second hunger strike!

[royden]

So Otto was refusing free roaming crickets this fall and I switched to cup fed dubia's. Worked great for a while, Took him a while to get used to the cup feeding thing, but eventually he got the hang of it.

Now he's quit again. He's eaten 2 roaches in over 7 days. I'm starting to see his spine.

He's pooping fairly regularly (when he actually has food in him). Seems healthy, and angry otherwise. I recently installed a promist, but he kinda quit eating before I installed that.

Do only veiled's do this? It's really frustrating. Three weeks ago I had is system worked out really good, I didn't have to spray him or feed him for 7 days because he ate out of his cup, was misted by the mister, and was taken care of. Now I'm leaving for the holidays in a week and I'm worried since the only roaches he's eaten in the last few weeks have been right out of my hand. It's like he ate out of the cup for a few weeks and then forgot where it went.

Anyhow - mainly venting here, but feel free to advise.

 

[dodolah]

i say it's time for another type of feeder.
silkies, phoenix worm, or flies are all good feeder that they can't resist.
but, try doing crickets again.. he might eat them.

I know my cham's decided to go back on crix diet again after 2 weeks of silkies.

 

[royden]

Haven't tried silkies yet, but nearly everything else. Thanks dodolah

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Superworms would be great for a little while as well, and quite a bit easier to get quickly.

-Brad

 

[royden]

I've tried super worms repeatidly. He won't touch 'em.

I heard about a method of tossing them in his mouth while he's hissing at me, not sure if that's a good idea or not. Anyone tried this?

 

[dectr6]

I've done it several times. No problem at all. Mine's only been eating about two or three crix or grasshoppers every other day for awhile now. I finally figured out it's just a seasonal thing. I've been weighing him carefully on a digital scale and he's actually gained about ten grams. In the beginning though, I was scared about his drop off in appetite and would toss about four feeders in his mouth every day. He'd eat them every time. Keep us posted. David

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Royden- How long will you be gone? You're a little too far, and our schedule a little too full, for us to check up on him at your place. But we could maybe meet somewhere for a hand-off and take him in while you're gone. I hand mist several times a day and can hand feed, as well. We have silkies and roaches, etc.

Our male veiled, Wolfgang, is on a hunger strike, too. And, no, our other chams, panthers, Meller's, pygmys don't seem to delight in torturing us with the occasional hunger strike.

We are force feeding Wolfie, because he is a rescue, and still considered "at risk". He is still too thin to be allowed the indulgence of a hunger strike.

We tried tossing them in wolfie's mouth while he hissed/gaped, but he just spits it out. Kind of funny to watch, if it weren't so frustrating.

 

[dodolah]

I've tried super worms repeatidly. He won't touch 'em.

I heard about a method of tossing them in his mouth while he's hissing at me, not sure if that's a good idea or not. Anyone tried this?

o yea.. try weighing him.
See if he actually drop his weight.. if he is keeping his weight, he might have been eating behind your back

 

[Orin]

Do you have any lobsters available to try? I've had some veileds that just don't like Blaptica dubia (or Blaberus and other feeders with mottled color and a thicker shell) but have never had one that refused lobsters - large nymphs.

 

[royden]

Thanks for the response guys! I'll PM you gesang!