Senegal chameleon not eating?

Gingersnap42 · Apr 23, 2014

My boyfriend and I recently got a baby senegal chameleon. We did all the research we needed to do before we got him and the breeder that we got him from helped us make sure we would be okay taking him. We've had him a little over two weeks so far. Our only two problems are that after we got him, it was exactly 2 weeks before he actually pooped. The breeder said not to worry and that he is still getting used to his environment. Now that he finally did poop, he won't eat as much as what he used to. We have been feeding him crickets and meal worms as the breeder was only giving him crickets. He was eating 6 tiny crickets a day when we got him, but now he's barely eating 1. Is all of this normal? Is he about to shed or something? I wouldn't mind taking him to a vet but I wanted to see if this is something I should worry about or not first. Any advice?

Cage specifics:
Vines, dripper, misted up to 5 times a day, live plants. Heat lamp and UVB lamp. Basking temperatures are at mid to low 80s.

Carlton · Apr 23, 2014

Gingersnap42 said:
My boyfriend and I recently got a baby senegal chameleon. We did all the research we needed to do before we got him and the breeder that we got him from helped us make sure we would be okay taking him. We've had him a little over two weeks so far. Our only two problems are that after we got him, it was exactly 2 weeks before he actually pooped. The breeder said not to worry and that he is still getting used to his environment. Now that he finally did poop, he won't eat as much as what he used to. We have been feeding him crickets and meal worms as the breeder was only giving him crickets. He was eating 6 tiny crickets a day when we got him, but now he's barely eating 1. Is all of this normal? Is he about to shed or something? I wouldn't mind taking him to a vet but I wanted to see if this is something I should worry about or not first. Any advice?

Cage specifics:
Vines, dripper, misted up to 5 times a day, live plants. Heat lamp and UVB lamp. Basking temperatures are at mid to low 80s.

Mealworms are not a great feeder. They have more exoskeleton that is harder to digest. Chams also tend to slow down eating and not pooping as often when they are borderline dehydrated. What is the cage humidity level?

CarlC · Apr 23, 2014

Could you please post a picture. Captive born senegals aren't very common.

Carl

Gingersnap42 · Apr 23, 2014

His humidity levels are around 70%. He likes to stand in really awkward stances, he's been like this ever since we got him so ignore the fact that he looks posed like this. But here he is.
He did poop again since I posted this, it had a lot of white in it so I'm not sure if he could still be dehydrated or not. I'm more concerned about him not eating as much anymore. And what would be a good feeder if he's not eating crickets?

Devokid · Apr 24, 2014

Gingersnap42 said:
His humidity levels are around 70%. He likes to stand in really awkward stances, he's been like this ever since we got him so ignore the fact that he looks posed like this. But here he is.
He did poop again since I posted this, it had a lot of white in it so I'm not sure if he could still be dehydrated or not. I'm more concerned about him not eating as much anymore. And what would be a good feeder if he's not eating crickets?

Dubia Roaches are my favorites, stick insects, silk worms, and horn worms are all good choices. Have you had a fecal test done? He may have some parasites.

CarlC · Apr 24, 2014

Your chameleon needs to see a vet ASAP. Did you notice how disformed and swollen its ankles are.

I'd also be willing the to bet your Senegal is not captive born. The "breeder" you got it from most likely sold you a sickly wild caught.

Everything you first posted about being problems really shouldn't be a problem with an animal that has been born and raised in captivity.

Carl

Gingersnap42 · Apr 24, 2014

His ankles really aren't swollen or anything. It's just like that in the one picture for some reason. Sometimes when he gets into weird stances like that it looks like he's really deformed but when he's walking around he looks totally normal. I haven't had a fecal test done yet but I'm going to try to find a new vet in my area that will take care of him because the one I was going to is now closing.
Is there any way that he isn't eating because he's about to shed or something though?

Senegal chameleon not eating?

Gingersnap42

New Member

Carlton

Chameleon Enthusiast

CarlC

Established Member

Gingersnap42

New Member

Attachments

Devokid

Established Member

CarlC

Established Member

Gingersnap42

New Member

Similar threads