Icarus not getting enough sun (or food)

[graydoyle05]

Hi all,
I got a veiled chameleon roughly a month ago from a private breeder and he has been doing perfectly well. I had tons of worries, as new cham owners always have. The only issue is that he dislikes being handled a great deal, and will do anything to avoid it. I didn't think this was such a hanus crime so usually I respect his space and leave him to his enclosure (which is 2x2x4 feet). I only attempt handling when I feel its for the better, being outside time, showers when he is having trouble shedding, or occasionally letting him check out my cricket colony to feast. But a few days ago when I tried to get him out for some outside time, he of course twisted and turned away from me, so I left him alone. Whenever I returned to my room, he would cower and hide from he, which has never happened. Yesterday he hid behind his pothos from noon until lights out, and today when I tried to feed him he only ran away from my hand. So now I have a cham that isn't eating, isn't basking (or getting UV), and is incredibly lethargic. Again, this has all transpired in the last 3 days which before he would very willingly hand-feed.
What could have caused this, and how might I fix it?
Thanks, and sorry for the long post

 

[ar15fonsi]

Have you tried just leaving the crickets free range in the cage? So that he can hunt them? If you are only offering food with your hand he might be that kind of cham. Try that, count the crickets you put in and then come back in a couple of hours and just look in the cage see if he ate them all .

My female cham wont let me handle her anymore she acts the same way as you describe yours, I was able to get her out of the cage with no issues, now she just don't like that anymore. The only food she will take out of my palm is any kind of worms. That's it! and she will still hide when shes doing it.

Give that a try, don't know if anyone has a different suggestion, but this is what worked for me.

Hope this helps.

 

[graydoyle05]

Update:
If chameleons hate, Im the most hated owner of all. I tried yesterday to release some crickets into his cage but he didn't eat any of them, so as a last resort I tried to hold him and place him in my cricket bin, but he continued to fire up and hiss at me. He also leaped to the floor to escape my hand, which terrified me. I don't believe anything is broken, but he hasn't been basking, eating, or drinking. How do I get him to be more comfortable with me so that he can feel alright to eat or drink in my presence?

 

[Kayroxyoursox]

My male veiled is the same way, although I have never had any trouble with him eating. If I hold the container with crickets in his cage he will eat them out of there while I'm holding it. But he won't climb onto my hand or even let me get just my hand close to him. I have started putting crickets in a water jug that i cut in half so I can see how much he eats and they can't get out of there usually. I think I am going to try the cup thing though and hang a solo cup from a branch for him to eat out of. Maybe the 2x2x4 cage is too big for him if he is a little guy and it stresses him out?

 

[ar15fonsi]

Update:
If chameleons hate, Im the most hated owner of all. I tried yesterday to release some crickets into his cage but he didn't eat any of them, so as a last resort I tried to hold him and place him in my cricket bin, but he continued to fire up and hiss at me. He also leaped to the floor to escape my hand, which terrified me. I don't believe anything is broken, but he hasn't been basking, eating, or drinking. How do I get him to be more comfortable with me so that he can feel alright to eat or drink in my presence?

How long did you leave the crickets released in his cage? Did you left him alone after you dropped the crickets? He might not be the kind of chameleon that wants to be handled which is almost all of them, they are pets to stare at them for the most. My veiled I can barely even touch only in rare occasions she will let my hand get close to her and when she wants to she will eat of my hand. My little panther is getting use to me slowly.

Maybe drop the crickets in the AM and leave after a couple of hours come and see how many he ate, if he hides when he sees you he won't bask or eat in front of you because he is to scared. Don't know how you got him out to place him on your cricket bin but I'm assuming he wasn't happy about you getting him out of his cage , so that might not help either.

I know if can be very frustrating but just be very very patient

 

[carol5208]

If he isnt moving around the cage at all and not eating there may be some other type of health issue going on and not just that he hates you. I would try some other type of feeder besides crickets and see if that does not spike his appetite. Also, why don't you fill out the ask for help form in the health clinic so we can look over your set up. Also, pictures of your set and your chameleon (if you can get one) would be helpful also.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Update:
If chameleons hate, Im the most hated owner of all. I tried yesterday to release some crickets into his cage but he didn't eat any of them, so as a last resort I tried to hold him and place him in my cricket bin, but he continued to fire up and hiss at me. He also leaped to the floor to escape my hand, which terrified me. I don't believe anything is broken, but he hasn't been basking, eating, or drinking. How do I get him to be more comfortable with me so that he can feel alright to eat or drink in my presence?

Please slowly reread what you have written and then think carefully about each interaction you are having with your chameleon and each behavior he is presenting to you. Think about this not from a mammalian predator's (your) viewpoint, but from the point of view of a small prey who has almost no escape strategies in his repertoire.

You've had him only a month and might not know what "normal" behavior is for this particular chameleon.

He might have a health issue, but I suspect he has a bigger stress issue.

If he didn't hide before three days ago and now hides to the point of not eating, what changed? Either something in his environment changed or his health status changed.

I use the stool output to gauge how much my chameleons are eating. Is he defecating and has the size changed?

Look around the room and try to figure out just what he can see. I've used my phone to take pictures from inside of the cage and used strings or some other straight line like broom handle or tape measure to try to get an understanding of what the animal is seeing.

If you can rule out new stressors in his enviornoment, such as a cat or dog sitting in front of his cage mesmorized, that leaves health and your handling techniques, which are related.

Constant stress will suppress the immune system. That means a stressed animal is more likely to get sick. Once sick, they are not able as able to combat this illness, which lets the illness become worse or a brand new illness to take hold. A healthy immune system keeps at bay the many pathogens in the environment.

You've had your chameleon for a month and in your own words, this is how you handle him:

"he dislikes being handled a great deal, and will do anything to avoid it;"

"I only attempt handling when I feel its for the better;"

"is incredibly lethargic;"

"all transpired in the last 3 days;"

"as a last resort I tried to hold him and place him in my cricket bin, but he continued to fire up and hiss at me. He also leaped to the floor to escape my hand."

This last statement is really telling. In your desire to get food into your chameleon, you subjected him to handling such that he felt he had no other choice but to put up a fight for his life. Think about that. Your chameleon was fighting for his life. He felt he was about to die.

No animal eats when they are about to die.

You have only had him a month and it seems you have been stressing him on a regular basis. He's now exhibiting new extreme avoidance behaviors. You need to back away and let him calm down. You might even want to put something in front of his cage so he doesn't have to see you while he recovers from the stress of your manhandling.

He might have a health issue, but if he does, I suspect it is secondary to the stresses you've subjected him to.

By lethargic, what do you mean? Is he just hiding in a bush? Can you send in a picture, especiallly of his eyes and backbone (to take a guess at hydration levels)?

Good luck. I hope you stop and really think about what you are doing to your chameleon. I know you care about him and want only the best.