Not eating, not active

[snewpers]

Hi,

I have already posted some in the general discussion forum ( https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/new-to-chameleons-bit-nervous.147909/ ) but I'm afraid I should be in this section. I've been reading a lot here last few hours and I'm not sure what to think of the situation my sons chameleon is in.

We've had him for 3 days now, changed most of the interior of his habitat as it was a bit messy. Needed a good cleaning. When we bought him he was sitting on a horizontal branch (we went there twice before we bought him) and now he'll sit on it or sleep on it but moves back to the floor and just lays there. His eyes were closed (scared me!) while he leaned against some plants with his tail wrapped around a small branch. As said in the other thread he I was able to handled him some waxworms but no crickets or grasshoppers. Actually, he didn't really take the worms but when I stroke his mouth a bit he opened just enough for me to offer them to him.

I've read that they can be moody, or bored with food and all, but I would really like to see him moving around a bit more or at least sit instead of just laying there. I have fruit, veggies, grasshoppers, crickets, wax worms and mealworms. All the calcium and vitamines are there too. New UVB 5.0 lamp arrives tomorrow, humidity is 75% and I spray the enclosure twice a day. Basking temp is around 93F and shade side is 68F.

I guess my main concern is if this behavior is normal?

I've contacted my vet and he returned a call with some info but he admitted that he wasn't that knowledgeable about reptiles so he gave me an address of a vet that is, but unfortunately he's 2,5 hours away from me, that would be at least a 5 hours trip with the chameleon...

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Yemen, 8 months, male (I think)
• Handling - Not much, only for the necessary
• Feeding - Tomato, grasshoppers and some fruit
• Supplements - Calcium with D3
• Watering - Multiple times a day with misting and watering the plants
• Fecal Description - First day, haven't seen any yet
• History - unknown

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - glass, 1m x ,6m x 1m
• Lighting - Exo Terra heat andUVB light and fluorescent tube for about 14 hours. Heat always on.
• Temperature - about 71.6F
• Humidity - 70% done by misting, plants and sand
• Plants - 80% real and 20% fake, not sure what kind they are, were already in the enclosure
• Placement - Midde of a wall, about 3 feet between top of enclosure and ceiling, no draft and almost no human traffic
• Location - Netherlands?

 

[brownie64]

If you made all the changes we suggested, and he hasn't perked up especially if he is sleeping during the day I would take him to that vet. Don't forget the fresh fecal. This is my opinion hopefully you will get someone else to chime in for you. Good luck

 

[carol5208]

I have never heard of feeding tomato. Did he eat it?? Also, just curious the Veild chameleon in your avatar...that is one of our members chameleons. He name was Luie and he is deceased. Did you get permission from member Jannb to use her photo??

 

[kiwilulu]

I know the tomato leaves are toxic for chameleons... not sure about the fruit.

 

[snewpers]

@brownie64
Thanks... was afraid you'd say that. Will call that vet to see what he says.

@carol5208
The previous owner was feeding him tomato... I'll remove that from his list. And about the avatar... I googled a chameleon image and this one popped up, didn't know it was from a member here so concider it removed. My apologies.

@kiwilulu no more tomato then!

Thank you all!

 

[carol5208]

@brownie64
Thanks... was afraid you'd say that. Will call that vet to see what he says.

@carol5208
The previous owner was feeding him tomato... I'll remove that from his list. And about the avatar... I googled a chameleon image and this one popped up, didn't know it was from a member here so concider it removed. My apologies.

@kiwilulu no more tomato then!

Thank you all!

I don't know if the tomato is right or wrong! If he was feeding it prior and he was ok, then maybe it is safe then. I just dont recall anyone on here ever feeding that. As far as the avatar, Luie was a very unique Veild as you can see! I guess that is why you picked him. He was very famous on here when he was alive. I have been on here for almost 6 yrs and know that photo very well. Alot of the new members would never have noticed. It just struck me as weird when I saw the photo and Jann's name was not under it! As far as your chamleon not eating and not moving much, that can be very normal when you first get them in a new environment. Especially when they are older and have been removed from a very familiar habitat. The closing of his eyes is concerning though and usually is an indication of an illness. Incorrect lighting is also a possibility along with having a room or enclosure very dark where they think it is night time and time to go to sleep.

 

[kinyonga]

What's your basking temperature?

 

[snewpers]

34°C (~93°F) is what I measure with a digital probe and temp on the cooler side is 20°C (68°F).

I hand fed him some waxworks yesterday and some water with vitamines (syringe). He actually didn't mind it at all and sipped 3 syringes like that. Maybe he's dehydrated from being in the warmth 24/7 and only getting a misting a day and a waterbowl. I think I've read here that they almost never drink from a bowl and depend on waterdrops on leaves?

Anyway, he went to sleep on last night and after an hour or two he was hanging up-side-down from a branch. This morning he was still sleeping like that. I don;t think that's a problem so I only misted the other side of the enclosure without hitting him. Humidity is about 65% now.