First time owner and worried

[Coltmaurer]

I purchased my first chameleon a couple weeks ago and now I'm worried about him he's being very lethargic and not moving around to much I've kinda done my own research but am not sure how to go about curing his illness and I'm not even sure what it is idk if he's eatkng or drinking but I know he's not eating the veggies I put in his tank and I'm not sure about the crickets is there any way I can hand feed him I need help I'm really worried about my little guy his eyes aren't moving all the time like I read that they are supposed to maybe he's stressed out idk I'm really lost here thanks for your time and if you want pictures just tell me I won't hesitate to post any thank you for your time

 

[distortionz]

Sorry to hear about your chameleon

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

Fill out the questions posted in this thread and post it here. also please add pictures they are very beneficial.. hopefully then we will be able to better help you figure out what is wrong with your chameleon

 

[Coltmaurer]

He is a veiled chameleon male and I got him a couple weeks ago I don't know the exact age but he's just a little guy we handle him every couple of days or so less since he's been acting lie this I'm feeding him cricketes and peas I put about three in his tank everyday I bought just the basic calcium food and water for the crickets I had not been dusting the feeders I mist the tank whenever the humidity drops below 60 I don't see him drinking I had a water bowl in there but he wasn't drinking out of it and I read that they drink the water droplets and lick themselves for water I have not seen him drink or eat his poop was brown oval and dense not runny I have not had him tested for parasites the cage has a screen top 24x12x12 I have a dual light with Uvb and Het lamp suspended above tank the temps in basking is in the low nineties and bottom is around 80 consistently I do have to move him to a less traffic area I will post picture in the next post

 

[Coltmaurer]

Here is one picture

 

[Coltmaurer]

And here is his set up

 

[APailthorp]

He needs an airy environment not a tank, like the top of a tree. He's a tree animal, he should be able to choose to get in the wetness or not, but yes, he's not going to drink from a dish. Keep up the mist but get him out of the tank with a screen top, and don't trust any cheap pet shop hygrometer. Moist, but then dry out. Get him into a screen cage and get him some clean branches or better yet some plants to climb on. Figure out the dusting thing. It's good that you have a UVB bulb, make sure you get a fresh one every six months minimum. The UVB bulbs stop giving out the light he needs long before they stop giving out visible light. He needs dark at night and it's good to cool down too. Good luck with your little guy.

 

[distortionz]

First and foremost you need to spray him more often try 3-5 times a day a good misting.. he looks very skinny and dehydrated. Try a dripper on the top of the cage and have it splash off a leaf somewhere in the cage it usually entices them to drink.. 99% of chameleons will not drink from a bowl. Secondly you need to start dusting his food immediately. The calcium for the crickets isn't enough. If you don't do this he will ultimately end up with mbd. What most people do is regular calcium every feeding.. calcium with d3 twice a month and multivitamin twice a month. It's important he gets the calcium. I know he's small now but he will outgrow this cage very fast. You would probably be better off getting him another cage larger with better ventilation now. Hope he perks up

 

[ChamDE86]

I noticed your chameleon's eyes are closed. What brand and type of UVB light are you running ?

 

[Savannah13]

My chameleon has had kinda the same problem, and im worried about her.. I've only had her for about a week, and shes a very playful and interactive chameleon, which surprised me. When i open her cage to feed her, she runs straight to my hand to be held. But lately, (the past 2 days) shes been a really weird color in my opinion.. (the first picture) her normal color is a very light green, (the next 2 pictures) and shes only the darker yellowish color when shes in her cage.. I feed her twice a day, 5 crickets and a meal worm, and she eats them, but i dont understand why her color has been like this.. I think it may be a temperature thing inside her habitat, but i could be wrong.. I mist her cage quite often, up to 6 times a day just to keep it alittle cool, but it doesnt seem to be doing anything.. Please help!!