Does this guy look OK to you? - Page 2

Elizadolots · #11 02-28-2010, 11:20 PM

From what I've read, the best approach to a hunger strike is to wait him out. He'll get hungry. Obviously, if it goes on for too long you'll need to do more. Introducing new feeders is definitely an option.

You might try wax worms for a first temptation...they are basically balls of fat with no redeeming social value and so, fun to eat.

Plan on returning to your primary feeder once you break the strike. This isn't a "change in primary feeder" it's a "getting him to take the first bite" situation.

Those Dubia roaches people talk about here are very "unroachlike"...you can probably call them something else. They have advantages that your wife would probably appreciate. The big one being they don't smell bad. They also are not climbers. I suspect that means you'll need to cup feed. From what I've read here they are a good basic feeder so if your chameleon liked them, you could switch over to Dubias instead of crickets.

Jakedn · #12 03-01-2010, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroprojector

Can you tell me if this guy looks OK to you? I got him about two month ago and everything was OK. About a week or maybe little more I noticed that he was not eating much. He would still eat but not as many crickets as before. He started to shed, so I thought may be that is why he was not eating much, strange thing though only his head was shedding. At this point I think he is done shedding but he still does not eat. I just got a mister and now I mist him 3 times a day 5 minutes each time. I have seen him drinking. Does his eyes look sunken to you?

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Mash metal screen, 18x18x36. I covered the back of the cage with plastic to keep the humidity in and mostly not to get water on the wall. I just finished remodeling the house. There is plenty of ventilation as all other sides completely open.

* Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? 18" ReptiSun 10.0 UVB light, for heat I use regular 65W flood light.
*Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? I don’t have a digital thermometer yet. I know that the room temperature during the day is 75 degrees and at night it drops to 68 degrees.
* Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Mistking 3 times a day 5 minutes each time. Water dripper.

* Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? I have a large schefflora. I had to trim it a little bit.
* Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? The cage located in my kid room. On the stand. There no wents nearby.

* Location - Where are you geographically located? Los Angeles, CA 91344

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - The species = Jackson Chameleon, sex= Male, and age of your chameleon = about 4 to 5 month.
* Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Once I week.
* Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? Have pin head crickets in cage right now but going to go get other varieties at pet store soon... recommendations welcome What amount? About 5 to 6 medium size crickets a day. I tried hornworms, he ate couple at one time, but was not interested in them since. I dusted some with Calcium and others with minerals powder. What is the schedule? Daily, calcium with no d3, twice a month with d3 and once a month with supplements and minerals. How are you gut-loading your feeders? Vegetables, potatoes, oranges

* Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Calcium with vitamin D3, Calcium w/o vitamin D3 and Mineral powder.

* Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Mistking 3 times a day 5 minutes per time and water dripper.
* Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. White liquid and brown solid stuff.

* History – I got the chameleon at the Pomona reptile show on Saturday the 9th. I bought from FL Chams. The sales guy told me that the chameleon was wild caught in Hawaii. They had several of them in the cage and they were selling them very quickly.

* Current Problem – have not been eating much lately sometimes several days in a row. I have seen him drink.

There is some edema going on with him, I suspect it could be over-supplementation as jackson's chameleons are more sensitive to supplements than some of the other species are, make sure when you dust the feeders they are not caked, but lightly dusted.

It is very common for wild caught chameleons to be riddled with parasites and this could be the reason he is not eating much. I recommend that you get a fecal done and then treat any parasites you find, if you find any.

astroprojector · #13 03-01-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakedn

There is some edema going on with him, I suspect it could be over-supplementation as jackson's chameleons are more sensitive to supplements than some of the other species are, make sure when you dust the feeders they are not caked, but lightly dusted.

It is very common for wild caught chameleons to be riddled with parasites and this could be the reason he is not eating much. I recommend that you get a fecal done and then treat any parasites you find, if you find any.

How do see from the pictures that he has edema?

jeffro · #14 03-01-2010, 11:47 AM

If at all possible get some mantids they always do the trick for my guys!! and make sure the temps dont get to high this is one of the worst things for them!
They dont need the high temps other chams do !! Good Luck

astroprojector · #15 03-01-2010, 11:52 AM

I think the temps are OK, In fact I see him sometimes clinging to the cage right under the heat lamp.

Where do I get mantids?

Cainschams · #16 03-01-2010, 12:45 PM

5 to 6 medium crix a day IMO is overkill. He does seem to be of older age, not a juvie at least. I feed my montanes around 6 appropriate sized crix or equivilant to every other day. A few times a month I will make them go 3 or even 4 days without food or very little, like a feeder or two in that time.

What is your supp schedule? I dust my adults very lightly with cal once a week and might use d3 source every month and a half to two months. Again very lightly. Vitamins and minerals even less than d3. A healthy gutload is key. Try some blue bottle flies if his appetite does not get better however he does not appear to be famished in the pics.

astroprojector · #17 03-01-2010, 01:32 PM

I was dusting with calcium every day and D3 once every two weeks and supplements once I month. I probably switch it calcium once I week, D3 once I month and supplements once every to month.