New Cham Not Eating Much

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?

Veiled Chameleon, male. Roughly 3 months old, had him for 3 days

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?

Only once to put him in his cage

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?

Feeding him 15-20 small crickets in the morning. I gut load using veggies or sometimes use Repashy superload

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?

Using Repashy Calcium Plus

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?

Misting 2-3 times a day. Seen him drink 2 droplets but that's all

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?

Solid brown with white urate. Not been tested


History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

No history

Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?

large Zoomed Reptibreeze screen cage


Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?

Repti Glo 5.0 compact Bulb in hood and sits on cage and a normal 60W household bulb for basking. On at 10AM and off at 10PM


Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?

Temps is 85F under the basking light. Low 70's in the middle and night time stays at 65F


Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?

Try and keep humidity around 50% to 60% and use a digital humidity gauge


Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?

Never used real, always used fake without issues


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?

He's located in the lounge that allows a cabinet to block his view from my panther and is away from any drafts


Location - Where are you geographically located?

UK

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

My new veiled doesn't seem to have a big appetite for a baby. I know they said to eat between 15-20 crickets a day and have a big appetite but even though I am putting this many in his cup, he's only eaten 4-5 small crickets everyday he's been fed.
 
Can you please post a picture of the setup?

They need time to settle in before they feel comfortable enough to hunt.
What you are experiencing is normal.
I imagine he just doesnt feel safe enough to hunt around and explore.
A picture of the setup may provide more insight though.
 
Solid Snake, sorry I haven't posted a pic sooner, the lights had gone off just after I posted this. Anyway here is a pic now. Had to order some more vines, thought I had enough and didn't :rolleyes:

cage.jpg
 
You really should put your 4 ft bulb in the middle, when he is on the vines he gets nothing from it. The UVB bulb does help stimulate eating.
 
He might just be adjusting to his new home. Are you cup feeding? Was he cup feed before you got him? If not maybe he doesn't know how to cup feed.
 
Oh no, he is eating out of the cup :) but a little concerned he's not eating as much as I'd like. Stated in the help form, putting between 15 to 20 crickets in his cup but only eating 3-4 a day.

Moved my UVB hood in the middle now.
 
I think he is just getting used to the habbitat. When they dont eat at all its a problem. Just follow the advise and make sure temps/humidity are correct and monitor him well..

Possible try a few free range feedings or perhaps different food?

Sorry I havent been with a cham for a bit now, i'm a tad rusty
 
Yeah try to make sure your cham can sit right under the uvb. If they don't have the uvb they wont digest as quick so they wont be as hungry. When I got my baby cham I made the mistake of having his uvb like a 1-1 1/2 feet from his closest vine.. so essentially the first week I had him he was unable to digest and got really sickly. I had to take him back to the store and have them hand feed him appetite stimulant to get him back on track. Just make sure the uvb is close enough and your cham will be chowin on crickets like a champ in no time :D
 
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