feed them bananas the problem of constipation is eradicated.
Protein: This is useful in repairing the muscles and also other body tissues. Since the chameleons shed a lot therefore if you feed bananas then shedding gets easier.
Magnesium: Magnesium helps in blood circulation. The health of the heart remains good. The diet helps keep the pet healthy.
Do chameleons eat bananas in the wild?
Yes, the chameleons do eat bananas in the wild. Bananas are found in a number of countries. The chameleons are mostly from Madagascar, Northern Africa as well as Sub Saharan Africa. Also, they are found in Sri Lanka, India as well as Italy.
There are a number of chameleons that are present in the wild. The chameleons might even eat bananas and some do not depend upon their mood.
How to feed bananas?
It is seen that you can feed either a full banana to your pet by cutting it into pieces. Moreover, do wash the fruit first before feeding it to your pet. Even if it seems to be clean, there are some impurities that the pet owners need to wash off before feeding it to the chameleon.
Now, when you wash and clean the banana place it in the enclosure to feed it to your pet. Some owners put the banana along with the husk. And this will also depend on the banana and the chameleon. As far as slices are concerned you can either cut the whole banana into small slices or you can cut it into half.
You can put the banana on the branch or in the cup, on the plants or you can even hand feed your pet. Also, they are rich in sugar so make sure you provide them with enough water after that.
How often should bananas be fed to chameleons?
It is important for pet owners to know that bananas should not be fed for more than a certain amount. If you feed bananas often then it will affect the daily diet. They might even face health issues due to this. Bananas are rich in sugar so you cannot feed them as the main diet and as a supplement.
Check out the size of the chameleon and feed bananas accordingly. For example for the chameleons that are large in size bananas should be fed about 3-4 times a week. On the other hand, the chameleons which are small in size can be fed bananas 1-2 times a week. These are important guidelines that pet owners have to consider when they have to feed their pet. It is best that serve bananas in place of other fruits once or twice.
Also, place the bananas with the other insects. This is because the chameleon will go after the insects and will surely eat the banana as a snack.
Things to consider while feeding fruit to chameleon
There are a number of things that the pet owners have to consider while feeding the fruit to the chameleon.
Fruit size
The first thing that the pet owners have to see is the size of the fruit. The insect’s rule is considered in this case as well. The food should be appropriate in size.
Conclusion
The information related to chameleons and bananas is mentioned above. The pet owners can go through this and know about feeding bananas. Moreover, bananas should be given in specific amount and after intervals.
More: