Chiche won't eat?

[oneillchameleons]

Spines become whitish before a chameleon is going to shed. Your cham needs to be able to regulate its temperature and you are removing their opportunity to do that. As long as your basking site is about 84 degrees Fahrenheit, they won't overheat or burn themselves. They MUST have a basking site available 12 hours a day. There are many ways to raise humidity as well, you just have to find the balance. If your mother is saying the thermostat of your home is set at 75 degrees, check the heating vent in your chams room to make sure it is open, and if there is a door you keep closed, leave it open so the room can warm up.

 

[NickyChameleon]

I have, several times. Unfortunately she is just as stubborn as I. She is insistent that chameleons don't have to lay eggs if you lower the temps and feeding. I've told her that atleast 500 of you guys agree with me that this is not true and some of you have had chameleons for over 25 years. She responds with how 11 sites said it was possible and they were all doctors. I responded that they're idiots and that you have personal experience and 500 far outnumbers 11. She is persistent. I ignore her. On another note, Chiche now refuses to let me touch her or anything within 2 feet of her (she hisses and puffs up like I poked her with a stick or something also no I have never done this if you were wondering.) of course I would consider a montane species next. Jackson's have always been exciting to me so I might try there, but not for another 6 months minimum. I might try for Christmas this time (my ideal last time but my mom surprised me on Black Friday)
Anyway, yeah I'll try to find a way to raise the heat bulb slightly so she doesn't get burned, as she is only about 4 or 5 inches away.

I have to go to the dentist now so I won't respond for a bit.

 

[JaniP]

PLEASE take your heating light off that damn schedule, and read a care sheet. I am sincerely doubting that you ever have.

If you HAVE read it then you are not understanding parts of it. We would be happy to clarify anything that is confusing to you within them.

 

[kinyonga]

Your mom is right....lowering the temperature and controlling the feeding can stop reproduction in veiled chameleons....but not lowering it that low...and the timing in their cycle also seems to play a part when it comes to controlling the food. it's the basking temperature I lower...not the whole cage temperature...and the idea of lowering the temperature is to slow her metabolism so she won't be so hungry due to being fed less.

I wrote an article on this Site about it....
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.ca/2007/12/keeping-female-veiled.html

 

[wavingsnail]

You're unwilling to remedy the current problems with your veiled, but you're willing to look six months down the road to consider asking for another chameleon for Christmas?

Solid plan.

 

[NickyChameleon]

You're unwilling to remedy the current problems with your veiled, but you're willing to look six months down the road to consider asking for another chameleon for Christmas?

Solid plan.

She finally ate! She looked reluctant to eat (which was weird she like turned away three times) then her head bolted back and shot her tongue out faster than usual and she ate two the second one I doused in calcium. I'll take the heat bulb off the timer as that seems to be the popular vote also if you can count that would be 9 months away thanks and peace out.

 

[NickyChameleon]

She finally ate! She looked reluctant to eat (which was weird she like turned away three times) then her head bolted back and shot her tongue out faster than usual and she ate two the second one I doused in calcium. I'll take the heat bulb off the timer as that seems to be the popular vote also if you can count that would be 9 months away thanks and peace out.

My mom said she didn't want it on the entire day so I did an hour and a half on and 10 minutes off (repeating from 8 to 8)

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

My mom said she didn't want it on the entire day so I did an hour and a half on and 10 minutes off (repeating from 8 to 8)

Would it be possible to have your mom get on this site and look over some if the care sheets? That would be a good start. This will sound harsh but her being uncooperative will lead to sickness, death, or a short life span of your chameleon. There's no way around it. Why doesn't she want it on all day? I would say you aren't ready for a montane species and will only run into more problems and trouble. Veileds are some of the easiest species to work with and you're struggling with her. Go read over the caresheets closely and take notes if need be. A popular vote for the basking site? Everyone here knows you need to have it on 12 hours a day. There wasn't a "vote". Please go do some research.

 

[wavingsnail]

My mom said she didn't want it on the entire day so I did an hour and a half on and 10 minutes off (repeating from 8 to 8)

Honestly, this is like borderline trolling. As stated above, there is no "popular vote" here, only suggestions based on fact.

Since you and your mom seem unable to come to terms with the fact that the care you are providing for this chameleon is substandard, all I can really say is enjoy chiche while she's around, because it probably won't be for long.

Also, don't get another chameleon. Maybe an anole or one of those twenty dollar robotic parakeets would be more your speed.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

We've told you countless times that you need to start taking our advice otherwise you would be posting a "help, my chameleon wont eat" thread in short order...oh wait...
.

You all need to stop responding to his posts, you're feeding the cycle.

 

[wavingsnail]

Good thing you replied to a three day old post to let us know. I mean if it wasn't bumped back to the top how would we know to stop replying?

Goodness.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

Glad the little trouble maker is eating! Just remember, all food eventually gets boring to eat if it is all you get to eat, even if it used to be your favorite! Variety is the secret to a happy, healthy chameleon! My secret weapon to stimulate appetite is black soldier flies! I buy jumbo sized grubs and put them in dry coconut fiber substrate in a 64 oz deli cup (I put about 10 in there at a time). I leave them dry for two days, then I get the substrate just barely wet on the surface with a spray bottle. Within a day or two they will all emerge as flies! I let about 3 - 5 in the chameleon cage at a time (to prevent the chameleon from being overwhelmed). Works like a charm to break hunger strikes! Best of luck and thanks for trying so hard with your chameleon and for caring so deeply! Coodos to all you wonderful people who added your wonderful, helpful advice! Man, we are quit the group of people! I am so proud to belong to this forum!

 

[NickyChameleon]

Glad the little trouble maker is eating! Just remember, all food eventually gets boring to eat if it is all you get to eat, even if it used to be your favorite! Variety is the secret to a happy, healthy chameleon! My secret weapon to stimulate appetite is black soldier flies! I buy jumbo sized grubs and put them in dry coconut fiber substrate in a 64
oz deli cup (I put about 10 in there at a time). I leave them dry for two days, then I get the substrate just barely wet on the surface with a spray bottle. Within a day or two they will all emerge as flies! I let about 3 - 5 in the chameleon cage at a time (to prevent the chameleon from being overwhelmed). Works like a charm to break hunger strikes! Best of luck and thanks for trying so hard with your chameleon and for caring so deeply! Coodos to all you wonderful people who added your wonderful, helpful advice! Man, we are quit the group of people! I am so proud to belong to this forum!

Unfortunately some of them still think I am a troll for some reason. She has been eating 2 a day but refuses to eat more. My mom is ordering some new stuff today, hope she likes it
Anyway, my care is not "subsubstantial" and she seems happy most of the time (excluding when my brother is in the room. She hates him for some reason.) and she continues to explore and reexport the cage even though she already knows where everything is. Sometimes things get in her way,and she gets annoyed. She used the screen to get around once in a while, like right now. Then she goes back to the branches. Usually she's in the basking spot though. Right! Stats! Retaining 50-60% humidity at night and 40-55% during the day (heat lamp brings it down slightly) and the temps are lower to upper 70s all the time not in the basking spot. As I don't have a ythermometer in the basking hu, I can only guess it is about 82-84 degrees and that's what it feels like. mister runs two minutes every two hours in the morning and three minutes every two hours in the afternoon. If anyone else wants specific information just ask.

 

[oneillchameleons]

Unfortunately some of them still think I am a troll for some reason. She has been eating 2 a day but refuses to eat more. My mom is ordering some new stuff today, hope she likes it
Anyway, my care is not "subsubstantial" and she seems happy most of the time (excluding when my brother is in the room. She hates him for some reason.) and she continues to explore and reexport the cage even though she already knows where everything is. Sometimes things get in her way,and she gets annoyed. She used the screen to get around once in a while, like right now. Then she goes back to the branches. Usually she's in the basking spot though. Right! Stats! Retaining 50-60% humidity at night and 40-55% during the day (heat lamp brings it down slightly) and the temps are lower to upper 70s all the time not in the basking spot. As I don't have a ythermometer in the basking hu, I can only guess it is about 82-84 degrees and that's what it feels like. mister runs two minutes every two hours in the morning and three minutes every two hours in the afternoon. If anyone else wants specific information just ask.

Your going to want to get an accurate reading of the basking site. If anything it's more important than the ambient temps of the cage. Get a digital thermometer and make sure the basking site is at 83-84 degrees. "What it feels like" is far from accurate.

 

[kiwilulu]

Get an infrared gun. They are less than $10 and you can measure your temps accurately anywhere in your cage

 

[OldChamKeeper]

Good thing you replied to a three day old post to let us know. I mean if it wasn't bumped back to the top how would we know to stop replying?

Goodness.

It doesn't matter if I bump or not. 3 days is nothing with this individual. But hey, you all have fun with this.