Not Eating Anymore

[Deo32]

My panther had been eating on a healthy routine, but ever since he ate his first hornworm (it was enormous if that matters) he hasn't eaten anything since then. It's been around 4 days now.

He didn't choke on it, and he pooped the day after and it looked fine. He's been active otherwise - I see him running around and drinking water - so I don't really know if he's being stubborn or what.

Eating schedule, if anyone wanted to know: 10-15 crickets every other day (loose), 5-10 medium dubia roaches substituted in for crickets 2 times a week (cup feed).

Something else that is odd is that he really never "hunts" the crickets, but rather just waits for them to cross his path, then goes for them. My other chams don't do this; I don't think it's a big deal but...

 

[CamrynTheCham22]

Can you please fill this out and possibly upload some pictures?

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.

 

[Deo32]

Can you please fill this out and possibly upload some pictures?

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - 9 m/o Male Panther Cham, had since 2-3 m/o
• Handling - Mornings to bring him out for sun
• Feeding - Dubias (5-10) or Crickets (10-15) every other day. Gutload with organic greens and carrots mostly.
• Supplements - Calcium w/o phosphorous or d3 every feeding, d3/reptivite with A every 2 weeks rotating
• Watering - Hand misting with pressure spray; I see him drinking every day sometimes even during misting.
• Fecal Description - Completely normal. Never tested for parasites.
• History - He hasn't shed since he hit 7ish months...its been over a month.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - 3x2x3.5 terrarium. Humidity is low where I live so I had to swap out screens for the largest terrarium available. Though he spends most of his summer days outside in a 2x2x4 screen enclosure/even just free roaming on this big umbrella plant I have.
• Lighting - Basking = house bulb, used to be blue bulb. UVB = 3 foot T5 HO. 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM
• Temperature - Measured using probe. Basking = 86F. Ambient = 70-80F ranging from bot-top of cage. Coldest night = 64F
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Pothos, Umbrella
• Placement - In my room, a few feet above floor level. Top of umbrella tree is taller than me.
• Location - Boston

Current Problem - mentioned in original post[/QUOTE]

 

[Brodybreaux25]

It sounds like he is just really full to me! I think you are over feeding him but wait for a more experienced panther keeper to confirm this, I only keep veilds. It is not unusual for adults to slow down with feeding. And if that was his first hornworm he is probably just being stubborn and holding out for another one...

 

[NickTide]

Sounds like he's bored with the steak and potatoes (crickets and dubias) and once he got a taste of something different he doesn't want to go back.

variety seems to be key with chams... Both for physical and mental health. I would ad superworms to your feeding routine. Maybe once a week, but for now you could feed them 2 times in a row to break the boredom. Don't let him get hooked on them though. Here are a few alternatives I like...

super worms - cheap and easy

Stick bugs - I have Vietnamese variety that date ivy would be easier in folder climates. Easy to keep a small colony but it takes too much space to raise them as a staple.

black soldier flies - aka - Calciworms, Reptiworms, Pheonix Worms, BSf, and BSFL. A staple for me. I prefer to let them turn into flies but they seem to be like candy either way. They are slow and dumb as flies and very seldom get away from me. No calcium powder needed. I buy them by the thousand and keep them in a ($60) wine fridge. They have last 4 months so far in my experiment (56 degrees) and still going. If you have a Petco near by, they sell then as well. Expensive but you could get them today. They are kept in a little fridge with other feeders.

Orange head roaches - More active than dubias and meatier too. Too expensive to feed unless raising your own. Seem to be as easy as dubias. May be a little slower to reproduce but you get a bigger roach. They do have an odor. I have a few hundred and only smell them when I am working on their tank.

Green banana roaches - very fast and bright. If your cham refuses these, he may be sick. Very expensive and harder to raise than dubias. Worth raising though. Got my starter from Full Throttle Feeders (Nic Barta on this board)

Mantids - thru the summer you can get oothes (eggs) pretty cheap or collect them in the summer.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

Sounds like he's bored with the steak and potatoes (crickets and dubias) and once he got a taste of something different he doesn't want to go back.

variety seems to be key with chams... Both for physical and mental health. I would ad superworms to your feeding routine. Maybe once a week, but for now you could feed them 2 times in a row to break the boredom. Don't let him get hooked on them though. Here are a few alternatives I like...

super worms - cheap and easy

Stick bugs - I have Vietnamese variety that date ivy would be easier in folder climates. Easy to keep a small colony but it takes too much space to raise them as a staple.

black soldier flies - aka - Calciworms, Reptiworms, Pheonix Worms, BSf, and BSFL. A staple for me. I prefer to let them turn into flies but they seem to be like candy either way. They are slow and dumb as flies and very seldom get away from me. No calcium powder needed. I buy them by the thousand and keep them in a ($60) wine fridge. They have last 4 months so far in my experiment (56 degrees) and still going. If you have a Petco near by, they sell then as well. Expensive but you could get them today. They are kept in a little fridge with other feeders.

Orange head roaches - More active than dubias and meatier too. Too expensive to feed unless raising your own. Seem to be as easy as dubias. May be a little slower to reproduce but you get a bigger roach. They do have an odor. I have a few hundred and only smell them when I am working on their tank.

Green banana roaches - very fast and bright. If your cham refuses these, he may be sick. Very expensive and harder to raise than dubias. Worth raising though. Got my starter from Full Throttle Feeders (Nic Barta on this board)

Mantids - thru the summer you can get oothes (eggs) pretty cheap or collect them in the summer.

I’ve recently started using the mantids as well, pretty cool to watch grow but will eat each other if not separated!