Not eating

[brando-the-cham]

I just got a new veiled chameleon his name is Ringo! I just got him Saturday. Tomorrow will be the 4th day i have had him. Is it normal for him to not be eating the crickets? I put my hand in there with the tweezers and he backs away and looks scared. Is this normal and is there anything i can do to make him eat

 

[jpowell86]

Have you tried cup feeding?

4 days is not enough time for him to feel secure in his new home. So, don't be surprised that he is not willing to eat from tweezers or your hands or even at all if you're present. Every chameleon has a different personality and will acclimate accordingly. My suggestion would be to cup feed him, that way you can control how many crickets you are giving him each time. Leave him alone for a while and see if he eats.

 

[brando-the-cham]

ok!

Have you tried cup feeding?

4 days is not enough time for him to feel secure in his new home. So, don't be surprised that he is not willing to eat from tweezers or your hands or even at all if you're present. Every chameleon has a different personality and will acclimate accordingly. My suggestion would be to cup feed him, that way you can control how many crickets you are giving him each time. Leave him alone for a while and see if he eats.

Ok! So do i just put some crickets in a cup and set it in the leaves?

 

[Micky23]

Have you tried roley-poley's or pill bugs yet?

 

[MaiRemy]

I usually place a cricket on a vine away from him and he'll eat it as it goes along the vine. He prefers to hunt the crickets for some reason. As for worms, took him a bit but i gave one to try by placing it on the leaf and he'll grub and want more but I'll stop and try with the tongs and he'll debate. With enough patience, he will do it. You just have to give him time to trust you. Ours snatches it the moment I bring a worm near now. Even off our hands!

 

[jpowell86]

ok!

Ok! So do i just put some crickets in a cup and set it in the leaves?

You can either use a semi shallow dish and just set it on the floor of the enclosure...or you can do like I do and place the feeders in a clear cup and attach it somewhere mid level in the enclosure.