Picky Panther Chameleon??

[catyspringer_]

I have a 10 month old Nosybe Panther Chameleon that I recently got from a reptile expo. He is a very picky eater. Has only eaten crickets, hornworms, and suddenly mealworms. I've tried Flukers Gourmet Grasshoppers and he doesn't seem to like those. What other things can he eat? Is there some other issue thats making him picky? He's been recently chewing at his fake log decor. I've been standing by his cage w a misting bottle and he's been drinking a lot. I try not to do crickets because as you can see, his custom made cage is FILLED w holes so I dont want the crickets escaping. When I first introduced him to mealworms he seemed hesitant-which eventually those died in his mealworm bowl and he finally decided to eat some(probably bc I fed him a hornworm day or so earlier). so, please help

 

[jamest0o0]

Panthers can be picky at times. Please go to the health clinic section. At the top it says how to ask for help. Click that. Copy and paste the form from their with your answers. Honestly, and no offense intended, but you sound like you could use some husbandry changes. If he is constantly drinking, he is probably dehydrated, as hydrated chameleons don't tend to drink often right in front of you. Also, mealworms are garbage, don't feed them. Same thing goes with those freeze dried bugs you mentioned. Use superworms instead of mealworms, but only as a treat. Roaches and/or crickets should make up the staple. Gutload with fresh organic veggies, a little fruit, bee pollen, and nuts/seeds. What are you supplementing with? So many questions we need answered before people can help you.

 

[blue_cham]

I second James. Also, to help with crickets, check out this old thread. Some people make diy cricket feeders out of milk jugs etc, that are supposed to keep crickets contained: https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/homemade-cricket-feeder.29638/

 

[catyspringer_]

Panthers can be picky at times. Please go to the health clinic section. At the top it says how to ask for help. Click that. Copy and paste the form from their with your answers. Honestly, and no offense intended, but you sound like you could use some husbandry changes. If he is constantly drinking, he is probably dehydrated, as hydrated chameleons don't tend to drink often right in front of you. Also, mealworms are garbage, don't feed them. Same thing goes with those freeze dried bugs you mentioned. Use superworms instead of mealworms, but only as a treat. Roaches and/or crickets should make up the staple. Gutload with fresh organic veggies, a little fruit, bee pollen, and nuts/seeds. What are you supplementing with? So many questions we need answered before people can help you.

I have a repti calcium that I constantly dust my live feeders with. I thought that Panthers aren't supposed to eat fruits or veggies? In the beginning when I first got him, I put lots of carrots, broccoli, and spinach pieces, and he still didn't seem interested. I asked the lady in charge of where I got this Cham from and she said to never feed them fruits and veggies. For the husbandry changes, what should I change?

 

[Remkon]

Not doing crickets (or dubia, or orangeheads etc) isn't really a good option, you need a good staple feeder that offers good nutrition (or gutloads well) ... Silkworms or hornworms could make a decent staple but are very expensive to use for this purpose and can cause a thin stool of offered to often.

I have a repti calcium that I constantly dust my live feeders with. I thought that Panthers aren't supposed to eat fruits or veggies? In the beginning when I first got him, I put lots of carrots, broccoli, and spinach pieces, and he still didn't seem interested. I asked the lady in charge of where I got this Cham from and she said to never feed them fruits and veggies. For the husbandry changes, what should I change?

You're supposed to gut load the feeders, not feed the veggies to the chameleon... Also spinach and broccoli are a bad gut load.

I must also add that you have a good size enclosure but it's very poorly decorated, your animal has only few branches so doesn't have many paths to travel in his enclosure, there is also little to no vegetation in his enclosure, real plants help maintain humidity and they will also make your animal feel more secure in his home.

 

[catyspringer_]

Not doing crickets (or dubia, or orangeheads etc) isn't really a good option, you need a good staple feeder that offers good nutrition (or gutloads well) ... Silkworms or hornworms could make a decent staple but are very expensive to use for this purpose and can cause a thin stool of offered to often.


You're supposed to gut load the feeders, not feed the veggies to the chameleon... Also spinach and broccoli are a bad gut load.

I must also add that you have a good size enclosure but it's very poorly decorated, your animal has only few branches so doesn't have many paths to travel in his enclosure, there is also little to no vegetation in his enclosure, real plants help maintain humidity and they will also make your animal feel more secure in his home.

HAHA ohhhhh I see what you mean, I gut load the crickets with cricket quencher and a cricket block in the cricket cage. I was told also by the seller for my cham, to feed him hibiscus or gardenia sticks. would that damage him? I'll definitely look into some more decor, especially live plants. Where could I buy roaches or any other live feeder good for my panther Cham besides crickets,superworms/mealworms, and hornworms? I ask because crickets, super worms/mealworms, and hornworms are what I found in PetSmart.

 

[catyspringer_]

HAHA ohhhhh I see what you mean, I gut load the crickets with cricket quencher and a cricket block in the cricket cage. I was told also by the seller for my cham, to feed him hibiscus or gardenia sticks. would that damage him? I'll definitely look into some more decor, especially live plants. Where could I buy roaches or any other live feeder good for my panther Cham besides crickets,superworms/mealworms, and hornworms? I ask because crickets, super worms/mealworms, and hornworms are what I found in PetSmart.

also I'd like to add that I already purchase a bunch of small crickets in store bc of my juvenile mack snow leopard gecko

 

[jamest0o0]

That cricket quencher and food is garbage. That's not a suitable gutload. Honestly Petco and petsmart are trash and I wouldn't listen to a word they tell you there. If you do, there's probably a lot you need changing...

 

[jamest0o0]

Panthers can be picky at times. Please go to the health clinic section. At the top it says how to ask for help. Click that. Copy and paste the form from their with your answers. Honestly, and no offense intended, but you sound like you could use some husbandry changes.

Once again...