When I went to the pet store to get Yoshi some more crickets, I decided to get him a couple of these hornworms as well. They are a bit pricey at $2 each, so I was going to see how he did with them and possibly look into seeing what it would take to raise some on my own for him as a snack.
Hornworms are like a super food for reptiles. They contain a lot of nutrients, like a good source of calcium, protein and even water to help keep your pet hydrated. One thing I just found out about hornworms is that they can be toxic to chameleons if you capture a wild one that has been eating tomato plants, so that is something to keep an eye out for because you would never want to poison your little pet.
These make good treats for your chameleon because they are nutritious and really easy for them to eat. They don't have a hard shell like other feeder insects or even mealworms. I have tried to give Yoshi mealworms before and he didn't even make an attempt to eat them. It only took a few minutes of having these hornworms in his cage before he gobbled both of them up. One thing to be careful with when feeding your chameleon hornworms is that they can cause diarrhea if you feed them too many because they have such a high water content. But fed in moderation, they are an excellent addition to their diets.
Overall, I am glad that Yoshi ate these things so fast. I have found kits online for as little as $10 to raise your own hornworms, so that is going to be something I am most likely going to do. I just want to give my little guy a nice well balanced diet so he can keep growing and stay healthy.