eating slowing down

[jamest0o0]

There is a good chance this is a non-issue, but I just wanted to see what you guys thought. At almost 6 months now my guy seems to eat a lot less. at 4-5 he was eating about 2 dozen small crickets, a few roaches, and silkworms a day! Now I'm lucky to get him to eat 3 roaches or 6-8 crickets. Everything else seems normal, he just doesn't seem as interested in food and would rather explore his cage and his free range. I kind of wish he'd eat more roaches, I have 2 tubs of orange heads and dubia that are reproducing way faster than he can eat them lol.

 

[ChamLB]

I feel your pain. I have more dubia than I know what to do with. I started giving a dozen away with every chameleon purchase just to get the numbers down.
How old is your guy? As they get to the 9 month mark you can go to feeding panthers every other day. It's never a bad idea to review your temperatures, humidity and their poop when their behavior changes.

 

[Andee]

At six months and around this time of year he is likely getting hit with his first wave of hormones. Ryker got like this around 6 months or so. And then a few months afterward he was back to eating me out of house and home for a bit. I would definitely take in a fecal just in case, nothing wrong with it.

 

[ChamLB]

Like Andee said they do run hot and cold on different feeders when they're at that age.

 

[jamest0o0]

I feel your pain. I have more dubia than I know what to do with. I started giving a dozen away with every chameleon purchase just to get the numbers down.
How old is your guy? As they get to the 9 month mark you can go to feeding panthers every other day. It's never a bad idea to review your temperatures, humidity and their poop when their behavior changes.

He is ~6 months and yeah I'm getting there. Might be enough reason to convince the girlfriend we need another reptile to help control our roach infestation.

 

[Chameleon Crazy Chick]

He is ~6 months and yeah I'm getting there. Might be enough reason to convince the girlfriend we need another reptile to help control our roach infestation.

That's one good reason! Bearded dragons are good for getting the dubia population down.... all you would have to do was pay for some veggies, electricity and basic set-up. Nice!

 

[jamest0o0]

At six months and around this time of year he is likely getting hit with his first wave of hormones. Ryker got like this around 6 months or so. And then a few months afterward he was back to eating me out of house and home for a bit. I would definitely take in a fecal just in case, nothing wrong with it.

Okay cool I was thinking this might be the case because I've read a lot of people saying similar around this age. I know of vets around here that see reptiles, but I have yet to take my guy in or get a fecal done anywhere. Is there a way to find the most experienced vet for this in my area? I can't imagine most of them see a whole lot of chameleons.

 

[jamest0o0]

Haha that was exactly what I've been telling her I want to get. Just need to find room in this apartment...

 

[Chameleon Crazy Chick]

Once, way before I got Nik, i went over to my friends house. We were talking and he showed me his bearded dragon, right? He put it on me and i screamed because "it's nails are too sharp".
Here I am, Nik climbing on my face. Friend says "doesn't that hurt?"
Deja vu.

 

[Andee]

We have a vet thread stickied to our health section , might help

 

[jamest0o0]

- chams willing to crawl on us is totally worth the claws to the face imo lol

-thanks andee i think i found a good one nearby. He has also been doing territorial displays more often, so probably just the hormones. I'd like to get a fecal just to make sure though.