Darwin stopped eating Crickets

[AdamChameleon]

Got my little guy about two weeks ago. For the first week he would eat about 15-20 crickets a day. Then I received my order of Calcium powder and after dusting my crickets he has seemed to cut way back on his quantity. Now I put in about 8 smalls in the morning and by afternoon he has only eaten about 3-4.

He just shed for the first time since I have had him (yesterday as a matter of fact) and thought that might have been the problem, but this morning no change... ate 2 and then ignored the rest. This time, I didn't even dust them. Could he be turned off on Crickets now since dusting?

I did try a meal worm, he watched it, but didn't eat it. I placed a house fly in and he ate it right up??? placed an order for some other food items for him (SilkWorms, Hornworms and Reptiworms but those wont get here before the weekend.

Here is his stats

* Your Chameleon - Panther, Male, born 5/11/2011. 2 weeks in my care
* Handling - None, wanted him to acclimate to his home first
* Feeding - Small Crickets from General Exotics about 10-15/day split up between early morning and evening. Crickets loaded with Flukers Gut Load, Orange, Apple, fish flake, Romane, carrot every day in their enclosure and in small container 24 hours prior to feeding
* Rep Cal w/D3 Twice now since I have owned him & Rep Cal w/o D3 about 5 times since I've had him
* Monsoon automatic misting system set to mist 4 times daily for 90 seconds each time. He drinks just about each time it goes off. No misting at night.
* Fecal Description - Large dark portion and white outer liquid. Has not been to Vet Yet, no signs of worms in his fecal
* History - Purchased from Breeder in Florida who has excellent history and fantastic livestock. Cham is very alert, active and has no issues getting around his cage, climbing, drinking or moving about.


Cage Info:

* Home Made Wooden Stand w/Lexan liner & tie downs to hold cage to stand (wont tip over)
* LDS 18"x18"x36" Screened Enclosure (top Height 6')
* Potted Live Plants (Arbicola, Arbuca, Croton)
* 2 Large Exo Terra Jungle Vines, 2 Medium Flukers Bend-a-branch, Misc vines
* Monsoon Automatic Misting System w/2 heads (4x Daily @ 90 sec each)
* Reptisun 5.0 tube bulb in 20" ReptiSun Terra Fixture (turned backwards)
* ZooMed Porcelain Clamp Lamp with 60wt GE Profile Bulb 5" from top
* Lights on Zilla Digital Power Center 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
* Upper temp at basking spot 86 degrees, middle 80 degrees, lower 76 degrees
* Night time temp 72 degrees
* All temps measured by digital thermo prob.
* Humidity is 60-70%
* Placement - Bedroom? Not near fans, air vents, or high traffic areas and has great indirect lighting from two southern exposure windows
* Location - Northern Virginia?

Thank you

 

[seanUTD]

* Your Chameleon - Panther, Male, born 5/11/2011. 2 weeks in my care
* Handling - None, wanted him to acclimate to his home first
* Feeding - Small Crickets from General Exotics about 10-15/day split up between early morning and evening. Crickets loaded with Flukers Gut Load, Orange, Apple, fish flake, Romane, carrot every day in their enclosure and in small container 24 hours prior to feedingRemove the fish flakes from the gutload, animal proteins are WAY too packed with Vitamin A that can lead to gout in chams. Romaine lettuce is almost nothing, try collard greens and kale
* Rep Cal w/D3 Twice now since I have owned him & Rep Cal w/o D3 about 5 times since I've had himCalcium w/o D3 every day, you need a multivitamin twice a month, and calcium WITH D3 twice a month
* Monsoon automatic misting system set to mist 4 times daily for 90 seconds each time. He drinks just about each time it goes off. No misting at night.
* Fecal Description - Large dark portion and white outer liquid. Has not been to Vet Yet, no signs of worms in his fecal
* History - Purchased from Breeder in Florida who has excellent history and fantastic livestock. Cham is very alert, active and has no issues getting around his cage, climbing, drinking or moving about.


Cage Info:

* Home Made Wooden Stand w/Lexan liner & tie downs to hold cage to stand (wont tip over)
* LDS 18"x18"x36" Screened Enclosure (top Height 6')
* Potted Live Plants (Arbicola, Arbuca, Croton)
* 2 Large Exo Terra Jungle Vines, 2 Medium Flukers Bend-a-branch, Misc vines
* Monsoon Automatic Misting System w/2 heads (4x Daily @ 90 sec each)
* Reptisun 5.0 tube bulb in 20" ReptiSun Terra Fixture (turned backwards)
* ZooMed Porcelain Clamp Lamp with 60wt GE Profile Bulb 5" from top
* Lights on Zilla Digital Power Center 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
* Upper temp at basking spot 86 degrees, middle 80 degrees, lower 76 degreesSince he is about 2 months, lower the basking to around 82 degrees and the bottom should drop to about 72
* Night time temp 72 degrees
* All temps measured by digital thermo prob.
* Humidity is 60-70%
* Placement - Bedroom? Not near fans, air vents, or high traffic areas and has great indirect lighting from two southern exposure windows
* Location - Northern Virginia?

It is not odd for a cham to go on a hunger strike when fed a certain feeder too long but for a cham that young it is odd as I had the same issue, try a variety of feeders and the chamges I suggested. I had this EXACT issue with my cham that is now closer to 4 months old. Try meals (sparingly as the are heavy in shell and can lead to impaction but help hunger strikes), silks, roach nymphs, house flies, phoenix worms, young silkworms...etc...

 

[AdamChameleon]

Thanks SeanUTD,

I will try your suggestions and let you know how it goes.

Adam

 

[sandrachameleon]

sometimes they reduce food intake just prior to shedding.

A variety/choice of feeders is always better than a monotony of one feeder type.

 

[AdamChameleon]

Funny you mention that, he just shed for the first time since I have had him. Looked very freaking with all that skin hanging off him. I did'nt actually catch how he got it off, do they rub on the plants and screens to get it off or does it just fall off on its own? I did notice this morning he has a little left on his eyes and his tail. I suspect it will come off in a day or so.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Funny you mention that, he just shed for the first time since I have had him. Looked very freaking with all that skin hanging off him. I did'nt actually catch how he got it off, do they rub on the plants and screens to get it off or does it just fall off on its own? I did notice this morning he has a little left on his eyes and his tail. I suspect it will come off in a day or so.

Its usually a combination of it just falling off and their rubbing it off on branches or using their feet to scratch it off. Occassionally they'll even eat it. Good to increase humidity a little just prior and during a shed. Resist any urge to "help" remove old skin unless it appears to be cutting off circulation to a toe or similar.