Force feeding veiled - need help

[Krowbar N' Slide]

Does anyone have experience force feeding with a feeding syringe? I've tried force feeding worms but when I finally get his mouth open he spits out the worm. Im trying to use glucerna due to the high Vitamin content but I can't reliably get his mouth open and I don't want to hurt him.

 

[inkdguy35]

has he been to a vet?

 

[Krowbar N' Slide]

No, he hasn't had symptoms that I feel are critical enough for a vet visit yet. He has lost weight and isn't eating crickets, superworms or hornworms. I feel like this may be a hunger strike and I don't want him to become malnourished

 

[inkdguy35]

I'd say not eating and losing weight are cause for a vet visit. weight is lost over a lomg.versus short period of time so this may be something that has been wromg for a while. a little blood out of the tail can tell whats going on. if he's not eating anything there is possibly something serious going on.

 

[Krowbar N' Slide]

Yeah I guess you're right, I just hate to take him to a vet and have the vet just guess. I've looked at all the possible reasons he would stop eating and I'm doing everything right so to me it seems like he has to just be on a hunger strike.

But I'll take him to the vet Monday, hopefully they can help

 

[inkdguy35]

for sure it's the safest bet. if you see a good refered vet there really shouldn't be any guessing. good luck hope he comes out ok and the vet can give you good news

 

[Krowbar N' Slide]

Well I don't have any references, I live in college station so I plan on taking him to the tamu small animal clinic and see what they say. It's an agricultural college so I assume they should have some knowledge...still though, I feel like most vets are like mechanics, they'll find a way to get more money out of you and make an educated guess. I hope I'm wrong

 

[kinyonga]

Did you correct the constant misting?

 

[Krowbar N' Slide]

Yeah I put the humidifier on a timer, and The female has the exact same living conditions and she's doing amazing (though she may be an asshole)

 

[kinyonga]

Please post some recent photos of the one that isn't eating and answer the questions in the how to ask for help thread at the top of the health forum.
Why do you think the chameleon needs high vitamins?

 

[Krowbar N' Slide]

 

[Krowbar N' Slide]

I don't need necessarily think he needs high vitamins, just that glucerna has a lot of nutrients and is a liquid so I can syringe feed with it

 

[kinyonga]

If you get him drinking and stick the insect between his teeth so he bites down on it does he spit it out?
What's the basking temperature?

 

[Krowbar N' Slide]

• Your Chameleon - Veiled - male - 5 months?
• Handling - I normally only take him out once or twice per week but lately with him not eating I've been taking him out daily and giving him warm showers and letting him bask in the yard in hopes it may help
• Feeding - I raise my own banded crickets as well as hornworms and superworms. They all get fed blended fruit and veggie ice cubes as well as cricket crack, and high calcium cricket feed
• Supplements - daily calcium dusting, twice a week calcium w/d3 and every other week I give them a multivitamin dust
• Watering - I use a humidifier and mist 3 times a day, I used to see him drink all the time but lately I haven't noticed much. I've been giving warm showers daily and I can watch him drink that way.
• Fecal Description - within the past 3 weeks he's only pooped one time and it was mainly water and a few very small chunks of light brown mash - urate was white with a small amount of orange
• History - I bought him from FLchams - he's the offspring of driskel

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - 24x24x48" cage from zoomed
• Lighting - 12 hrs per day - 100watt regular bulb for heat and 10.0 uvb bulbs
• Temperature - between 85 and 90 in the basking spot and below as you move out of the light and down, ambient house temp is kept at 69 but their room stays around 73ish - lowest overnight temp would be 69
• Humidity - Between 40 and 80 depending on if the fogger is on or if I'm currently misting
• Plants - I had pothos in both cages but they attracted gnats and I took them outside, now they're used as backyard playgrounds
• Placement - they stay in the man cave, I have the a/c vent turned off in that room and there's no through traffic so they're pretty much left alone unless I'm feeding them or on the computer
• Location - texas

Current Problem - he hasn't eaten in approx. 3 weeks? I think he stopped drinking as well and I've had more luck keeping him hydrated than force feeding him.

 

[Krowbar N' Slide]

Yes he spits it out

 

[Krowbar N' Slide]

So I know this is a bit graphic, but this was his poop this morning

 

[Krowbar N' Slide]

If you get him drinking and stick the insect between his teeth so he bites down on it does he spit it out?
What's the basking temperature?

He locks up his jaw whenever I get close to him also, I wish it was as easy as just getting him to open his mouth voluntarily

 

[Krowbar N' Slide]

Still need help guys, I plan on taking him to the vet tomorrow but I could still use any advice I can get

 

[serenaj25]

Still need help guys, I plan on taking him to the vet tomorrow but I could still use any advice I can get

calcium with d3 2 times a week is way too much... should be 2 times a month

 

[kinyonga]

Do you have a substrate in the cage?