Won't eat

[OahuJacksons]

I haven 3 Jackson's chameleon, one of them (girl tombe exact) is nice army green and eats like theres no tomorrow, and the other 2 are black with grayish stripes going long ways and won't eat. I put mealworms in side there dish but it seams like the girl all ways eats the food. I try to hand feed the other 2 Chams but they won't take it. The only time they eat is if they see flys. What should I do??? Please help me out mahalo.
-OahuJacksons

 

[MelissaB]

Are all three of them in the same cage? The one that eats all the time may be intimidating the other two. You really need separate cages for each chameleon, as they are not social animals.

 

[OahuJacksons]

Are all three of them in the same cage? The one that eats all the time may be intimidating the other two. You really need separate cages for each chameleon, as they are not social animals.

Yes I have them I'm the same cage but right now I cant seperait them cuz I don't have the funds to get material for a new cage is there any other advice?

 

[Miss Lily]

In a previous post you mentioned grabbing them from the wild. Maybe they are having a hard time adjusting to captivity. Chameleons aren't social creatures and don't want or need company even from the same species. The dark ones are probably being stressed by the presence of the others. All chameleons take time to adjust, but these will have much more adjusting to do. They are now relying on you to feed them as they are not able to choose what and how much they eat. It's also highly likely that the female is gravid. So you could have even more in the near future. Babies should not be housed with adults, and the adults should be separated too as you already know.

 

[carol5208]

If you cannot give them the proper housing by separating them, then I would put them back in the wild where you got them from

 

[OahuJacksons]

In a previous post you mentioned grabbing them from the wild. Maybe they are having a hard time adjusting to captivity. Chameleons aren't social creatures and don't want or need company even from the same species. The dark ones are probably being stressed by the presence of the others. All chameleons take time to adjust, but these will have much more adjusting to do. They are now relying on you to feed them as they are not able to choose what and how much they eat. It's also highly likely that the female is gravid. So you could have even more in the near future. Babies should not be housed with adults, and the adults should be separated too as you already know.

I didn't say I got them from the wild and if i did thats my mistake sorry. But I got them from a local breeder and they all are young I would say 3 months old I tried posting pics of the, on the forum but Im using an iPad. And do u think chaterpillars are safe to feed? The green with black strips and yellow poke dots?

 

[carol5208]

I didn't say I got them from the wild and if i did thats my mistake sorry. But I got them from a local breeder and they all are young I would say 3 months old I tried posting pics of the, on the forum but Im using an iPad. And do u think chaterpillars are safe to feed? The green with black strips and yellow poke dots?

oh, ok I was only commenting on what I read. You have to be careful with caterpillars and brightly colored butterflies and things of that nature as they can be poisonous. I would not feed what you are describing and take the chance. I remember someone posting their chameleon ate a bunch of lady bugs that were in the outdoor enclosure and the chameleon died. The only caterpillars I feed are the ones that you can buy like silkworms, or hormworms. We know they are safe.

 

[OahuJacksons]

oh, ok I was only commenting on what I read. You have to be careful with caterpillars and brightly colored butterflies and things of that nature as they can be poisonous. I would not feed what you are describing and take the chance. I remember someone posting their chameleon ate a bunch of lady bugs that were in the outdoor enclosure and the chameleon died. The only caterpillars I feed are the ones that you can buy like silkworms, or hormworms. We know they are safe.

Ok I won't feed them that. But I took notice that when I take out one of my boy Jackson's the other boy starts turning a nicer color...Why is that? Is he getting territorial?

 

[carol5208]

I am not sure why the color change. There are so many reasons why they change colors. It could be they are happy he is gone out of the enclosure and feel stressed when he is in there? I really don't know, just a guess!

 

[OahuJacksons]

I am not sure why the color change. There are so many reasons why they change colors. It could be they are happy he is gone out of the enclosure and feel stressed when he is in there? I really don't know, just a guess!

Haha all right thanks for all the help man I really appreciat it

 

[Sticktongue]

I think Carol is right about the stress. Like she said, theirs a lot of reasons for color changes. However, when the other turns a more light green when one male is removed, I have to believes it's because Hes glad the other is out of there. I'd either return 2 of the charms or buy more cages. It sucks I know, but you could ultimately lose Two of them due to stress overloads.