I have a female veiled and she has been acting strange lately. It started off when she started hanging out at the bottom or the enclosure, which from what I've heard is not common for chameleons. Then since yesterday she has stopped eating. I have given her many opportunities since then but she still ignores the crickets and then shuts her eyes. I think it might be because the other day she swallowed a bit of debris when she caught a cricket, but I don't know for sure if that's why she has been acting so weird. Also, she is shedding if that helps any. If you have any suggestions or help it would be very appreciated. Thank you!
chameleon refusing to eat
- Thread starter jdareef
- Start date
Jakedn
New Member
You need to provide her a rubbermaid like container filled with 6-12 inches of clean sand. Make sure this sand is damp enough for her to dig a tunnel to lay the eggs in without the tunnel collapsing, but don't make it too damp. Be patient it may take a while for her to lay the eggs if she is in fact ready to lay the eggs, and it sure does sound like she is. She will have to lay eggs whether or not she has actually mated so it's best to always have the a laying bin prepared for her. Give her complete privacy when she is checking out the laying bin as if she doesn't think its a suitable location she will not lay eggs and will become eggbound and die from retaining the eggs.
Dunnigan
New Member
She is trying to lay eggs, make a laying bin (something as long, if not longer, than her body and at least a foot deep) fill it with play sand that is damp enough to make a tunnel in it.
This is something that should be done tonight, if she does not get an appropriate place to pay eggs in time, she will become egg bound.
also it is important to give her privacy when she is laying. Covering the sides of her cage with a towel has worked well in the past. If she sees you or anyone else she will not feel safe enough to lay her eggs
This is something that should be done tonight, if she does not get an appropriate place to pay eggs in time, she will become egg bound.
also it is important to give her privacy when she is laying. Covering the sides of her cage with a towel has worked well in the past. If she sees you or anyone else she will not feel safe enough to lay her eggs
cushcameleon
New Member
Here's some ideas for why your chameleon may not be eating, keep in mind I am only putting forth suggestions that I myself have experienced, so there could be many other reasons for why she is refusing to eat. First off what is your basking temperature? If a chameleon becomes to cold, it may not eat and therefore an increase in temperature should solve the problem. Also when chameleons shed, they may at times refuse to eat (this happens to my rudis chameleon every time he sheds). These are just some general suggestions to get you thinking, I am not guaranteeing that either suggestion is the answer. Fill one of this out so everyone can get a better understand of your chameleon and her enclosure.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Glass terrarium 30Wx12Dx22H
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? two t-5's and a 100w sun glo basking lamp tight beam, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? mid 80's during day, low 70's at night, 100F basking spot, 1 digital thermometer at top, and a hygrometer/thermometer combo measuring utensil
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? 83% (mistking just went off), mistking system, hygrometer/thermometer combo
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Yes
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? Corner of bedroom, not near vents, ver low traffic, 5 feet @ top of cage
Location - Where are you geographically located? Tampa Bay Area, FL
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Female Veiled, 1 year, 1 month in my care.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? close to never, only if absolutely necessary (once since i've had her)
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Crickets, gut loaded, 2 dropped in a day, she only eats 1, fluker's cricket quencher calcium fortified.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?^ dusted at pet store
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? mistking, 3 times a day for 1 min, yes she drinks
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? unknown, haven't looked for it. no parasite testing that i know of (my older brother left me with this chameleon, wasn't there when it was bought, but came with 90 day health guarantee)
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. accidentally ate debris 2 days ago while eating cricket
Current Problem - She is not eating and is staying at the bottom, closing eyes a lot while on bottom of enclosure.
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Glass terrarium 30Wx12Dx22H
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? two t-5's and a 100w sun glo basking lamp tight beam, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? mid 80's during day, low 70's at night, 100F basking spot, 1 digital thermometer at top, and a hygrometer/thermometer combo measuring utensil
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? 83% (mistking just went off), mistking system, hygrometer/thermometer combo
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Yes
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? Corner of bedroom, not near vents, ver low traffic, 5 feet @ top of cage
Location - Where are you geographically located? Tampa Bay Area, FL
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Female Veiled, 1 year, 1 month in my care.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? close to never, only if absolutely necessary (once since i've had her)
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Crickets, gut loaded, 2 dropped in a day, she only eats 1, fluker's cricket quencher calcium fortified.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?^ dusted at pet store
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? mistking, 3 times a day for 1 min, yes she drinks
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? unknown, haven't looked for it. no parasite testing that i know of (my older brother left me with this chameleon, wasn't there when it was bought, but came with 90 day health guarantee)
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. accidentally ate debris 2 days ago while eating cricket
Current Problem - She is not eating and is staying at the bottom, closing eyes a lot while on bottom of enclosure.
Jakedn
New Member
The basking temp is way too high, especially in a glass cage. You need a screen cage to promote airflow. If the debris she ate was substrate at the bottom of the cage, remove the substrate it is not needed. Closing her eyes during the daytime is a sign of illness you should visit a vet.
Dunnigan
New Member
This is just my opinion a 100w sun glo is producing temps hotter than mid 80's also how far away is the bulb from the chameleon? The sun glo provides both heat and Uv lighting, but it needs to be at least a foot away from the chameleon. The amount of UV that the bulb is putting out could be too much, think of it like getting sprayed with a fire house at point blank...Sun glo bulbs are not recommended for the reason, of they are at their proper distance the amount of heat that is put out is not adequate for a basking spot.
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it only gets to 83 in the cool spot of the terrarium, and the 100F i put in was the highest temperature it has reached since i measured, it has been lower before, 95 or so. i will take your advice and get a new bulb, what brand/wattage would you recommend getting?
