Jackson not eating or opening eyes...

  • Your Chameleon - Jackson, male, a couple months. ive had him for 2 months.
  • Handling - ever other day or so
I would minimize handling him until he settles in better. I would only move him if you have to deep clean his cage or take him outdoors for sun.
  • Feeding - crickets and mealworms 2 - 3 every other day when he was eating am using total bites natural bites
He looks young he might still be at the age where he needs daily feeding. Mealworms are a poor food source. I know why you tried them but I would avoid them in the future. Hornworms, silkworms or superworms would be better to add variety to his crickets.
  • Supplements - zoomed reptisafe whenever he eats
You don't mean the water conditioner.
"Calcium and other vitamins are very important to your chameleon's health. Feeder insects should be lightly dusted with powdered supplement before being fed to your chameleon. As a montane species (native to higher altitudes) Jackson's have decreased supplementation requirements compared to tropical species due to metabolism differences. Use calcium (without D3 or phosphorus) twice a week, a multivitamin once a month, and calcium with D3 once a month."
I personally use Repashy lo D very lightly 3 times a week as my only supplement besides what I gut load my feeders.

  • Watering - A waterfall cantina. Almost never all the time
Many chameleons don't recognize these as a water source and then they tend to poop in them and contaminate them. You need a misting system or a lot of free time to hand mist a Jackson's four or more times a day. Once daily should be a few minutes long. Your guy looks a little dehydrated in that pic. If you can give him a "shower" Place a large plant in the tub, aim the shower head against the wall, and run the water so that only a fine mist reaches the chameleon. The water should be room temperature (not hot!). They may drink for up to 30 minutes. Make sure to supervise your chameleon at all times while using this method.
  • Fecal Description -yellow and white like when I got him he has never been to the vet
  • History - he was normal until a couple of weeks ago.

Cage Info:
  • Cage Type - screen, 16 x 16 x 30
  • Lighting - A zoomed 60 watt blue daylight bulb that stays on 24/7. And a zoomed 5 UVB light that goes on at 6AM and goes off at 6PM
Only give your cham 12 hours of light. With out total darkness they will not sleep properly at night and be sleepy during the day. If your house is colder than 55˚F at night you can use a ceramic heat emitter in place of a bulb thru the coldest part of the night. It won't give off any light.
  • Temperature - 81 F at top and 65 F at bottom. I use a hanging thermometer.
If he is under 9 mos of age that might be too warm at his basking spot for now.
  • Humidity - I don't know
You will need to get a hygrometer Amazon has digital models for $10 that also give you accurate temperature readings. This is the only way you will know if you are misting enough to maintain humidity. Live plants will help maintain humidity levels as well.
  • Plants - None
  • Placement - It is in the corner of the room and I am typically at the other end of the room at my desk 6 Ft above the floor
  • Location - The Midwest, ND
 
Right now start with a shower and get the lights off tonight.
Order or go get proper supplements and a hygrometer.
If you can find other feeders while you are out get them and try them tomorrow.
Give him another shower or super long misting tomorrow, make sure you see him drink and clean his eyes.
Then look thru the replies and begin the other changes.
I know this is a lot to absorb at once.
 
Are you actually not using supplements and using water conditioner? You should read some of the care sheets on the forums to help you on your journey with reptiles. Is this your first reptile?
 
ok thanks, i will try the 12 hour light cycle first, and see if he was to tied to eat, and that may be why he doesn't open his eyes because he is sleeping. Also in that help form I meant to say that I almost never mist him, and I see him drinking all the time.
 
Ethan Grove said:
ok thanks, i will try the 12 hour light cycle first, and see if he was to tied to eat, and that may be why he doesn't open his eyes because he is sleeping. Also in that help form I meant to say that I almost never mist him, and I see him drinking all the time.
Click to expand...
Just to let you know misting is not just for drinking, it is a hygiene thing too. He needs it to clean his eyes, shed properly, keep humidity up,etc.
 
They not only need to drink water but they need spraying to properly clean their eyes and prevent eye infections. Their lungs also need high levels of humidity.
 
Get the proper supplements. If you only can afford to buy one kind get Repashy Lo D and dust your crickets with it lightly 2-3 times a week. Otherwise get the plain calcium type now and then get the d3 and multivitamin next week.
Get a pothos plant with a saucer base. Try home depot or Lowes the dripper can drip into it and you can empty the extra water out of the saucer daily for now if you don't have a drainage system.
 
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