Food Strike Question

[ChameleonMom]

So my rescued veiled Kane has only eaten 2 hornworms and 4 crickets since coming home with me 8 days ago and while I'm not overly concerned about his food strike (nothing in 4 days) I am concerned that he's missing out on calcium supplements and today was multivitamin day and he missed that too! Since he isn't eating (he also started a shed today) and since I don't know his supplement history as he was a rescue, should I top him up with a few cc's of liquid calcium per day until he starts eating again? I have never had a Cham with MBD and I don't intend to start now!

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

How big is your Veiled? I would offer him more than just dusted crickets and hornworms. I would recommend dusted gut loaded dubias roaches and superworms as well. He may prefer those more than what you are currently feeding him.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

As well what size of a cage are you keeping him in? Screen or glass? What are the normal temperatures? Basking Temperatures? and Humidity?

 

[ChameleonMom]

How big is your Veiled? I would offer him more than just dusted crickets and hornworms. I would recommend dusted gut loaded dubias roaches and superworms as well. He may prefer those more than what you are currently feeding him.

Kane is quite big; 187g's as of Friday and he's 8.5 inches snout to vent. He's long - his tail is very long and including tail he's 18". I do offer him super worms, silkies, hornworms, crickets and a few butterworms as a treat. So far in my care he's only chosen to eat two hornworms and 4 crickets (the 4 crickets I had to 'coax' into him, it wasn't by choice!) They have all been dusted with plain calcium (as indicated, yesterday was multivitamin day!). I am in Canada and can't for the life of me find anyone who sells dubias!

 

[ChameleonMom]

As well what size of a cage are you keeping him in? Screen or glass? What are the normal temperatures? Basking Temperatures? and Humidity?

Kane is in a DIY cage; 24" x 24" x 48". All screen. Basking area is at 96F with the top area (non basking) at 92F, mid cage is 79F and bottom is 70F. Humidity is kept at 70%, with drops to 55% at night.

 

[ChameleonMom]

**bump**

Anyone??

 

[ReptileLove18]

i would say it would be a good idea to give him a little bit every other day until he eats! thats my own opinion tho, im no professional!! i think it would be a good idea since like you said you dont know his supplement history and you dont want an MBD case and he is doing a food strike.. let us know what you decide and how it goes!!

 

[sandrachameleon]

the reason we use a calcium supplement is to balance the poor calcium to phosphorous ratio found in some of the common bugs we offer as prey (such as crickets). So if he is not eating those types of prey (or any) he doesnt really need a caclium supplement.

Many chams dont eat much when shedding. So long as he continues to drink, he's likely fine and will start eating again after the shed

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

He sounds to be mostly full grown for a Veiled. I normally recommend gut loading my feeders to give mineral supplements to my adult chameleons.

 

[ChameleonMom]

the reason we use a calcium supplement is to balance the poor calcium to phosphorous ratio found in some of the common bugs we offer as prey (such as crickets). So if he is not eating those types of prey (or any) he doesnt really need a caclium supplement.

Many chams dont eat much when shedding. So long as he continues to drink, he's likely fine and will start eating again after the shed

Thanks Sandra for the info, I won't worry about lack of calcium then!

 

[Digby Rigby]

When an animal hasnt been eating hydration is of comcern. It is safer and more important to get them drinking first.