Myth 76: “Feeding Chameleons With Tongs Is Fun”
The Reality
It may look spectacular to watch a chameleon fire its tongue at prey held in your hand or with tongs. But this practice is dangerous and can cause permanent injury. What seems entertaining can cripple the animal for life.
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Why the Tongue Is Sacred
• The tongue is one of the chameleon's most specialized organs.
• It launches at high speed and distance to capture prey, then retracts to deliver food to the jaws.
• Chameleons cannot easily switch to "slow picking" strategies; their anatomy is built for projection, not grasping.
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How Injuries Happen
• When prey is held by hand or tongs, the keeper cannot release it at the exact moment of tongue impact.
• This causes overstretching and tearing of the retractor muscle (musculus retractor linguae).
• Consequences include:• Limited or lost tongue function.
• In severe cases, amputation may be necessary.
• Permanent reliance on hand‑feeding, or death if feeding cannot be managed.
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Recovery and Prognosis
• If injury occurs, the only chance is to rest the tongue: stop feeding for at least five days.
• Forcing the chameleon to shoot again immediately worsens the damage—like walking on a freshly broken leg.
• Prognosis is uncertain:• Some tongues recover fully.
• Others never regain function.
• Surgical repair is impossible due to the tiny, delicate structures.
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Other Risk Factors
• Feeding oversized prey (large roaches, locusts) can cause similar injuries if the insect resists or clings tightly to surfaces.
• General guideline: feeders should not exceed the length of the mouth or the distance between the eyes. Smaller prey minimizes danger.
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Conclusion
Hand‑feeding or tong‑feeding is never safe.
• It risks permanent tongue damage.
• It condemns the animal to lifelong disability.
• It is not worth the spectacle.
Recommendation:
• Always allow chameleons to hunt free‑moving prey of appropriate size.
• Respect the anatomy and natural feeding strategy of these animals.
• NEVER EVER feed with tongs or by hand.
See the video:
https://youtu.be/xkcrUvBPlNY
https://youtu.be/3Yr9n7dASJw