Stupid Question

[hbskeet]

So I received my first panther the other day. Bc I'm a Pygmy breeder I'm not use to the "normal" for panthers. Everything seems to be fine with him except one thing. He won't eat. The previous owner said he fed him last in sat or sun. I got him yesterday and he won't eat. I left a cup w crickets and nothing. The previous owner use to hand feed and I tried that and nothing. Any suggestions?!?! His first poo was yesterday and it came out in two ovals and you could see the cricket outline in them. is that normal? He drinks well, never flairs up. Climbs on my hand and hangs out while I watch tv. Never gaps or hisses. Totally tame. He's 1 1/2. Should I just keep trying? I just know it's been 4-5 days since his last feeding. A little worried. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sdheli420]

he looks fine..just maybe still acclimating to you..especially since he is tame (like my chams) they are reluctant to feed from other humans but me..he will have to get used to you..try offering him all kinds of feeders, eventually he will start to take food from you..mine started not eating from the cup and only by hand latley(boy, i hope that doesent stick with them for long)!!

 

[hbskeet]

Yeah I figured that. I just had to ask. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the assurance.

 

[heartben]

i think more heat will help with digestion, but i havent had to deal with that yet. i could be completely wrong, feel like ive read it a few times before though.

 

[panther67]

He will eat eventually. My Ambilobe will eat like crazy for a week or two and then go off for a few days to a week. No matter what they get more food with us than they ever would in the wild.

 

[hbskeet]

He will eat eventually. My Ambilobe will eat like crazy for a week or two and then go off for a few days to a week. No matter what they get more food with us than they ever would in the wild.

Sounds good. thanks...I cant help but wonder...

 

[DeremensisBlue]

Sounds good. thanks...I cant help but wonder...

It looks like he has some pretty healthy fat pads on his head so you have a little time before you start worrying. I am going through the exact same thing. I got two panthers, one tame and the other not. The non tame one that sees us as merely deliverers of food will eat no problem. The tame one is sulking. They do get comfortable with the humans they see alot. I agree with some of the previous postings. Give him time to get used to you.

 

[hbskeet]

So its been about a week since my panther last ate. I leave two large crickets in a feeding dish I mafe and I also try to hand feed everyday but with no aval???

 

[seanUTD]

At this point I have to ask how much you trust the person that sold him to you... I really can't imagine besides a few things (parasites, heavy fat foods, etc) why the cham would not be eating by now... In that pic, your avatar.. I see no reason why he would not be eating right now unless there was 1) another husbandry issue 2) one of the things I posted above.

Fill out the ask for help, maybe but I doubt it seeing your experience, there is something else...

More likely I feel that the other owner was feeding a very high fat food that the cham became more inclined to eat which would account for how "healthy" your cham looks... Maybe wax worms, supers, or something else like that so it may just take some finagling with different feeders...

I hope it gets better

 

[sandrachameleon]

Try not handling him or even being around him much for a few days.
Try a larger bowl instead of a cup - allows the feeders to move around more, which in turn attracts attention better. A dark coloured, matt (not shiny) bowl is usually better than a white or metal one.

Your animal looks healthy.
so long as he is drinking, do not be concerned. They can easily go a week and up to three without eating.

 

[drcrossfire]

What temperature do you have his Basking spot at? If you can still see cricket parts its probably not being metabolized fully which could mean a.) its not warm enough at the basking spot or b.) they were fed to close to lights being shut off.

I know its not quite an issue yet, but when he does eat (which will happen, sometimes hunger strikes occur) just make sure everything is proper!

Regards,
Dan

 

[hbskeet]

His basketing spot runs between 91-95. But he likes to chill on the other end of the cage still towards the top. It ranges around 80-85 during the day.

 

[Elizadolots]

You might be a bit warm on the basking temp. I'd suggest 90 as the top temp.

Do you need to cup feed? My suggestion would be to let the crickets go wild in the cage and then monitor the poop.

 

[Alexl]

I got him yesterday and he won't eat. I left a cup w crickets and nothing. The previous owner use to hand feed and I tried that and nothing. Any suggestions?!?

If I look at the picture... he seems to be very, very well fed. Somewhat overfed, just take a look at the plump casque. Well, I don't wonder why he refuses eating. An adult panther chameleon should even have no problem to eat nothing over a week or two. So don't worry, wait until he feels comfortable in his new environment and eats again - and cut down feeding then.

 

[hbskeet]

So it's day 10 of not eating. I trust the previous owner. I've seen him eat from him. I even took his cricket colony that he didnt need anymore which he used to feed him. I've tried supers and even meals but with no interest. I also leave some crickets in a clear white deli cup tied up in thevines. I offer him one every morning and evening by hand. Lately he acknowledges it but doest really care too much. He drinks all the time though so thats a plus.

 

[hbskeet]

You might be a bit warm on the basking temp. I'd suggest 90 as the top temp.

Do you need to cup feed? My suggestion would be to let the crickets go wild in the cage and then monitor the poop.

Im dont like free ranging crickets. The only crickets I let free range are for my pygmies and I dump 12 every other day 5 brevs and 7 for my 3 temps. But the second I drop those in it's a free for all and no crickets get left. My Rudis girls live together and get cup fed. My Panther was hand fed and cup fed anyways. So I figure it's best to keep the same technique until he eats.

 

[AMGChams]

Im dont like free ranging crickets. The only crickets I let free range are for my pygmies and I dump 12 every other day 5 brevs and 7 for my 3 temps. But the second I drop those in it's a free for all and no crickets get left. My Rudis girls live together and get cup fed. My Panther was hand fed and cup fed anyways. So I figure it's best to keep the same technique until he eats.

My male veiled is just a shy eater and will not eat or drink if I am any where near him. Maybe like the others have said he might just need time to get used to you and to associate you with food. If you back off on trying to hand feed him he might come around.

 

[hbskeet]

Sounds good. I'm just letting him be for now. Hopefully he eats the crickets in the cup soon.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I also leave some crickets in a clear white deli cup tied up in thevines.

White puts some panthers off. some of mine will not eat from white or shiny bowls. Clear /transparent can also cause issues.
Use a dark coloured opaque bowl, large enough in size that the crickets or whatever have a good space to move about in. Hang the bowl below where he likes to hang out in the cage.

 

[hbskeet]

Never thought of a black one. Sorry I didnt mean to type white. I use a clear one, as I figured he could see them in there. I use the deli cups that crickets come in as they are large enough so the crickets can't jump out. Ill look for something black though. Do you have any suggestions?