M Panther Cham not eating lots of movement

[COLA]

I recently purchased a panther cham on craigslist about 2 1/2 weeks ago, Ive been feeding him crickets dusted with calcium, hes got a UVB light and a basking light, the temps stay from 85 at his basking spot humidity around 35%-60% depending on how recent I misted(i do this 3 times a day). The owner claims he is about 7 months old.

He hasn't eaten in the past 2 days, he seems more thirsty than normal, pooped today, and has been crawling on the top of the cage for like 2 hours now. I have him in a separate room by himself since my brother moved out of the house so I dont think he can be stressed...at least not by me. Normally I hand feed him but he just hasnt seemed hungry. Any thoughts? I have heard that when they start shedding they can lose their appetite...I did find a small piece of shed today so im wondering if thats it.

 

[laurie]

Hello there welcome to the forum. What king of cham do you have and are you sure it is a male? What you are describing could be a gravid female. Could you post a picture and tell us about your set up?

 

[COLA]

its a panther cham, its very colorful so I wouldnt think it would be a female. The setup is 18"x18"x36" got a pothos in there and some fake vines and climbing branches. I cant post a pic.

 

[Solid Snake]

Hey COLA.
Can you fill this form out please?
If there is any way at all to post pics of the animal and setup, it can be very helpful in determining if there is anything 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.


Pictures are helpful

 

[COLA]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - MALE PANTHER in my care for 3 weeks
Handling - very little handling, only to clean or let him roam around on my house (SAFE) plants
Feeding - Gut loaded crickets, about 4 medium size ones with Nature Zone Total Bites gutload, "all in one diet with spirulina vitamins and minerals" and also "forest tortoise food"(by Zoo Med)
Supplements - Dust every cricket with "repticalcium without D3" and then dust them with Reptivite "reptile vitamins" (with D3) one feeding every week.
Watering - Used to spray bottle the cage, not him directly with bottle about 3 times a day.
Fecal Description - white part and brown part in his fecals, sometimes lighter reddish brown...never been tested for parasites
History - Bought off craigslist with cage and UVB bulb. All info I have about has yet to be vet confirmed.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Pictured.
Lighting - 100W bulb for heating, and 160w Professional Series Exoterra sun simulating bulb.
Temperature - 85-90 degrees around his basking area.
Humidity - 60% humidity Now. Used to be 30% because didnt have automister running.
Plants - Pothos, and fake
Placement - Cage is in a separate room with no people entering other than to feed him and make sure his cage is cleaned.
Location - California


Current Problem - Hasn't been eating for 3 days now, doesnt even seem interested in food. He has settled down a bit he just relaxes on his usual basking area all day until about 6-7 when he crawls down the pothos and hides until the lights go out. His scales look a little bit paler than they normally do he isnt as vibrant, he seems dull so maybe hes shedding. I had a snake along time ago and she would lose interest in food while shedding. What is the longest he can go without food before I should be seriously worried?

 

[COLA]

Day 4: Still not Eating... Been rubbing on the plant holder with his face. No more crawling on the ceiling which is nice. He "hissed"/snorted at me today when I offered him food, he has no interest at all. He is still scared of the new MistKing. Which runs for about 3 minutes, 5 times a day 8am 10am 12pm 3pm and (5pm for 5 mins), lights out at 6:30, lights on at 7:00am

 

[Solid Snake]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - MALE PANTHER in my care for 3 weeks
Handling - very little handling, only to clean or let him roam around on my house (SAFE) plants
Feeding - Gut loaded crickets, about 4 medium size ones with Nature Zone Total Bites gutload, "all in one diet with spirulina vitamins and minerals" and also "forest tortoise food"(by Zoo Med)
Supplements - Dust every cricket with "repticalcium without D3" and then dust them with Reptivite "reptile vitamins" (with D3) one feeding every week.
This is too much.
Use the multi-vit and D3 twice a month, plain calcium all other days.
Watering - Used to spray bottle the cage, not him directly with bottle about 3 times a day.
Spray him directly(not in the face) from time to time. Like rain, its natural.
JMO
Fecal Description - white part and brown part in his fecals, sometimes lighter reddish brown...never been tested for parasites
History - Bought off craigslist with cage and UVB bulb. All info I have about has yet to be vet confirmed.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Pictured.
Lighting - 100W bulb for heating, and 160w Professional Series Exoterra sun simulating bulb.
Ive never used the MH bulbs, which I believe that is. If its the all in one heat/UVB bulb, you dont need the other basking.
This is going to produce to much heat, and ruin your temp gradient.
Temperature - 85-90 degrees around his basking area.
Humidity - 60% humidity Now. Used to be 30% because didnt have automister running.
Plants - Pothos, and fake
Placement - Cage is in a separate room with no people entering other than to feed him and make sure his cage is cleaned.
Location - California


Current Problem - Hasn't been eating for 3 days now, doesnt even seem interested in food. He has settled down a bit he just relaxes on his usual basking area all day until about 6-7 when he crawls down the pothos and hides until the lights go out. His scales look a little bit paler than they normally do he isnt as vibrant, he seems dull so maybe hes shedding. I had a snake along time ago and she would lose interest in food while shedding. What is the longest he can go without food before I should be seriously worried?

He is probably due for a shed if he is rubbing his face on things.
Up his humidity(throw a few extra misting in) and it will help him break/complete the shed.
Shedding can reduce appetite, but Ive never had my guy completely stop eating.
A healthy well fed panther could go for weeks without eating, probably longer.
So if he has been eating before the hunger strike, hes ok for a while.

 

[Solid Snake]

You need to over haul the cage.
It needs to be more spread out, with places to climb all over.
Hes cramped in that corner.
Try to hang the pothos dead center, and spread a ton of sticks and vines around/in it.
Just make it to where he can get to any portion of the cage he likes.
Ditch the basking lite as well.
just the one will work.
I would put the "sun" bulb all the way to one side, in a corner, facing straight down, and almost overhanging the side of the cage.
Then put a basking branch, coming from the chosen corner, to the center of the cage. That will ensure he has a temp gradient.

 

[COLA]

when I had only one bulb running the temp was at like 70 at his basking spot.

 

[Solid Snake]

when I had only one bulb running the temp was at like 70 at his basking spot.

?
A digital thermometer may give you a different reading, as the anologs can be way off.
I cant believe that a 160w bulb is giving off only a 70F basking spot, not without it being so cold in the room that its unhealthy for the cham.
Not saying your lying, Im saying it seems odd.
What is the ambient temp in the room?
Outside?

 

[Elizadolots]

Hi, Cola.

We've seen stories of pretty amazing hunger strikes from chameleons...times that seem beyond reason. I mean, weeks.

So, your chameleon is not starving. He's quite handsome by the way.

If this were my chameleon, I'd with hold food for 3 days. Then I'd introduce a small number of feeders, like 3 or 4.

See what happens. If he eats, then put more in. If not...well, maybe there's a problem.

I do think you need to get him through that shed before you decide something is wrong though.

 

[COLA]

Yea, I would like to get a more accurate Thermometer, I have just had midterms this week so Ive been really busy with work and school. Im also going to make him a bigger cage and add vines and more plants. I will post pictures of my cage when I start working on it . I have yet to see him eat out of a bowl so Im pretty sure his old owner used to only feed him out of his hand. That being said I would like to get him in the habit of eating out of a bowl, any advice?

 

[Solid Snake]

Put the feeders in the bowl.
Make sure he knows they are there.
Dont feed him otherwise.
He will get hungry and eat them.

The only success Ive had is with "bin feeding" In which you use a larger bin instead of a cup.
The "bin" I used was about 3" deep, and 8" longer either way.
Its really never worked out for me, so good luck

 

[COLA]

UPDATE:

Feeding:
He ate 2 crickets yesterday, and one today. His appetite seems to be coming back, although he hasn't really shed yet.

Cage:
So I decided to make a visit to the home depot got a new plant/pot/river rocks for the cham today. I also bought a digital thermometer. I placed the thermometer on one of his favorite basking spots and it said 80 degrees which is pretty much at the highest point in the cage.

Does anyone know about how long it takes to shed after you see them starting to turn whitish/dull color?

 

[Solid Snake]

UPDATE:

Feeding:
He ate 2 crickets yesterday, and one today. His appetite seems to be coming back, although he hasn't really shed yet.

Cage:
So I decided to make a visit to the home depot got a new plant/pot/river rocks for the cham today. I also bought a digital thermometer. I placed the thermometer on one of his favorite basking spots and it said 80 degrees which is pretty much at the highest point in the cage.

Does anyone know about how long it takes to shed after you see them starting to turn whitish/dull color?

Im glad hes starting to eat again

Basking should be higher.
This may be effecting his appetite.
I give a basking of 90-95F
I bet if you raise it, he will start to eat

My 7month old just shed, he was maybe "dull" for a week??

 

[COLA]

Guess it was just shed

 

[Solid Snake]

Good deal!
Has he started eating again?

I would still recommend raising basking temp just a bit.

 

[COLA]

I have 100W regular house bulb + 160w "solar bulb" I think the temps should be fine, I need to buy a more accurate digital thermometer...I was using a pool thermometer. Yea he started eating more regularly. I gave him some superworms because the store was out of crickets and he went to town on those