how long?

[fuzzhc]

How long could a baby/juvi safely go without eating? I've had my new nosy mitsio for 3 days now and he has not touched any food at all although he has drank daily.

 

[Psychobunny]

How long could a baby/juvi safely go without eating? I've had my new nosy mitsio for 3 days now and he has not touched any food at all although he has drank daily.

They can go for several days w/o food, but not water.
3 days is not a worry, but you should check his temps with a accurated digital thermometer with a probe.

It's also normal for them to not want to eat when they are in new surroundings. Chams hate change, and they need to acclimate to anything new. Make sure to have plenty of foliage in his cage so he can feel secure.

Some chams will eat right away, same day you get them, most will need some time to get used to you and build trust.
To him, you are a giant who may eat him at any moment!!
He may be to scared to come out in the open to feed for fear you will see him. You need to earn his trust.

You want to give them a week or so acclimation period, during which time, best to leave them alone.
They come around in their own time

 

[Ferrah88]

In my experience they can go without eating for a couple of days. It all boils down to a few factors as to why they are not eating:

1. New environment. Suggestion: Wait until he settles down, try new feeders, he should start eating soon!
2. Shedding. He might just be about to shed, does he look pale?
3. No food interest. He might not like what you're providing him with, what are you feeding him with? Does he have a variety of choices?

All of those factors can stop him from eating. My biggest suggestion would be to offer a wide variety of foods and see if he will take anything. How are you feeding? Hand? Cup? Loose? He might not accept your method, so try different ones to find something he likes. Right now it's all about him settling in and you trying to find out how he works, what he likes, etc.

My veiled has been on a strike the past 3 days and only today he ate some flies. Would not touch his other food, but he is looking a bit pale and might be about to shed, which would explain why he is not interested. If you are really worried he is in need of food, I would suggest flies. No cham in their right minds can resist their flying and buzzing

 

[fuzzhc]

Thanks. The other 2 I've got ate straight away but this guy seems a little shy. His ambient is around 78 and basking 80-82 depending on if my heating is on, but it's on a dimmer so can be adjusted. I've measured using 2 different probes and his humidity fluctuates depending on watering but it settles at 40ish%. There are like 6 plants in there as well for hiding. The only times I've went in is to water him but I have left a small cup with some crickets, wax and mealworm and dubia in and some locusts free ranging for the time being to try and stimulate his appetite. Thanks again for putting my mind at ease hopefully he settles in in no time

 

[Sinfulintent]

I just picked up 2 baby ambilobes and had to ask the same question to a few people over the phone. Both answers were about the same from both of them which was about a week as long as they were drinking water. As long as they drink water they should be fine for several days so make sure you are misting frequently. Also like someone else said make sure you offer a variety. I never saw one of the new ones eat any crickets and found many dead ones in the viv over the week. I offered some phoenix and horn worms and they ate all of them. Also check with your seller of how they were fed, if youre trying to cup feed and they were free ranged you may have to slowly introduce the cup or vice-versa. Good luck!

 

[fuzzhc]

In my experience they can go without eating for a couple of days. It all boils down to a few factors as to why they are not eating:

1. New environment. Suggestion: Wait until he settles down, try new feeders, he should start eating soon!
2. Shedding. He might just be about to shed, does he look pale?
3. No food interest. He might not like what you're providing him with, what are you feeding him with? Does he have a variety of choices?

All of those factors can stop him from eating. My biggest suggestion would be to offer a wide variety of foods and see if he will take anything. How are you feeding? Hand? Cup? Loose? He might not accept your method, so try different ones to find something he likes. Right now it's all about him settling in and you trying to find out how he works, what he likes, etc.

My veiled has been on a strike the past 3 days and only today he ate some flies. Would not touch his other food, but he is looking a bit pale and might be about to shed, which would explain why he is not interested. If you are really worried he is in need of food, I would suggest flies. No cham in their right minds can resist their flying and buzzing

He was just out a shed when I got him so that might also be down to it! I'll try get some flys ordered tonight then

 

[Psychobunny]

What ferrah88 said reminded me of something.
You would do well to find out what the breeder, or previous owner, was feeding him, and ask him/her what their routine was.
That may help get your cham settled in faster.

BTW, congrats on your new nosy mits

Is this your first cham?

 

[fuzzhc]

I'll message the store just now then!

Thanks! This is my 3rd, I have a 3 year old vieled and 1+ year old female ambilobe. I was actually looking for animals ambilobe when I stumbled upon this guy and couldn't resist

Edit: "animals ambilobe " lol hate predictive text >.<

 

[fuzzhc]

Update: I just came home from work to find that he still hadn't touched any food so I tried feeding some wax worms using tongs but no success so I tried feeding the way I have to feed my vieled as he won't eat out a cup and I'm not letting roaches free range lol, by using tongs but closing my eyes ( I know it sounds weird lol) and it worked haha! Only 2 wax worms but it's a start

 

[brownie64]

Not weird

Update: I just came home from work to find that he still hadn't touched any food so I tried feeding some wax worms using tongs but no success so I tried feeding the way I have to feed my vieled as he won't eat out a cup and I'm not letting roaches free range lol, by using tongs but closing my eyes ( I know it sounds weird lol) and it worked haha! Only 2 wax worms but it's a start

Actually when I think about it it's not weird at all mine will do that sometimes. I'll have to look away, and I spot them out of the corner of my eye eat. I believe the reason they do this is they have to take both eyes to focus on their food to eat. Which in turn makes them feel venerable because they have to take their eyes off you.

 

[Sinfulintent]

Chams know when we are watching them, my veiled wont move when i bring him outside and keep an eye on him but as soon as i turn my head to look at something he makes a break for it! Same thing with eating, i can sit there for an hour watchig him and he wont move, as soon as i leave he goes for it.. Very annoying especially if im trying to get pictures.

 

[fuzzhc]

Haha! Yeah very annoying when I'm standing there for 20 mins with a dead arm trying to feed him! >.<

 

[Juliaf3]

How long could a baby/juvi safely go without eating? I've had my new nosy mitsio for 3 days now and he has not touched any food at all although he has drank daily.

Don't panic. It's perfectly normal for them to take a few days, and pretty common, when getting to a new home

 

[fuzzhc]

Don't panic. It's perfectly normal for them to take a few days, and pretty common, when getting to a new home

Thanks he's starting to eat a bit now but only touching wax worms and 4 of them a day but hey its a start!