another on strike.

[lilaccavies]

Is it a common problem for Chams to go on food strike then??

 

[dodolah]

Is it a common problem for Chams to go on food strike then??

very much so. Usually a hunger strike strikes when your cham is about to reach juvie stage.
They're pretty much behave like human toddlers.
If you keep giving your baby the same food over and over, he/she will realize, get bored with it, and refuse to eat until you make some menu changes

lol.. that what makes chameleon interesting anyway.
My chameleon's hunger strike is just over.
So, he's back on crickets..
Meanwhile, what am i gonna do with 150 silkies?

 

[chrisandpugs]

Hi Christy,
I think 2-3 weeks hunger strike means that there are other underlying health issues!

Yes, most Chameleons can quickly become bored with the same old insects day in, day out and will cease to eat but in my opinion, 3-4 day hunger strike due to pickiness is O.K but after one week of protest and not being interested in waxworms as a new insect, I would seriously think about taking him to the Vet even though he's drinking O.K. As you know, a long anorexic bin can create severe mal-absorbtion and nutritional problems would can easily lead to a slow death.

As I stated previously, I did recommend the Fluker's Repta-Aid(Internet order) as part of an emergency kit to always have in hand because it specifically targets those Chameleons that have been debilitated due to anorexia and dehydration issues. It really helped my Veil when he went on a hungrey strike for almost 2 1/2 weeks. He started eating again with 3 hours after getting the Repta-Aid.

Christine

 

[lilaccavies]

very much so. Usually a hunger strike strikes when your cham is about to reach juvie stage.
They're pretty much behave like human toddlers.
If you keep giving your baby the same food over and over, he/she will realize, get bored with it, and refuse to eat until you make some menu changes

lol.. that what makes chameleon interesting anyway.
My chameleon's hunger strike is just over.
So, he's back on crickets..
Meanwhile, what am i gonna do with 150 silkies?

In a way I am glad its a fairly normal thing for Cham's, I was getting worried. He has eaten some waxworms now!

 

[dodolah]

In a way I am glad its a fairly normal thing for Cham's, I was getting worried. He has eaten some waxworms now!

don't let him get used to waxworms.
They're high in fat.
Use it as occasional snack.
Think of it as a McDonald burger.
It's good for inducing appetite for your kids.. but you don't want your kids to be addicted to it

 

[lilaccavies]

Yeah, my Brothers girlfriend said she doesn't feed him too many of them. I only give him 3 at a time, once a day.

 

[christyo2o2]

yah i think it may be time for another vet visit. SCooter is still not eating.

 

[TRI0N]

Meanwhile, what am i gonna do with 150 silkies?

Your silkies are far better ballanced live food then crickets. About the same in fat but far better in other suplimental needs. I would rotate a little if you have too many of both.. Perhaps Crickets 1 day and silkies the next rather then offering both each day to keep the varation going until you purge one or the other to stick with a primary. Silkies are far better then crickets. Heck I've even asked my local nursery to get me 2 mullberry tree's pronto so that I can screen cage them to farm silkies colonies.

 

[brandaleon]

?

Hey I Remember reading somewhere that chameleons go on hunger strike only when environmental conditions aren't appropriate. Is this true? What have you all experienced.
p.s. This was not a subtle attempt to say anyone has done anything wrong; just my curiosity.

 

[Hutbug]

My almost-adult male veiled has been not eating for almost 2 weeks, I think...he looks fine, seems alert, is drinking, but won't eat crickets, phoenix worms or wax worms. The strike started right after I cut 1/2 hour off his daily light, and changed his rainshowers (I have a wonderful setup for him which I will post in the habitat area when I get a chance) from 3 times a day at 10 min. each to 2 times a day at 15 minutes each. One of the lizard fans at a local pet store said lizards typically reduce their eating in the winter...but I'm beginning to worry. He was eating like a pig previously - this is a sudden change.

 

[dodolah]

Hey I Remember reading somewhere that chameleons go on hunger strike only when environmental conditions aren't appropriate. Is this true? What have you all experienced.
p.s. This was not a subtle attempt to say anyone has done anything wrong; just my curiosity.

most likely it's due to the same diet for a long time.

 

[christyo2o2]

Well we have some GREAT news!! Scooter finally ate on his own today! me and justin were soo excited. We want to thank everyone for all the great advice they gave us. Now hopefully we will get the silkworms we ordered in and we will be able to keep him eating.

 

[Dave Weldon]

My almost-adult male veiled has been not eating for almost 2 weeks... He was eating like a pig previously - this is a sudden change.

Howdy,

2 weeks is getting a bit long. If you haven't already, start tracking his weight. Something like this little scale works fine for weighing chameleons and has a 0.1 gram resolution. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93543 If his weight drops 10-20% it's time to start evaluating why. 2 weeks might show a greater than 10% drop... It's good that he isn't showing any symptoms like eye closure etc. It all might just be tied to a "phase". If he pooped as much as he should have been that's good too.

Start a new thread and post photos of him and his setup. Add the usual info from the thread: https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[brandaleon]

dave

Hey that scale you set a link to- how precise is it. (+-) How many grams does it give for flexibility.