Watermelon is a popular fruit during the summer months. It’s loaded with nutrition and has a lot of water content, which is excellent for keeping you hydrated. While it’s safe for humans to eat, you may wonder if you can feed watermelon to your chameleons too.
So, can chameleons eat watermelon? Yes, the chameleon can eat watermelon, but in moderation. This fruit contains a high amount of water and sugar content, which can be dangerous to their health if given too much of it.
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Is It Healthy For Chameleons To Eat Watermelon?
Watermelon is nutrient-dense and healthy for the chameleons to eat. It’s a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium. Chameleons that are fed watermelon will gain a lot of health benefits from it.
1 cup serving of diced watermelon has the following nutrients:
- Calories: 46
- Total fat: 0.23 grams (g)
- Carbohydrates: 11.48 g
- Dietary fiber: 0.6 g
- Protein: 0.93 g
- Sugars: 9.42 g
- Water content: 139 g
- Calcium: 11 milligrams (mg)
- Iron: 0.36 mg
- Magnesium: 15 mg
- Potassium: 170 mg
- Vitamin C: 12.3 mg
- Vitamin A: 865 international units (IU)
Source: USDA
Below are some of the health benefits of feeding watermelon to your chameleons:
Promote Bone Health
Watermelon is high in calcium content. This mineral is essential for the bone health of the chameleon. Calcium helps build and maintain strong bones.
For baby chameleons, they need plenty of calcium to support their fast growth and bone development. Adult chameleons need calcium too to main strong bones.
Improve Digestion
Watermelon is a good source of fiber. Fiber is undigested carbohydrates and due to that reason, it helps improve digestion.
A chameleon that is fed plenty of fiber will not have digestive issues such as constipation and an upset stomach. Fiber helps by bulking up the food in their intestine. By doing so, the food will move smoothly throughout their digestive system.
Keeps Chameleon Hydrated
Watermelon has a very high content of water, which is about 90% of the entire fruit. This means the watermelon makes excellent food for hydration. During the summer months, when it can sometimes get very hot, feeding them some watermelon will keep your chameleon hydrated.
Can Baby Chameleon Eat Watermelon?
Baby chameleons can eat watermelon, but only in a very small amount. The baby chameleon is small in size and too much watermelon will cause them harm.
The reason for that is that watermelon contains a lot of water and sugar, which can harm them.
To avoid any health issues that may arise from eating watermelon, it’s best to give them a small amount, once a week.
How To Feed Watermelon To Chameleons
When it comes to feeding watermelon to your chameleon, you have 2 options. You can use the method below which is best for you and your chameleon:
Feeding Watermelon To Chameleon Using Your Hand
This method is a great way to bond with your chameleon. However, the chameleon may bite you in the process. The biting is accidental since they are trying to grab the watermelon off your finger.
Start with a small piece of watermelon and place it on your finger. Then move your finger gently toward the chameleon. Keep a distance about 5 inches away from the chameleon.
They will slowly look at the fruit and will flick out their tongue to grab it.
Feeding Watermelon To Chameleon Using Cup
This is the easiest and simplest method to feed watermelon to your chameleon.
Simply place a couple of small pieces in the cup. Make sure the watermelon is no bigger than between both of their eyes. The chameleon doesn’t chew their food, they swallow their food whole.
If the chameleon doesn’t finish the watermelon within a couple of hours, remove the fruit from their enclosure.
Leaving it in there for too long could cause it to become spoiled and have bacteria growth.
How Many Watermelon To Feed Chameleons?
While watermelon is nutritious for the chameleon, you should only feed the fruit to them in small amounts.
Like most other fruit, watermelon contains a lot of water. Too much water can cause the chameleon to have diarrhea, bloating, and other digestive problems.
Therefore, for an adult chameleon, you can give them a small piece of watermelon. For baby chameleons, give them a tiny piece of the fruit.
How Often To Feed Watermelon To Chameleons?
It’s best to feed watermelon to your chameleon in moderation.
Watermelon should only be fed to them as a treat. It contains a high level of sugar, which can cause them to become overweight and cause heart problems.
Watermelon should only make up a small percentage of their diet. The majority of their diet should consist of insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, and beetles.
Other Fruits That Chameleons Can Eat
Apple
Apple is packed with nutrients that the chameleon can benefit from. While apples are nutritious, it’s also high in sugar and water content. Too many of these two things are bad for the chameleons. Also, avoid feeding them the seeds, as they contain toxins that could harm them.
Papaya
Papaya is a tropical fruit that’s high in essential vitamins and minerals. This nutrition is beneficial for the chameleons. However, the fruit is high in sugar, which is harmful to them in large amounts. To avoid any health issues, only feed them a small amount.
Pears
Pears are high in nutrition, which makes them a healthy fruit for the chameleon to eat. Due to their high amount of sugar and water content, it’s best to feed them in moderation.
Conclusion
Chameleon can eat watermelon, and it makes a great treat for them during the summer months. While it’s high in nutrition, the fruit also contains a lot of water. Too much water in their diet can lead to digestive problems. To avoid any issues, I recommend that you feed watermelon to your chameleon in moderation.
