Male Veiled Chameleon Eating Habits

[JonnyRogs22]

Hey there guys! I have a male veiled probably around 2 years or so old (can't be certain because I got him off a keeper who didn't know how to care for him at all and thought that him being near a window ((which are designed to block out uv)) would give him enough uvb -_-) he was in pretty bad shape, bitten end of a tail that he said would be gone after a shed or two (of course it never went away and he has a cut off tail end until this day) anyway getting on a bit of a side rant about this idiot. When I first got Jasper he was very friendly, never hissed and I would take him out and he would shoot out his tongue and eat no problem (about a year ago) but then when I moved back to Barrie from London (last June-ish) everything changed. He became grumpy overnight. He would hiss when anyone approached him and we would not shoot his tongue to eat. The only way he eats now is if I get him to hiss and he opens his mouth and a place a Dubia in his mouth. He'll crunch down on it and eat it fine. I've thought of maybe not feeding him for a while and then seeing if he'll shoot his tongue out again to get a Dubia but I don't really want to test that and make him hungry. I'm sure you're thinking he must be sick but that's the weird thing. He looks and acts totally healthy and is always moving around healthily in his cage I built him. The living conditions for him have not changed at all between the two places (London and Barrie) I'm just curious why this is or if any of you have any experience with anything similar? It's almost as if I did it once and now he just expects to be fed like that so won't use his tongue, I just want to make sure his tongue is fine as he hasn't shot it in a while now (it appears to look fine when he opens his mouth) thanks for the help guys!

 

[Alexander1]

Lack of calcium or vitamin A can have adverse affects on chameleon health not just the bones, calcium is an essential part of the bodily function process, you might have too little D3 to help with absorption, long term husbandry issues could of left the chameleon starved of essential nutrients, it's tough to say without any other information

 

[Alexander1]

Fill out the how to ask for help questioner, that can help other keepers help you

 

[JonnyRogs22]

Lack of calcium or vitamin A can have adverse affects on chameleon health not just the bones, calcium is an essential part of the bodily function process, you might have too little D3 to help with absorption, long term husbandry issues could of left the chameleon starved of essential nutrients, it's tough to say without any other information

Thank you, I do dust a dubia every few days with calcium and about once every 1.5 weeks with d3 and calcium. It's just strange because he always shot his tongue out before. Ok thanks, I will fill out the questionnaire when I get a minute. I really appreciate your help!

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

Thank you, I do dust a dubia every few days with calcium and about once every 1.5 weeks with d3 and calcium. It's just strange because he always shot his tongue out before. Ok thanks, I will fill out the questionnaire when I get a minute. I really appreciate your help!

Perhaps maybe dust all his food with calcium without d3 daily and calcium with d3 twice a month. It will help his calcium intake. Also you said you got him from a bad keeper? I'm not sure but whatever the keeper set up was and lack of natural sunlight or uvb could have been doing some serious damage to the boy that is only now starting to take its toll. And being in a new environment (your move) could have added stress to that and so now he's acting out. But fill out the how to do more experienced keepers than myself can give you some real/better answers.