Do chameleons eat less during the winter?

[snortz21]

Hello,

I have a 5 month old female veiled cham and ever since the temps have really started dropping where I live in Cleveland, OH she has started eating much less. Normally, she devours crickets and whatever else I offer her (Dubias or superworms). I know that many reptiles go into a sort of hibernation phase when temps drop so I’m wondering if this is true for chameleons too. She is showing no signs of illness or health issues and is acting normal. She just simply isn’t eating like she did before. I am going out of town for the next week so I just want to be sure she won’t starve and will be ok. She has eaten a few crickets here and there but not like she did before. Let me know what you guys think!

 

[Jonathan Torres]

I feel you man, my veiled hasn't eaten for 4 days straight but is always active and showing good colors, he eats every now and then but he showed no interest in food most of the time. AND my sulcata tortoise are doing the same, just don't eat ....

 

[CJ's Exotics]

I feel you man, my veiled hasn't eaten for 4 days straight but is always active and showing good colors, he eats every now and then but he showed no interest in food most of the time. AND my sulcata tortoise are doing the same, just don't eat ....

That is a hunger strike, that is different.

 

[CJ's Exotics]

Hello,

I have a 5 month old female veiled cham and ever since the temps have really started dropping where I live in Cleveland, OH she has started eating much less. Normally, she devours crickets and whatever else I offer her (Dubias or superworms). I know that many reptiles go into a sort of hibernation phase when temps drop so I’m wondering if this is true for chameleons too. She is showing no signs of illness or health issues and is acting normal. She just simply isn’t eating like she did before. I am going out of town for the next week so I just want to be sure she won’t starve and will be ok. She has eaten a few crickets here and there but not like she did before. Let me know what you guys think!

Please fill out the ask for help form. Lowering their temperatures slows down their metabolism, you want to make sure everything is okay. Pictures of the chameleon, the enclosure, and supplies are recommended.

 

[laurie]

I have a parsonii who eats one orange head roach a day! I am thrilled when he takes two. But summer is another world!

 

[kinyonga]

Please post a recent photo or two of the female.

 

[snortz21]

I have a 18x18x36” reptibreeze with a double dome fixture with a 75 W basking bulb and a ceramic heat emitter. For UVB, I have a 14” zoo med reptisun T5 HO fixture with a 5.0 bulb. I run the lights for about 11 hours a day. I run a fogger 3 times a day for 30 mins at a time. I have live plants in the enclosure and eco earth for substrate. My cham is about 5 months. She’s a female and is doing well.

 

[CJ's Exotics]

I have a 18x18x36” reptibreeze with a double dome fixture with a 75 W basking bulb and a ceramic heat emitter. For UVB, I have a 14” zoo med reptisun T5 HO fixture with a 5.0 bulb. I run the lights for about 11 hours a day. I run a fogger 3 times a day for 30 mins at a time. I have live plants in the enclosure and eco earth for substrate. My cham is about 5 months. She’s a female and is doing well.

Do you have a laybin? What are the temperatures?

 

[snortz21]

Do you have a laybin? What are the temperatures?

No lay bin. She is only 5 months so there’s no way she’s sexually mature yet right? Temps in the basking sport sits around 90 and the temp drops into the 70s as you move away from the basking spot.

 

[Fireborn]

Veiled chameleons can become sexually mature around 6 months of age.

 

[Fireborn]

How many insects was she eating prior to now?

 

[kinyonga]

A female is sexually mature when it gets mustardy yellow splotches and bright blue dots.
Better to be safe than sorry with the egglaying conntainer.

 

[CJ's Exotics]

No lay bin. She is only 5 months so there’s no way she’s sexually mature yet right? Temps in the basking sport sits around 90 and the temp drops into the 70s as you move away from the basking spot.

She could be, you always should have one.

 

[JacksJill]

Double check your temperature ranges and consider having your lights on for 12 hours a day and see if her appetite improves.

 

[snortz21]

How many insects was she eating prior to now?

She would eat about 7 large crickets a day. At least that’s what I saw her eat. Occasionally I feed dubias and superworms as well.