Not eating! Please help!

[athena9995]

Your Chameleon - Male veiled about 6 months old in my care since 6 weeks old
Handling - Almost never
Feeding - Crickets, giant meal worms, super worms, horn worms
Supplements - Calcium w/D3 once per month, herpavite once a month, calcium w/o D3 daily
Watering - Misting 4 times a day and a misting system. I've never seen him drink.
Fecal Description - None at this time, but has always been dark brown with gleaming white urates.
Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? No
History - No previous health problems
Cage Info:
Cage Type - 2 x 2 x 4 screen enclosure
Lighting - 12 hours light & 12 hours dark 5.0 linear UVB & commercial basking bulb
Temperature - Temp is in the high 70's to low 80's. Basking spot close to 90. Overnight temp in the upper 60's. Measured digitally.
Humidity - Humidity around 50%
Plants - Live ficus & live pothos
Placement - Cage is in low traffic area with the bottom about 3 feet off the ground and top near ceiling.
Location - NE Illinois

Current Problem - Currently not eating or pooping no matter what kind of feeder I put in. I'm so worried! Please help!

 

[Elizadolots]

How long has he been off food?

 

[Miss Lily]

Do you have any substrate in the bottom of the cage at all? It may be possible that he has eaten something he shouldn't.

 

[athena9995]

It's been a couple of days now. There is no substrate in the bottom at all and I have river rock covering the soil the plants are in.

 

[Gensen]

Hope all's ok...

Gosh, I wish I had some insight for you... so since I doin't just wanted to offer my support. Hope your guy starts eating again for you. Some Chams are secrete drinkers so I would not worry about the fact that you do not see him drinking as long as you are misting and dripping ect. and his poop and urates look good.... understandably if he is not eating he is not pooping.

Could it be he is just at the age where his eating is slowing? Maybe someone with more knowledge will chime in here to assist you. If it were me I would just try to offer a variety of feeders and hopefully he will break his hunger strike for you. I have heard that Chams can go on strikes but I am not exactly sure what all causes this behavior???

 

[athena9995]

I'm not sure what to do. I thought he would for sure eat some hornworms, but he's ignoring them too.

 

[PedroANDAshley]

He could just be bored of his food and need some spicing up
try getting some CB flies from a supplier or maybe some silk worms.

If its only been a couple of days I wouldnt worry too much,
If it persists Id give him a shower by placing him on a plant in the shower and placing the shower head towards the wall and letting the water bounce back on him and the plant,
this helps to get the bowl movements going.

If this doesnt work Id take him to a vet if its been a while and hes showing signs of impaction.
Signs of impaction are pretty apparent in most cases which include lethargy, bloatedness, and no appiete.

 

[GavinSTAN13]

This is the exact same situation as im in, my bout 10 month old ambilobe hasnt eaten in bout a day and half, and im not but 15 minutes from darien. I have a feeling it may be because of the temperture change they may be in a little shock, please keep me posted.

 

[kinyonga]

If he's behaving normally in every way except the eating, its likely not a problem. It could be that he is growing up and doesn't need to eat so much.

 

[athena9995]

That makes sense. He did just shed again.

 

[Metric]

I was just about to ask if he went through or if he is currently go through a shed.

Doesn't sound like a problem yet, If you see any strange behaviour outside the eating then I'd be worried, or if this persists for a few more days.

Try some waxworms or phoenix worms if you can get them.

 

[chameleon884]

once he gets hungry enough, he will have to eat sometime. if he has white urates, then obviously he is drinking.

try to hand feed him some fruit, or greens.

 

[athena9995]

He finally pooped, but it's a greyish color instead of the normal black and he's obviously dehydrated. Is it that this shed has really pre-occupied him to that point? Should I assume that since he did finally poop that he'll be getting back to normal now?

 

[Gensen]

He finally pooped, but it's a greyish color instead of the normal black and he's obviously dehydrated. Is it that this shed has really pre-occupied him to that point? Should I assume that since he did finally poop that he'll be getting back to normal now?

Well, it's a good sign... just keep a close eye and be observant... and keep him hydrated well.

 

[athena9995]

Things seem a little better. He was a lot more active today and I got to see him drink for the first time!