Dark, inactive and not feeding.

[andrearamirezo91]

You will have to judge by how he reacts to your moving him. Mine barely reacts to me putting my hand in front of him and climbs on with a little encouragement. If you move him outside a few times and he still flares up then do it less often. If he barley reacts then do it daily. You always have to measure stress versus value. Natural sunlight has value.
These podcasts may help you with your handling techniques.
https://www.chameleonbreeder.com/podcast/ep-80-handling-your-chameleon/
https://www.chameleonbreeder.com/podcast/ep-85-taming-your-chameleon/

Thank you. Today has honestly been the best day since I got him. I had never seen him drink water, but I can mist him with the hose we have outside for a long period of time. He drank so much today. First time in almost four months that I’ve had him that I saw him drink. Also, for the first time ever he ate from my hand today. I had his little food container in my hand and was placing it in the cage but before I even got a chance to put it down he was already shooting at it. I usually have to literally freeze and not make eye contact for like 2-3 mins when I wanna see him eat lol. We’ll see how he reacts as I try to make this a routine for him, but I have a good feeling about it

 

[Brodybreaux25]

Sorry, I really don’t mean to hijack this thread but I have a question for you. I just built an outdoor cage for my cham but it’s too hot for him out there at night (I live in South Florida). I was planning on taking him out there as much as possible. He’s been out there today and has been more active than I’ve ever seen him. Problem is I’d have to handle him almost daily to walk him out. Do you suggest I limit outside time to every other day instead?

Just go slow and measure his response, once he realizes that “hey, if I let this weird animal pick me up and I sit on its hands for two minuets I get 8 hours of sunshine, wind, and maybe a few wild bugs” he will readily take to you handeling him. Just take it really slow so you don’t traumatize him before you get to that point. He sets the pace.

Have you tried to hand feed him yet? It does wonders for trust...

 

[andrearamirezo91]

Just go slow and measure his response, once he realizes that “hey, if I let this weird animal pick me up and I sit on its hands for two minuets I get 8 hours of sunshine, wind, and maybe a few wild bugs” he will readily take to you handeling him. Just take it really slow so you don’t traumatize him before you get to that point. He sets the pace.

Have you tried to hand feed him yet? It does wonders for trust...

Yeah. Before today, any hand feeding attempt always ended in me with a really sore arm and a hungry chameleon Even if I’m in the same room as him he’ll stare and won’t eat till I walk out of the room. I peek through the door and watch the lil bastard eat as soon as I’m out of sight But if you read my response to Jill right before you answered, today was a great day and I’m really happy so far because he seems way more relaxed out there. I did the hand misting that we spoke about a couple of weeks back and saw him drink for the first time in a little over 4 months which is when I got him. He also ate from my hand today with no hessitation whatsoever. He’s been outside all day today.. I wish I could permanently leave him out there but the weather here gets too hot sometimes

 

[Brodybreaux25]

Yeah. Before today, any hand feeding attempt always ended in me with a really sore arm and a hungry chameleon Even if I’m in the same room as him he’ll stare and won’t eat till I walk out of the room. I peek through the door and watch the lil bastard eat as soon as I’m out of sight But if you read my response to Jill right before you answered, today was a great day and I’m really happy so far because he seems way more relaxed out there. I did the hand misting that we spoke about a couple of weeks back and saw him drink for the first time in a little over 4 months which is when I got him. He also ate from my hand today with no hessitation whatsoever. He’s been outside all day today.. I wish I could permanently leave him out there but the weather here gets too hot sometimes

That’s real progress, congrats!
I live in southeast Louisiana. It is 98 degrees with 100% humidity every day, that’s not an exaggeration. I rotate my veilds once a week. One week outside, one week inside. Start him off with just a few hours a day at first and then build up to all day. This will give him time to acclimate to the heat. As long as they have some air flow, shade, and mistings he will be just fine. Veild chameleons evolved in a very hot and dry part of the world.

 

[andrearamirezo91]

That’s real progress, congrats!
I live in southeast Louisiana. It is 98 degrees with 100% humidity every day, that’s not an exaggeration. I rotate my veilds once a week. One week outside, one week inside. Start him off with just a few hours a day at first and then build up to all day. This will give him time to acclimate to the heat. As long as they have some air flow, shade, and mistings he will be just fine. Veild chameleons evolved in a very hot and dry part of the world.

Thank you He’s a panther tho. Does that change anything? I promise this will be my last question as I have officially hijacked this thread lol

 

[Brodybreaux25]

Thank you He’s a panther tho. Does that change anything? I promise this will be my last question as I have officially hijacked this thread lol

Not sure on panthers to be totally honest...

 

[Robyn.lux]

Awesome, he will warm up to you at his own pace! Just remember to let him dictate what that pace is...

... and you understand that him flaring up while handeling is not a good thing right?

I did not know that.. the guy I got him from made out like it was a good thing for them to fire up :/
I won't handle him for a couple of weeks. He doesn't seem a social guy.
He's also back to not eating. Which is worrying me but I am also wondering if he is going to shed soon. I read when they're juvenile they shed every few weeks? Is that true? If so he is due a shed but he is looking thin. I have registered him at a vets (reptile specialist) would it be worth taking him if he doesn't start to eat properly in the next few days?

 

[Robyn.lux]

Your misting sessions should be at least 5-7 min each so he has time to clean his eyes.

You mentioned you want to handel him daily, most chams will not tolerate that well. Each is unique and yours may be ok with it but this is another area where you have to let him dictate the rules. Chams are really more of a hobby, not a pet.

You need a real gutload, I recommend cricket crack.

What kinds of calcium/vitamins do you have and how often do you plan to use them?

Chams are tree dwellers, his viv should be placed at the highest point in the room that you can still easily reach for maintenance. This will also speed up the process of him not seeing you as a threat. To chams height = security.

And he will outgrow that viv VERY quickly!

It's the biggest viv I could actually get though? Extra large, extra tall? I've certainly seen adult chams in smaller enclosures.

Unfortunately his viv needs to remain where it is since it is so big. I actively avoid walking in front of it and tend to him on my knees most of the time so I seem smaller. I've also banned visitors from my home from the time being.

I use the exo terra calcium and multi vit. I use calcium 3x a week and the multivit once a week.

I am now not handling him. I do not want to stress him out at all. I am quite happy to just watch him. I have also covered his viv with black material so he feels more secure, especially with him not being super high up. I think I will save for the viv stand so he is much higher up.

I think I will stick to natural gut loading. I use a range of fruit and veggies with dandelion leaves, sometimes with some oats and sunflower seeds but not often.

He was eating like a champ but now he is back to not eating. Not entirely sure why, maybe he is going to shed soon.

I will however mist him for longer.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

I did not know that.. the guy I got him from made out like it was a good thing for them to fire up :/
I won't handle him for a couple of weeks. He doesn't seem a social guy.
He's also back to not eating. Which is worrying me but I am also wondering if he is going to shed soon. I read when they're juvenile they shed every few weeks? Is that true? If so he is due a shed but he is looking thin. I have registered him at a vets (reptile specialist) would it be worth taking him if he doesn't start to eat properly in the next few days?

Firing up is a defense mechanism triggered by stress. They puff up, change color, hiss, and try to bite anything they perceive as a threat. I usually say not to worry about them not eating up to the two week mark. Hunger strikes are common. Yes, juveniles will shed every three to four weeks, as they age that will happen less often.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

I thought you had the large viv, not the XL. The XL is big enough.

I use the exo terra calcium and multi vit. I use calcium 3x a week and the multivit once a week.

You should be dusting with calcium that doesn't contain d3 at every feeding, not 3x a week. Calcium with D3 twice a month, and a multivitamin twice a month, not once a week. Over supplementation can be just a dangerous as under supplementation.

I think I will stick to natural gut loading. I use a range of fruit and veggies with dandelion leaves, sometimes with some oats and sunflower seeds but not often.

If your going to stick to natural gutloading your going to have a lot more variety than you listed above.

 

[Robyn.lux]

I thought you had the large viv, not the XL. The XL is big enough.

You should be dusting with calcium that doesn't contain d3 at every feeding, not 3x a week. Calcium with D3 twice a month, and a multivitamin twice a month, not once a week. Over supplementation can be just a dangerous as under supplementation.

If your going to stick to natural gutloading your going to have a lot more variety than you listed above.

I'm just going by my research and what I was told at the time of buying when it comes to dusting, there are so many split opinions on what is best.

I have only had him a week so obviously I'm not going to have a ton of different natural gut loaders right now. I also didn't list anything in particular just fruit and veggies of which there are thousands.
I heard dandelion leaves are one of the best gutloaders, a long with carrot and apple so this week, that's what they've had. There is a really good thread on here with a full and comprehensive list of natural gut loaders, I will be hand picking new things from that list every few days, as I have been doing, but dandelion leaves will always be a staple.
I don't know why I believed that a fired up cham was a happy cham. I truly thought dark colours = unhappy/stressed/ill .. bright = happy and well. Now I know, which is good. I am completely new to all of this and trying my best to make him happy, safe and have the best life possible. Everyone starts at the beginning with these kinds of pets. It's not exactly something that comes naturally.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

I'm just going by my research and what I was told at the time of buying when it comes to dusting, there are so many split opinions on what is best.

I have only had him a week so obviously I'm not going to have a ton of different natural gut loaders right now. I also didn't list anything in particular just fruit and veggies of which there are thousands.
I heard dandelion leaves are one of the best gutloaders, a long with carrot and apple so this week, that's what they've had. There is a really good thread on here with a full and comprehensive list of natural gut loaders, I will be hand picking new things from that list every few days, as I have been doing, but dandelion leaves will always be a staple.
I don't know why I believed that a fired up cham was a happy cham. I truly thought dark colours = unhappy/stressed/ill .. bright = happy and well. Now I know, which is good. I am completely new to all of this and trying my best to make him happy, safe and have the best life possible. Everyone starts at the beginning with these kinds of pets. It's not exactly something that comes naturally.

I realize that some of this may not come naturally, that’s why I can’t understand why a newby would ask for advice from a veteran and then ignore the advice given.

 

[Robyn.lux]

I realize that some of this may not come naturally, that’s why I can’t understand why a newby would ask for advice from a veteran and then ignore the advice given.

I'm not ignoring any of your advice? I've just heard from veterans about the pros and cons of gutloads and I'd rather go the natural gutfeeding approach.
I've taken on board everything you have said and will switch up his dusting routine etc but when it comes to gut loading, nothing can be better than actual natural foods. They would eat foliage, fruits, veggies etc in the wild, not man made flakes or pellets.