not eating!!!!

M

mgbaseball1918

New Member
hey i just got a 6 month old veiled chameleon(male) and he hasn't eaten since i brought him home. its been about 4 days now and im getting really worried. the people at the store said he had been eating well before i took him home. he is in a screen cage, i spray him down 3-4 times a day, and he just finished shedding. iv been putting crickets in his cage every morning and today i put a couple of mealworms and a superworm in a cup in his cage. still, nothing. he was in a glass terrarium until this afternoon when i made the switch to a screen cage as it is supposed ot be much better for him. iv been dusting the crickets and everything, tried to hand feed...but still nothing. if anyone has advice it would be greatly appreciated.

thanks
matt
 
Please answer all questions using brand names when possible. I suspect he is just adjusting, but temperature and cricket size could also be issues.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and type 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?
Location - 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?

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.
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.
 
Cage Info:
Cage Type -screen fresh air habitat, 26/24/12
Lighting - i have a combo light in there with a reptisun 5.0, a blue daylight bulb, and a red nightlight, the nightlight stays on all night, the rest go for 12 hours during the day
Temperature - the basking spot is around 90, the bottom of the cage is at around 82, i have 2 thermometers
Humidity - i have a humidity gauge that says the humidity level is around 65-70
Plants - not yet using live plants, going to get some ficus plants today
Location - the cage is on top of my dresser which is pretty high up, not much traffic, and there are 2 fans in my room but not pointed towards him, and we have a/c

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - veiled chameleon, 6 months old and i have had him for 5 days
Handling - i had been holding him quite a bit but then i read that was bad so i stopped
Feeding - iv been taking out the old crickets and replacing them wtih new ones every day, and theres a dish with 3 meealworms and one superworm in it. i gutload all my crix and worms with carrotts and cucumbers.
Supplements - iv been putting reptivite with d3 on everything i put in his cage
Watering - iv been misting his cage, and occasionally using a drip, i got him to drink last night by squirting a soft stream of water on his nose, he opened his mouth and drank.
Fecal Description - last time i saw, it was yellow which means dehydration, but after how much he drank last night i thinkt hats ok.droppings. no he hasnt been tested for parasites
History - none
Current Problem - reptar isnt eating
 
I am a little short on time but this is what i suggest:

1. get rid of the red night light. chameleons are sensative to light and will sleep poorly.

2. Shedding also throws off appetites in my opinion.

3. stopping handling him for now at least until he adjusts and then it still a questionable activity

4. i believe your temperatures are a little high for a six month old but i have more experience with montane species

5. its likely you should be misting for longer periods and using a dripper more often till hydration status improves

good luck

S
 
Ok-first get rid of the compact bulb if that is what you have-if it is a linear flouresent tube then you are OK. Your temps are a bit too high, a basking spot around 90 is fine, but put it to one side so he can get out of the heat if he needs to. No night light or heat, they need darkness but more important is a night temperature drop. Stop handling until you notice he is eating OK then only handle on HIS terms. TOO much D3. You need 3 supplements, what you have, a calcium without D3 whih is what you will use most days, and a multil-vitamin like Hertivite to use a few times monthly. Mist 3X daily for about 3-5 minutes each time-yes it will seem like alot of water. Also, your cage will be too small too soon! Male Veileds do best in 24X24X48 if not bigger. Have any pictures?
 
The reptivite also contains preformed vitamin A.

I gutload with a wide variety (not just a couple of things at a time) of greens (dandelions, kale, endive, collards, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, celery leaves, zucchini, etc.). You want the insects to be as nutritious as possible.

This information doesn't have anything to do with why your chameleon isn't eating....just wanted to make you aware of these things. Hopefully its just settling in.
 
hi guys, just signed up. i picked up 2 yehmens 8 days ago, male n female about 11weeks old i was told. i was sold a 60x45x60 exo terra with reptiglo 2.0uvb and a 240v 60w heat bulb which are fitted in side. all plastic plants except some twigs, and some vines i got the other day, been readin alot about them n it doesnt sound the best setup but i was told it would keep things simple and uncomplicated, ive been feedin about 15 crickets and 6 waxworms a day and mistin 3times a day, any ideas on my setup? they just shedin to
thanx nathan
 
he just pooped out something that looks almost like a worm, its yellowish and it looks like it has a little bit of blood on it...im pretty nervous. lemme know
 
nathanuk said:
hi guys, just signed up. i picked up 2 yehmens 8 days ago, male n female about 11weeks old i was told. i was sold a 60x45x60 exo terra with reptiglo 2.0uvb and a 240v 60w heat bulb which are fitted in side. all plastic plants except some twigs, and some vines i got the other day, been readin alot about them n it doesnt sound the best setup but i was told it would keep things simple and uncomplicated, ive been feedin about 15 crickets and 6 waxworms a day and mistin 3times a day, any ideas on my setup? they just shedin to
thanx nathan
Click to expand...

Hey man, welcome to the forums, but if you have a question about your cham you should start your own thread for quicker answers.
 
thanks a lot guys, but anyone else know anything about my other post?

"he just pooped out something that looks almost like a worm, its yellowish and it looks like it has a little bit of blood on it...im pretty nervous. lemme know"

any ideas would be awesome
thanks,
matt
 
mgbaseball1918 said:
thanks a lot guys, but anyone else know anything about my other post?

"he just pooped out something that looks almost like a worm, its yellowish and it looks like it has a little bit of blood on it...im pretty nervous. lemme know"

any ideas would be awesome
thanks,
matt
Click to expand...

when in doubt, take a picture and post it here.
It will help a TON!
is it moving?
 
nah it wasnt moving, i duno though, its so gross. ill take a picture when i get home. should i be worried about him not eating for so long?
 
i thought that the urates were the little amount of white or yellow stuff that comes out when he takes a dump, this was like 1/2 inch - 1 inch long and came out independantly....and he is green, sometimes with yellow patches
 
I would just leave him completely alone until he settles in. Any time you change the cage, or even location of the cage, it can make them nervous and they won't be as likely to eat. He's been through alot for a chameleon in the past week, just let him chill and keep an eye on him. Make sure to keep up on his misting schedule and do not handle him at all until he's good and relaxed over the next month or so. Reptiles can go a pretty long time without eating compared to warm blooded animals. Might not be ideal but it probably won't hurt him in the long run as long as he gets back on food soon.
 
i saw him eat a cricket today....only one, but he absolutly owned it..hopefully its a sign of him gradually becoming comfortable and eating again. thanks!
 
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