Help Male panther hardly eating anything

[Flabonsai]

I received my Sambava male panther just a little over 2 weeks ago from screameleons. I received the complete cage setup from them and my temps and humidity have been in the good range so I know my husbandry is right. He likes to hide most of the day and hardly comes up to eat and just stays towards the bottom branch. He maybe eats about 1 cricket a day. I've been putting in 1/4 inch crickets and even tried 1/8. I tried to put only a few all the way up to about 10 crickets in at a time. I remove the crickets every night before the lights go out so I can count how many are left over. If he keeps this up he wont survive much longer on a cricket a day. Also screameleons said he was 4 months old and he sure looks really Small for being that old. He's not even the size of my pinky and I have small hands. Here are some pictures I took yesterday because I'm worried about him and wanted some input from other members on here to see what you guys think.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7480973212_084890496f_k.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7118/7480983350_369c95424b_k.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8150/7480979414_668b57ec6d_k.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8168/7480990550_d93696fa72_k.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8150/7480999786_baa683e81c_k.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8013/7481006042_dd4163f089_k.jpg

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7125/7481021254_731a8c27a8_k.jpg

 

[FranPhilip]

He looks fine to me, he could still be getting used to you, also if you put food in there, and it disappears, hes eating

 

[FranPhilip]

Plus some dont like to eat infront of people. So leave him be for a while with the food in there

 

[Flabonsai]

he looks fine, how long have you had him?

This past Friday was 2 weeks since I received him. So 17 days now and still no appetite.

 

[FranPhilip]

This past Friday was 2 weeks since I received him. So 17 days now and still no appetite.

some take a while. Just make sure you dont stress the little guy out a lot you know?

What i would try is just let some crickets out, and dont watch him for a while. You could try hand feeding or even cup feeding too

 

[juju]

you have to understand hes new in your house when they eat u have to leave them be when they are that new cause sometimes they wont eat in front you also see if many he will eat warm like meal worms or something just to see how he likes them.

 

[Flabonsai]

Plus some dont like to eat infront of people. So leave him be for a while with the food in there

I have him in a quite area where he can be in peace and not be disturbed. The only time I go around his cage is to put the crickets in and take them out. I also mist a few times a day. I put the crickets in in the morning and take them out about a hour before the lights go off. I also have not been handling him any except for yesterday to get some pictures of him to post on the forum.

 

[juju]

what are your temps in the cage? also you should try to fill this out it may help some of the others on here find something jump out at them as to what could be wrong




Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[NosyBeT360]

My male panther doesn't like crickets at all. He is happy eating dubias, superworms, butterworms, the occasional meal and waxworms but when he sees a cricket he gets angry. He will walk over to his feeding cup and look in, if there are crickets he fires up a bit and looks at them angrily but if there are dubias he gets to chowing fast.

I can't tell you why he hates them! He's just silly!!

Have you tried other feeders?

 

[harmona1]

On a side note, I bet that's the very Sambava I was eyeballing on their site a couple weeks ago!

He's a cutie. I hope he settles in and starts eating better for you soon!

 

[Flabonsai]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? 4 month old Sambava Male Panther and have had him for 17 days.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Only once to take pictures to post on the forum.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? I'm feeding him 1/4 inch crickets. Whats your schedule of feeding? 5 to 10 a day and put them in the morning and take them out about a hour before the lights go out. How are you gut-loading your feeders? I've gut-loaded with mustard greens, sweet potatoes, carrots, oranges, bug burger, and cricket crack.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Repashy calcium plus daily.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? I hand mist the cage down. How often and how long to you mist? 2 to 3 times a day. Do you see your chameleon drinking? Yes licking the branches
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Looks brown with whitish coloring on the end. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? No
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. I received my chameleon from screameleons with the complete cage set up 17 days ago.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? The cage is a repti breeze screen cage 12x18X20
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? Reptisun 5.0 uvb tube and basking with a 40 watt regular bulb What is your daily lighting schedule? 12 on 12 off
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? The basking temps have been around 82 to 86. The ambient temperature on the lower branch is around 78 to 80. Lowest overnight temp and How do you measure these temps? Around 75 degrees and have 3 temp and humidity gauges and a temp gun.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? The humidity levels are in the range between 55 and 95 before and after misting the cage. How are you creating and maintaining these levels? Misting 2-3 times a day. What do you use to measure humidity? 3 humidity gauges in the cage low, medium, and high zones.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? No took out for now after crickets were hiding in the pots.
Placement - Where is your cage located? In a quite room with low traffic. Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? Have a AC window unit in another room. At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? About 5 ft
Location - Where are you geographically located? Tennessee usa,

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. He's only eating about a 1 cricket a day and concerned if he doesn't eat more he wont make it.

 

[Wykd]

He looks dehydrated slightly to me the sunken eyes and all. I know you say he is drinking but just looks it to me. Also he appears to be shedding so his appetite may be down due to that.

How long does he bask for? a 40w bulb is up there for a lil one like that. I run a 25w on my 4month old tamatave and the temp is at 80ish. Which is fine for a little one.

Also put the plants back in the enclosure and cup feed him vs free range crickets. then you can just leave them in the feeder and he will eat when he wants. If one or 2 get out of the cricket feeder no big deal... you crashing down crickets every evening is stressful on him. The less amount of time with you in and out of his cage until he settles in is best.

Get him hydrated up and see if he is hungrier.

 

[Zubi]

small guy

Wow he is pretty small but he does look healthy. When I got my panther in april he was about 4 months but he was pretty big compared to yours. Dang now that I think of it, maybe he is big for his age lol.

 

[Flabonsai]

My male panther doesn't like crickets at all. He is happy eating dubias, superworms, butterworms, the occasional meal and waxworms but when he sees a cricket he gets angry. He will walk over to his feeding cup and look in, if there are crickets he fires up a bit and looks at them angrily but if there are dubias he gets to chowing fast.

I can't tell you why he hates them! He's just silly!!

Have you tried other feeders?

screameleons said to just stick with crickets when I received him because I guess that's all he's been eating.

 

[Flabonsai]

He looks dehydrated slightly to me the sunken eyes and all. I know you say he is drinking but just looks it to me. Also he appears to be shedding so his appetite may be down due to that.

How long does he bask for? a 40w bulb is up there for a lil one like that. I run a 25w on my 4month old tamatave and the temp is at 80ish. Which is fine for a little one.

Also put the plants back in the enclosure and cup feed him vs free range crickets. then you can just leave them in the feeder and he will eat when he wants. The less amount of time with you in and out of his cage until he settles in is best.

Get him hydrated up and see if he is hungrier.

I have a dripper dripping down on leaves pretty much all day and I mist 2-3 times a day. I not sure what else I could do to get him hydrated a little better. I even took a eye dropper and dripped it on his mouth yesterday to try to get him to drink some droplets from it and he really didn't even lick them.

I did put a 15 watt bulb in yesterday because of the heat wave and the mid 100's outside and my ac unit just cant keep up with this heat. I hardly ever see him under he basking lite.

I'll try to cup feed and see it that will help any.

Thanks for the tips

 

[NosyBeT360]

If you have anything else to offer him you might try that. Variety is always good!! He looks big enough for small superworms, butterworms, definitely wax or meal worms.

 

[Flabonsai]

Wow he is pretty small but he does look healthy. When I got my panther in april he was about 4 months but he was pretty big compared to yours. Dang now that I think of it, maybe he is big for his age lol.

Yeah I think I have a new breed of chameleon. A pygmy sambava panther. lol

 

[Wykd]

his size isnt that small, mine is on the side close to 5months and just a bit bigger but not much.

 

[Flabonsai]

I did try to cup feed today but he was terrified of it and stayed a dark color most of the day and he never came close to it and stayed on the opposite side of the cage. So I removed it at the ended of the day. I did try a small meal worm again and placed it on a leaf and I think he ate it so that may be a good sign. I didn't see the mealworm on the bottom of the cage and usally meal worms fall right off to the bottom. I know mealworms aren't the best but I'm willing to try anything to get his appetite up. I going to place a order for some silks and butterwoms but have to wait till next Monday to place a order because none of the pet stores in my area carry the good worms and I know silks are hard to come by. I'll try mulberry farms for the silks.

 

[Flabonsai]

I did get him to eat a small superworm today. I put in on a leaf in front of him and a few seconds later he zapped it up. I know supers aren't the best but I'm trying anything to get my baby's appetite going. It will be 3 weeks tomorrow since I received him so I hope he just keeps getting hungrier and starts to eat alot.