How long can a baby go without food?!

[cyberlocc]

Hey guys I need to know how long before I force feed my baby chameleon.

When I first got him he ate a couple of crickets (like 2 or 3, maybe a few more loose feeders). Then he wouldn't eat crickets so I gave him a meal worm he snapped it out of my hand. So I gave him a few of those, (4 the first time) the next day I gave him a few more (3) he ate those.

Since the he has ate nothing. I have tried giving him meal worms but all mine are too big apparently.

I was told give him a few days without anything and he will eat other stuff. Well its been a week now as of tomorrow and he has ate nothing. He goes at around 5 everyday (his choice) and looks in the feeder bowl and stares in there for awhile then walks away. I have tried feeding him, small crickets, small dubia, small cleaner beetles, the mealworms (bigger the ones he ate before, by quite a bit), and Fruit flys. He ate none of it.

The local pet shop doesn't have anymore mealworms. I ordered a bunch of worms on saturday from mulberry farms. However they apparently wont be here until Thursdays (not sure why, as I live 9 hours away from MF.

So they may come tomorrow IDK the package is sitting at there facility in Sandiego with no sign of movement so I am guessing Thursday is accurate.

Should I force him today? Tomorrow? He was in shipping for 3 days prior to arriving to me (long story) and I am sure he didnt eat all that time either. So in the last 2 weeks, he has eaten 3 crickets and 6-7 small mealworms. I do not know how to tell, if he is having issues not eating.

His eyes are not sunken in, he isnt dehydrated, His temps are 78-84ish throughout the day. Most near 80, he has a soak the cage misting schedule and looks in the bowl like he wants to eat.

 

[cyberlocc]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Panther chameleon. IDK, IDK, been assumed 2 months, 10 days.
Handling - Barely at all.
Feeding - He is not eating that is the issue.
Supplements - Not eating
Watering - Misting system 4 mins 4 times a day 2 heads.
Fecal Description - Very small the last time white with some yellow and brown.
History - all above.

Cage Info:

Cage Type - Glass back and bottom all the rest screen. 18x18x35
Lighting - reptiglo, and a 60w basking bulb
Temperature - 70 and up, basking 78-83ish varies throughout the day.
Humidity - Not sure high I think.
Plants - Ficus
Placement - Bedroom, 6 foot to the top, no vents within 8 feet
Location - Arizona


Current Problem - Not eating. Had eaten some mealworms. Just tried to hand/force feed a mealworm he took a bite and spit it back out. Tried to make bug juice and he wont open his mouth now.

 

[Chachi]

Make sure he gets water. If you have to shower him, point the head towards and let a fine mist water him. After is way more important than food. Have you tried to hand feed him. Get small crickets, pinch one carefully in your fingertips and hold it 3-4 inches from his face. All of mine eat that way. I have had tiny guys and if they were hungry they took it isn't of my finger and ran away. 1/2 hr later, we did it again. Worth a try. Gotta get some calcium in him

 

[cyberlocc]

Make sure he gets water. If you have to shower him, point the head towards and let a fine mist water him. After is way more important than food. Have you tried to hand feed him. Get small crickets, pinch one carefully in your fingertips and hold it 3-4 inches from his face. All of mine eat that way. I have had tiny guys and if they were hungry they took it isn't of my finger and ran away. 1/2 hr later, we did it again. Worth a try. Gotta get some calcium in him

Ya I just tried that, he spit it back out. He took a bite and spit it out. It was a mealworm though. All the crickets (from the same person as the cham) died after 4 days. the local petstore doesnt have crickets small enough. I made the bug juice too, cant get him to open his mouth.

As far as water, he has 2 misters in the center of his cage with a promist. It goes off every 3 hours for 5 mins his cage is drenched all day he has plenty of water. I dont think he is drinking it though.

 

[Chachi]

Something is wrong. Idk what. If you are at your wits end, he is too little to wait long, you gotta take him to the vet. He doesn't have any stringy stuff in his mouth or is gaping, right? No outward signs of infection? He is little and is gonna lose steam quickly.I have force fed mine. But none of them were this little. There is a vet here. His name is feretinmyshoes Message him. Also,[email protected] is smart and knows alot.

 

[KapitalJ]

Are you in and out of its cage constantly? Maybe just let him chill for a day without any interaction. Sounds like you worry a lot (we all do) but maybe he just needs a little time to feel safe..

 

[cyberlocc]

Are you in and out of its cage constantly? Maybe just let him chill for a day without any interaction. Sounds like you worry a lot (we all do) but maybe he just needs a little time to feel safe..

Not after getting the mister system. Be off that I had to open cage to mist, now only to add good.

I though he may feel disturbed so I also put his door up (vinyl over his front door).

I guess I will put the vinyl up and leave him be even more. I won't even come on the room and won't put food in today?

 

[cyberlocc]

Something is wrong. Idk what. If you are at your wits end, he is too little to wait long, you gotta take him to the vet. He doesn't have any stringy stuff in his mouth or is gaping, right? No outward signs of infection? He is little and is gonna lose steam quickly.I have force fed mine. But none of them were this little. There is a vet here. His name is feretinmyshoes Message him. Also,[email protected] is smart and knows alot.

Nope zero outward signs of infection. He doesn't look unhealthy yet either. Maybe he wants worms and worms only idk, won't be able to know until tommorow. Since USPS decided to leave my package sit lol.

I will write feret, see what he says. The issues is if it is stress taking him to the vet will only make things worse. So I have to make the right okay right?

 

[Carlton]

I just don't know what else to suggest. Except one thing that's really hard when we are worried...give lots of privacy and don't disturb him (even spying on him) in case he's just preoccupied by all the "attention" and adjustments to his setup.

 

[cyberlocc]

I just don't know what else to suggest. Except one thing that's really hard when we are worried...give lots of privacy and don't disturb him (even spying on him) in case he's just preoccupied by all the "attention" and adjustments to his setup.

That was my plan. I am just going to leave him be. He has an automated mister, and a drape that goes over the visible side and the door (its a vinyl black out cloth, the other side is 8 inches from the wall, have to stick your head there to see through lol).

I am just going to leave him be, the worms are supposed to be here tomorrow, so I wont put his cup in at all today. tomorrow I will put it in with worms and leave him be.

I think at this point its up to him, maybe it is stress so I will will deal off that assumption. Thats really all I can do at this point I feel . Leave him be and pray.