Purchased jacksonii from import_need some advises_not eating_THANKS

[69marcel69]

Hello
First of all bought the chameleons from import . I m from Slovakia

I got them for 3 weeks and they are not eating so many. Mostly nothing. Its a big effort to put into them 1-2 crickets once per 2 days.

I bought them as a pair but i think they are two males so I put them into separate cages. I think the bigger one was terorizing smaller one

Speaking about technical stuffs:
Bigger cage is 135 x 45 x 175 cm
Smaller cage 135 x 45 x 70

Lights: on the right side UVB 150 and in smaller cage UVB 100
on left side 50 W exoterra heating and smaller cage 40 W classic light

Misting: 2 times per day morning and evening. - i try to keep humidity around 60 % and something around 95% during the night.

Can you please give me some advises how to restart their appetite?
About nutrition i didnt get any so far cos their dont want to eat.

Very fresh informations yesterday I tryed some flies and they were so excited. But i think I cant raise them on flies.
I´m sending all photos I have

Thanks so far

 

[rminnis]

Do you use a feeder bowl for the crix?

 

[69marcel69]

I made a feeders from the plastic bottles as I saw it on forum here.
Practically they are ignoring the food (crickets)
1-2 crickets every second day from hand feeding

 

[rminnis]

Most of the time they dont want you watching them when they eat unless you have gained their trust over months and months its likely the times they have eaten from your hand was just out of being very hungry! Leave some smaller crix in a clear bowl so they can see em crawling around and they will eat. If crix are still there next dayyou might try a slow moving feeder like silkworms or hornworms. dubai's and supers are good also. It sounds to me like they loved flies so mayb your crix look to big to them how big are the crix.

 

[leedragon]

wildcaught not not recognixe food when being put in dishes bolw and such. also what temperature do you have?
and other thing. never put the light inside of the cage. thats just a burn wound waiting to happen. have you test them for parasites?

 

[JacksJill]

I've heard wild caught can be tricky. I wouldn't expect them to have great appetites to begin. You can try a variety of feeder insects. Black soldier fly larva and adults are good. Adults might work for you since yours like flies already. Don't give them to many superworms but you can use one or two to test their appetite. You will have to give them space to adjust to captivity.

You will want to take a fecal sample in to the veterinarian when they settle down. Right now you don't want to stress them more with the parasite medications. Take them in if they don't start eating more over time.

Good luck to you.

 

[69marcel69]

First of all guys thanks alot for the support.

Rminis:

I´m trying to leave them as much peace and quiet as possible, as you mentioned I tried also clear bowl to leave crickets there but imagine that they have a cricket in front of them and they are totally ignoring them. I´m trying to put them smaller crickets not adults. It seems like they dont even know, like they never seen a prey like this. This is the reason that I ´m trying to get some crickets to them from hand feeding at least. For sure I want to try another food but right now is a season that is very difficult here to purchase some of that you are proposing. Thanks

Ieedragon:

I didnt test them yet, cos they r still I think being used to new enviroment and so on. I dont wanna stress them more. For the temperature its around 20-23 degrees during the day and during the night something around 15- 17 degrees - I have a peltier cooling system so trying to get 15 deg. during the night.
Speaking about the instalation, yes will do something with this. Thanks

Jacksjill:

Yes I agree, The bigger one which is twice as heavy as the other one has quiet a good sample for testing but the smaller and the fact that they are not eating so much dont make a sample as I want. I mentioned that yes i want to try another food but is hard to get some here. Its a winter time. So can be very challenging .

Guys just to be sure, If they dont eat so much but at least they r eating something from time to time and I have to say they

 

[69marcel69]

Ihave to say they are hydrated, should I worried of something or just wait till they settle down?

 

[dmrich]

Yes in Europe is is harder to get Jacksons than the US so often you have to take the chance with Wild Caught/Farmed from Africa. Some will eventually settle and adapt but some just won't. I had a pair - the female flourished but the male did not sadly. It depends what conditions they have been kept under during transit (often cramped, crowded with unsuitable temps) and when received by the distributor, how long this process has taken and how much stress they have had to endure during this process. They then have to adapt to the new captive environment from what they have been used to in the wild. I wish you all the best with them and keeping them in a quiet, well planted environment, separated and well hydrated will give them the best chance.

 

[69marcel69]

Thanks a lot. I cant say they are not feeling good, they have live plants, lightning, misting and so on, but their appetite is my biggest concern. Totally agree with the comments. I have to think that they have been caught in Africa and they probably experienced a lot till I bought them.

What do u think they are both males?? As i mentioned I bought them as a couple and heard the female can have also three fully grown horns.
Sending photos below

This is the first one, the smaller one.

And this is the bigger second one.
thx