Gizzy not eating again

[Dave Weldon]

Update - I have just changed her bulb for an ordinary white bulb and she emerged from the greenery within second, perched herself under the light and began chomping crickets, 3 so far, yipee !!!! Thanks so much.

Howdy Sally,

It looks like things are continuing to head in the right direction .

The Komodo cricket dust does not contain any vitamin D3. Chameleons, especially Veileds, are prone to metabolic bone disease (MBD) brought on by a lack of calcium and vitamin D3 in the bloodstream. A long story short, you'll want to buy a calcium dust with D3 (and no phosphorous in it). You'll also want a multi-vitamin dust too.

Look for products like these or their equivalent:

Miner-All (I) has calcium with D3
Miner-All (O) has calcium w/no D3
Rep-Cal Calcium w/D3
Rep-Cal Calcium w/no D3
Herptivite (multi-vitamins)

Most keepers would suggest that your basking light be placed above the screen top, aimed downward (like having the sunlight coming down from above) over the basking area. There are also safety concerns among others. Housing the bulb in a small aluminum reflector will help aim the light downward from just above the metal screen. Position it to get the right temperature at the basking spot. Try sticking your hand at the basking spot. It shouldn't feel overly warm. Chameleon skin burns are not uncommon so care must be taken with basking light placement.

The 19C (66F) overnight temp is fine.

Chameleons usually don't fall asleep unless it is their bedtime. Her "falling asleep" may more likely be a stress response to being held .

 

[sallyb]

Thanks very much for all the info - i have purchased a hygrometer/thermometer probe which will arrive in the morning I just checked the gut load pellets and they contain vitamin D3 and other vitamnis so hopefully this will be okay for her. She is definitely much happier and has now eaten 7 crickets today which is her best so far. She has also been out to bask too. We have also not handled her since friday which i hope is helping her too. The help you have offered has been invaluable, thank you i don`t know what i would have done without it.

 

[Dave Weldon]

...I just checked the gut load pellets and they contain vitamin D3 and other vitamins so hopefully this will be okay for her...

Howdy Sally,

You might not want to solely rely on the pellets for D3 delivery. I'll bet that the chances are low for any useable levels of D3 in the pellets to stay with the crickets and make it to your chameleon. Without explicit Ca+D3 dusting, the risk for MBD with a Veiled is pretty high. So that we have a complete record for future keepers to reference, please post the brand of the pellets .

 

[sallyb]

Hi again Dave,
I see what you mean, i will pop to shop in the morning and get some dust then, better safe than sorry. The brand of pellet is T-Rex. It does state Vitamin D3 (min) 2,000 IU/KG but i have no idea what this means in relation to the amount she needs. It does say it is also a high calcium formula, will this be too much alongside the cricket dust i am currently using it with ? I really don`t want to overdo it.

 

[Garrry]

Opps. Sorry double post.
Maybe mod can remove.

 

[Garrry]

Hi Sally,
So glad you found this forum – it has helped me so many times! I live in the UK too, and purchased my Veiled Cham from a local pet store The advice from the store was about as much use as second-hand toilet paper!

I agree with Dave Weldon on the D3 supplement – it is essential + your UVB light. I use Nutrobal (£6 for 100g max or you’re being ripped off) and dust lightly on food just before it goes in. Gutloading for me is usually ‘green veg’ in the container for a few days before the little critters go in, plus supplements like you are using. I usually find they don’t eat the supplement and go for the veggies!

I know that you are going to build a new tank in the future, but you might want to consider looking at some mini fans to help air circulation for now. I notice someone said glass enclosures are OK for UK. All glass enclosures do not let any air get to the Cham, or the tank so it can dry out between mistings. This can lead to respiratory problems – so glad you are getting her into a new setting. Cham’s have good eyesight, so when making your new enclosure, she will benefit from areas where she can see the floor when she’s looking down from the top of her enclosure. Give her adequate cover, but also enough room to see her food when it’s put in. (Have you considered cup feeding?).

I had to convert my tank (part wood – glass front) after reading information from this site, and by adding two fans (one input, one output) I’ve got the temps at bask site and ‘chill’ site pretty much reliable. Humidity is also much improved by natural plants so please try to consider this in your new build. My veiled loves his Pothos but be careful they grow quick and you will have to prevent the vines getting too close to the heat source.

Night temps need to drop a bit more from my experience. 17C is OK provided she is not in a draft. They benefit from the drop in temp overnight.

Good luck!
Garry.

 

[sallyb]

Hi Garry and thanks for the pointers - i will look into buying some Nutrolbal in the morning. I am sure there are many good retailers who really care about the animals they sell, but sadly the select few let the side down.

It is great to be able to ask people who also have chameleons and lots of experience. I am happy to report Gizzy is eating well, basking and behaving exactly as i hoped she would - fingers crossed she will stay this way now.

 

[Chamfan123]

at last, more Brits!

I too was the victim of the pet shop, who just wanted me to purchase the most expensive things. They sold us two veileds and said they would be fine together forever.

They also told us they were both females, but one noticed one of them had the spurs on "her" feet. There is so much other stuff they did totally wrong that I can't bear to go into it 'cause it makes me so angry!!!!

By the way, keep us updated about your little soldier!

 

[sallyb]

Hi,
I will definitely keep everyone up to date. She has been out all morning, is eating like there`s no tomorrow and basking too. I`ve attached a pic from today - she looks very happy.

It really is dreadful that these pet shops continue to be allowed to sell animals in this way. It a good job forums like these exist or more chameleons would no doubt die following the poor advice.

One last thing i need to ask - can anybody tell me the max and min humidity she needs please ? I have just received her hygrometer (thanks Dave), but do not know what to set it to.

 

[Sang]

minimum humidty for a vieled can go to about 40% and a high of 80%..

its OK to allow some dryout times inbetween misting, its better then keeping them soaked all the time.


but a good mid point would to be 55-65%

 

[sallyb]

Great - Thanks Sang i have got 59% at the moment and she finally has a real plant in her enclosure although i`m not sure she quite appreciates it at the moment judging by the looks she is giving it Now i have a happy little Gizzy i think i may just sit back and enjoy the festive season minus the panic, Merry christmas everyone.