Eating enough

[Tommy1449]

Today I noticed that my veiled chameleon was napping during the day. I did a quick google and it has me worried about her health. It could be caused from not getting enough nutrition, what do you guys think.

She is a veiled chameleon about 4-5 months old. She won't touch meal worms or eat crickets that I put in a bowl. She seems to go after the ones roaming around the cage I have her in. I put in 4-5 every other day or when I notice they are disappearing or dying in the water collection dish I have. I always dust the crickets with calcium.

I have a wire mesh cage, 36x18x18. I mist the cage two times a day depending, I also have a dripper system that is constantly running. She seems to be getting enough water from the looks of her droppings. I have a 75w basking bulb that seems to stay around 85 F, hard to keep it any hotter with winter. I also have a 5.0 UVB bulb they both run for 12hr a day.

I'm a little concerned that she is not growing enough. I have had her about a month and she seems to be about the same size. This is my first chameleon and I want to make sure I catch anything I'm doing wrong quickly.

Thanks, Tom

 

[Tommy1449]

Best pic of her I could get she doesn't like a camera in her face.

 

[AlienCreeper]

At 4-5 months old, I would be putting at least 10-15 small crickets in there for her daily, 4-5 every other day seems like way too little for a growing baby :/

 

[jpowell86]

Hello Tommy and Welcome to the Forums.

Napping during the day is not a good sign and the amount of food you are offering is not substantial for a chameleon of this age. She looks to be malnourished in the pics provided. I am going to attach a link here, and if you would fill this "how to ask a question" form out, it could give us a better picture of what is going on.


https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[alphakenc]

Hi Tommy1449,welcome to the forum n part of ur domain,from what I saw in the pics I will suggest you,take that green carpet out on ur floor cause that will be the number 1place where all the bacteria hiding at once gets wet
Also mealworm is not the healthy feeder on your veiled menu, they are very hard to digest with so little nutrition,try some silkworms instead,and plz do get a laying bin for ur female veiled since she is at that age ready to produce eggs.
Other members here will also give u some of their opinions so sit back n enjoy the forum n your lovely chamy

 

[birthnugget]

Please please please feed her more, like 4x as much. 10-15 crickets per day at the very least. If she won't eat from a bowl, pick them up either with your fingers, or reptile-safe tongs, and slowly put them in front of her ~7-8" away. I'm not trying to show any aggression whatsoever, I know you meant well, but she will most likely eat the, immediately from the way she has been fed in the past. If you want chameleon babies feed her a little more, if you don't a little less, but definietely more than what she is gettig now. I hope this helps, and feel free to check out this really cool care sheet that the site has given us for anything else you're wondering about
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

 

[Tommy1449]

I've been feeding her medium crickets, and I was just keeping as many in there as she would eat. Yes I'm very concerned with her growing. I'll switch to small.

I have a hide for her but I was told to only add that when I notice she is ready for eggs, Is that not true?

I've herd that the carpet was better then using a substrate. Is that not the case? I wash it every 2-3 days.

 

[alphakenc]

I've herd that the carpet was better then using a substrate. Is that not the case? I wash it every 2-3 days.

Carpet is only great for your visual satisfaction,it will never wash away all the hidden bacteria completely,try with the bare floor so you can be clean out all the daily waste in a much easier way.

 

[Tommy1449]

Carpet is only great for your visual satisfaction,it will never wash away all the hidden bacteria completely,try with the bare floor so you can be clean out all the daily waste in a much easier way.

Yeah I didn't think about that I'll switch it out, after all she doesn't walk around on it.

 

[alphakenc]

 

[Tommy1449]

Please please please feed her more, like 4x as much. 10-15 crickets per day at the very least. If she won't eat from a bowl, pick them up either with your fingers, or reptile-safe tongs, and slowly put them in front of her ~7-8" away. I'm not trying to show any aggression whatsoever, I know you meant well, but she will most likely eat the, immediately from the way she has been fed in the past. If you want chameleon babies feed her a little more, if you don't a little less, but definietely more than what she is gettig now. I hope this helps, and feel free to check out this really cool care sheet that the site has given us for anything else you're wondering about
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

I can't get her to eat from the tongs she just turns and runs away after a while. She also won't go for whats in the bowl, I'm at a loss as what to do.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I can't get her to eat from the tongs she just turns and runs away after a while. She also won't go for whats in the bowl, I'm at a loss as what to do.

Eating out of a bowl is not natural, some never learn to. Eating from tongs is also not natural and as you have observed rather frightening for your chameleon. Natural is free ranging food. It is much more stimulating for them to hunt down their food. Put in a lot of prey items in the morning, just loose in the enclosure. If you are worried about them eating your chameleon at night, make sure the crickets have s good food source in the enclosure and try to round up any you can find to feed later.

Poor appetite is a sign of illness and stress. There might be something healthwise going on.