Panther not eating well

[joshuaseidman94]

So, my one year old panther ambanja has been eating incredibly poorly lately. He started his stubbornness by only eating supers and isopods, and now will only eat isopods. I posted a thread at the link below a few days ago and a member recommended I don't feed him any supers or isopods and wait till he gives in to eating dubias or crickets. He mentioned this may take a few WEEKS!! Is this good advice? I am nervous he will starve if I don't feed him what he will eat? If you require any additional husbandry info its all posted below! Thanks!!

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon*- one year old panther ambanja. I have had him for about 7-8 months.
How long has it been in your care? 7-8 months
Handling*- I handle my chameleon about 2-3 times a week.
Feeding*- Superworms and Isopods
What amount? About 3-4 superworm and 4 isopod.
What is the schedule? Everyday around 2 pm
How are you gut-loading your feeders? Supers are currently gutloaded with carrots and fruit. Iopods eat the food my colony was supplied with.
Supplements*- calcium w/o D3 everyday, multivitamin and Calcium w/ D3 every 2 weeks.
Watering*- Mistiking watering system.
How often and how long to you mist? 4 times a day. 3 times @ 2 minute intervals and 1 time at 3 minutes.
Do you see your chameleon drinking? Yes
Fecal Description: brown long feces with white urate attaches. Sperm plugs also are released.
Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? No
History*- No problems other then feeding habits.
Cage Info:
Cage Type*- Screen cage
What are the dimensions? 2x2x4
Lighting*- 1 6% arcadia, 1 6500k daylight, 1 75W heat bulb
What is your daily lighting schedule? 7-7
Temperature*- 92°F basking 82-85°F below, 75-78°F lowest spot Lowest overnight temp? 68°F
How do you measure these temps? Thermometer
Humidity*- What are your humidity levels? 65%-75% majority of the day.
How are you creating and maintaining these levels? Live plants and regular misting sessions.
What do you use to measure humidity? Hydrometer
Plants*- Are you using live plants? Yes
If so, what kind? Hibiscus and golden pothos
Placement*- Where is your cage located? My bedroom
Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? No
At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? 6.5-7ft
Location*- Where are you geographically located? New York
Current Problem*- my cham has been very picky about eating lately. When I first got him I was feeding him crickets and had no problem. Then I made the switch to dubia roaches because he stopped eating crickets. He ate the dubia roaches for about a month and I mixed supers and Isopods in so he wasn't only eating dubias. He then refused dubias. So now he will ONLY eat isopods and supers. However, he will only eat about 3 supers and 4-5 isopods. So I am getting nervous that he is not eating enough. When he sleeps or basks he looks very healthy l. But when he roams his cage or "deflates" his body he looks very skinny. I do not know if it is normal for them to deflate and look skinny. Can someone please help?


https://www.chameleonforums.com/panther-not-eating-well-136198/

 

[shawn_melanson]

I'm have the same problem my guy is eating crickets but just enough to get him by

 

[zlew]

Me 3. is yours an ambanja too? Mine is also underweight. He will only eat dubious and even then only 1 or 2 a day. He's about 5-6 months old.

 

[Juliaf3]

You need to get a fecal done. Everything in you husbandry looks great and your gut loading is good. It's completely normal and common for chameleons to get parasites. They get them through their feeders. There is really no way to prevent it. It's happens. You hiss have to treat it and move on.

 

[sgiac801]

He sounds like a picky eater, I think it's usually OK to not feed them for a few days to encourage them eating different foods. Think of how he would eat in the wild, I think he'd be ok not eating for a little while to try to encourage his appetite. Make sure he's watered well.

 

[FlChamMom]

You need to get a fecal done. Everything in you husbandry looks great and your gut loading is good. It's completely normal and common for chameleons to get parasites. They get them through their feeders. There is really no way to prevent it. It's happens. You hiss have to treat it and move on.

I agree with Juliaf3. Rule out parasites first. I guarantee 95% of the "my cham suddenly won't eat" threads on the forums are due to parasites. Its a good idea to have a fecal done 2x a year regardless to catch them quickly. If you have a vet for him already you can just take in a fresh poop sample for the test, otherwise most vets make you bring in the cham for a visit with the poop. The medication is oral and no big deal.

 

[Sanababit]

I agree with Juliaf3. Rule out parasites first. I guarantee 95% of the "my cham suddenly won't eat" threads on the forums are due to parasites. Its a good idea to have a fecal done 2x a year regardless to catch them quickly. If you have a vet for him already you can just take in a fresh poop sample for the test, otherwise most vets make you bring in the cham for a visit with the poop. The medication is oral and no big deal.

Hello, question, what if he hasnt eaten for 2-3 weeks and since it hasnt eaten there is no poop, that is whats happenning with mine, it hasen't eaten for some time, maybe 1-2 worms a fly and a moth, no cricks, no meales, no isopods, etc, i am trying to buy some blue bottle flies, i think they might get him to eat again

Sana

 

[SycoSquirl]

my cham is just a picky eater also, 7 month old rbbb panther and little one is OBSESSED with supers and will only eat supers and a couple of crickets, im trying the whole refusing supers thing to get him to hopefully change his diet over a bit haha but my breeder told me that his entire bloodline will not eat dubias so it kinda sucks hahaha good luck with yours but i would give in and give their favorites for now to get a bowel movement then rule out parasites and try again

 

[FlChamMom]

Hello, question, what if he hasnt eaten for 2-3 weeks and since it hasnt eaten there is no poop, that is whats happenning with mine, it hasen't eaten for some time, maybe 1-2 worms a fly and a moth, no cricks, no meales, no isopods, etc, i am trying to buy some blue bottle flies, i think they might get him to eat again

Sana

What goes in must come out... If he is eating anything then he is pooping somewhere. They only need the tiniest bit to do the test.

 

[kinyonga]

Please post recent pictures.

Are the pads on the top of his head protruding or sunken in?