Can Veiled Chameleons Eat Waxworms?

Can a Veiled Chameleon Eat Waxworms?

Yes — a veiled chameleon can eat waxworms, as an occasional treat rather than part of the regular diet.

Waxworms are 15–25% fat and 15–18% protein — among the fattiest feeder insects available. That is the whole story of how they should be used: they are a treat, a tool for putting weight on a thin animal, and a way to tempt something that has gone off its food. They are not a staple for anything.

How Many, and How Often

1–2 waxworms weekly, or more briefly if a chameleon is underweight.

The Risk That Matters for a Veiled Chameleon

Chameleons are one of the few cases where the fat is genuinely useful — for a thin animal or one recovering. But veileds also become fixated on a favourite food faster than most, so keep it short.

What to Feed Instead

The staple should be discoid roaches and silkworms. Waxworms sit alongside a proper diet or they sit in the fridge — they do not replace anything.

When Waxworms Are Genuinely Useful

Three jobs, and they do all three well: putting weight on an underweight animal, tempting one that has stopped eating, and conditioning an animal before breeding. Outside those, there is usually a better feeder for the same meal.

See the full waxworm care and storage guide for keeping them alive once they arrive.