Chamelion doesn't want to eat

[Meishin]

Hi everyone in new to the cham world and got my baby female on Saturday 6 feb 2010 .She drinks water with no prob when i spray her but she doesn't want to go down to her water (it is running water) or go down to feed i have to feed her myself and its a long proses. So i just want to know if it is maybe because she is in new environment any help would be appreciated

 

[trd1215]

Hello and welcome to the chameleon world....We need more info from you and you need to fill this out so everyone can help you.

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.


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?


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[Meishin]

WOW thats alot of info but i wil suply all just give me a lit wile thanks

 

[Meishin]

Chameleon - Veiled Chameleon
Sex - Female
In Cage - its in there for 5 days
Feeding - Crickets and meal worm
Amount - she doesn't want to eat more than 2 - 3 a day
Supplements - Reptile Resort: Reptile Calcium
Watering - I have a waterfall thing in cage ,and mist about 3 - 5 times a day ,then she drinks (i do see her drink)
Age - im not to sure but she is slit small about 4 inc (10cm) from head to end of tail

Cage

type- Glass door with mesh on sides of cage
Light - Reptiglo 5.0 uvb(13w) lights come on at 6 in morning and go of at 18:30 at night (the time it becomes light and dark in SOUTH AFRICA)
Temp - from 23C to 30C (degrees in calcias) about 70 to 86 in faren
Humid : not to sure but it sumwat humid as i spray i light mist of hot water in rocks and the wood so the lamp can bake it
plants - non
placement - in a quite room not near any noise or traffic ,only thing i open is a window in the room but the cage is not near the window and i cept the window close the first 3 days
location - South Africa

Lady at pet shop said it must get use to cage and environment but don't know ,and she looks healthy her eyes are open and her colors look good

 

[Meishin]

oo and i gut load her food by feding them friut and feg atleast 24 ouers before i feed her

 

[Sodbuster]

The first thing i would do is get the warterfall out of there they are very hard to keep clean she could also drown and get some plants in there with her not only will she nibble on the live plants but they help with humidity. Also when you choose live plants make sure they are on the safe list and are free from pestisides

 

[moody232002]

she probly just needs time to settle in,they sometimes take a week or more to settle in.At least she is drinking and thats a very good sign.
I also agree on ditching the waterfall they are bacteria magnets and when i first had mine mista loved to use it as his toilet area lol.
Can you get locusts where you live if so try those they are a lot slower moving than crickets.
Also agree with sodbuster about getting plants,they like foliage to hide in and that could also help settle her down.
good luck with her and keep us posted on her progress

 

[skully23]

Buy a dripper instead of the waterfull and at the top of this site click "resources" and then "live plants"...from there look through and make sure they are rated well and have no bad side effects. Can you give pictures?

I also noticed you posted about supplements... I would buy calcium with d3 and without d3 along with a multivitamin. I use repcal brand so below is my schedule.
week 1:
mon-fri: calcium without d3
sat: none
sun: calcium with d3

week 2:
mon-fri: calcium without d3
sat: none
sun: vitamins

week 3:
repeat week 1

week 4:
repeat week 2
At the end if the month just start over.

Mealworms are recommened every few times a month or two. I would finish off what you have and find something less fat and more protein. and since she is 4inches I would suggest phoenix worms if your aloud to buy them where you are(even off a site) I buy medium, they are perfect size for yours.
I also think that a chameleon shouldn't have to "go down" to get food or water. A dripper should be in view toward the top and the food should either be strapped up near the top or free ranged or my way. I hold a container up and Charlie eats out of there so I know how many he is getting. See in my picture you can easily find the dripper http://www.flickr.com/photos/44910169@N07/4338163383/
Good luck and update

 

[Cjd713]

Yeah, as everyone else said, the waterfalls are just trouble! They harvest bacteria, and could potentially drown your cham. She's probably not eating because she's still adjusting. For one of my babies, he wouldn't eat for a few days, so you *should* be fine. Hope all goes well

 

[Meishin]

thx for help guys wil try and get the vitamins and other worms ,but i got loads of crickets i read the are a source of protein .and im going to get real plants this weekend

 

[Meishin]

Here is a photo of her

 

[Meishin]

thx guys for help .I put in a drip system, took out the waterfall and i put het feeding bowl higer up .just need to get a plant and vitamins .oo and she started losing her skin today meaning shes stil growing