tongue problem

Great forum, This is my first time being here...I have a very important critical question, So someone please help me shed some light on this problem because I know how fragile chameleons are.

I have a Male Veiled Chameleon, I have had him about 3 years and when we got him he was probably about a year old cuz he was pretty good size, Just recently he hasnt been throwing his tounge out far to catch his prey, He acts like he can only stick it out just a little like just past his lips, and he walks up on the crickets with his tounge barely out trying to catch it, but of course the cricket runs away cuz he is too close to it....I dont understand this, its been going on for about a week.

PLEASE help me, I dont want to loose him...His name is Kahuna

What is the set up of your cage?

lighting?

what kind of nutrients are you giving him? (calcium powder)

also, does you cham have any problems with balance or shakiness? could possibly be signs of MBD (metabolic bone disease) that can cause chams to be unable to shoot out there tongues.

1st thanks for replying!

He lives in a screen terrarium mesurments are...31 inches wide, 19 inches deep, and 31 incehs tall

His light is a Repti-Glo 8.0

And his heat basking lamp is a ceramic bulb that emits no light so it stays on all the time.

He eats gut loaded crickets, mealworms, and occasionally some flys and collard greens sometimes...insects are all dusted in "Rep-Cal ultrafine Calcium with vitiman D3 powder"

He has no signs of weakness that I am seeing or shakiness, exept for the little leaf dance he does if he is mad, haha, but nothing has changed in that catagory. And his eyes are not closed during the day, or sunken in...He spends most of he day roaming his cage trying to catch his bugs but they run away.

i would replace that ceramic bulb.
Chameleons need "white" lite.
a regular house bulb wroks great.
They also give out UVA which helps to stimulate appetite.
You dont need a night lite unless your temperature goes below 55 degrees

I too am pretty new to the cham world
he might have injured his tongue at some point and could be too sore to use. could have been when he was eating something.
also I have been highly recommended to use the ReptiSun 5.0 UVB bulb and a basking light that actually emitts light. I use just a 60 watt bulb for basking about 4 inches from my cage. All lights need to be shut off at night (keep lights on from 6 am to 6 pm) and everything needs to be shut off after that. Temp needs to drop at least 10 to 15 degrees at night.

same here just good old household bulbs do the trick =) temperature drops at night are good for healthy sleepy time just like JustinIgor said don't worry about lighting unless the temp drops below 55.

The 8.0 just has a higher UVA and UVB percentage, And we live in florida so he live in our enclosed porch outside, so the temp. naturally drops at night, so in order to be able to leave to heat lamp on it has to be no light at all, cuz I know they shouldnt have anylight at all at night.

Im just so confused cuz He has done so well, And in my research, Which I have done so much of, I am doing everything right...The only other thing I can think is like what you said, About maybe having an injured tounge, I have recently got him Super Mealworms, And the other day Yesterday actually I hand fed him one and the things head was sticking out, and he couldnt get it pushed into his mouth cuz it was hanging on to his mouth, so I pushed it with my finger to help him get it pushed in his mouth and the worm bit me! And I looked closer and they have really big Pincers, I wonder if one did the same thing to his tounge?

I feed my female jackson's those superworms (mean little buggers!) and yes they can bite!! you have to be careful with those suckers. I try not to give her so many of those. Instead I try feeding her the regular size. That's really the only thing I can think of at this point! I would try holding a worm in your hand and try to lure his tongue out so you can see exactly what's going on in there!

Yeah...Its just so weird, He has ate them alot throughout his years, and no problems, But maybe one just got em this time.

Do you think it could be signs of old age, I know there life span is only like 5 to 7 years, and he has got to be at least 4 if not pushin 5

that could be a reason too. unfortunately we are getting ready to lose our 5 1/2 yr old male he just doesnt climb, doesn't eat, and very cranky! but I think if yours is only 3 yrs old, he shouldn't be showing those symptoms just yet! If all else fails, the vet is always the best answer!

Awe I am so sorry to hear that, Its such a hard thing...My first veiled was a tiny female, and I did research but still didnt know what I know today, and we lost her, Her name was Coco...But I recognize now that she was sick when I got her, When I picked her out her eyes were closed, I just thought she was taking a cat nap, IF I only knew then wheat I know now that there eyes should never be closed during the day.

But yeah he isnt 3 he is at least 4 maybe 5, he didnt grow much from the time we got him, so that means he was just about full grown when we got him, What is that like maybe 1?

and thanks =) we are spending lots of time with him!
For males, the start looking like "adults" around 4-5 months (colors and that scaley look) but my other male is around 1 1/2 old and is full grown. maybe if you got a picture up of your cham? that would help to determine a lot!

By this happening just recently, do you mean like fine one day then having problems the next? If so, it is likely an injury. I've had animals get the tongue stuck on something and, for lack of a better word, sprain muscles retracting it. Keep handfeeding him to make sure he's getting enough food and hopefully it will get back to normal. If this is a problem that has slowly gotten worse, there may be some other issues to discuss, but from what you've described it sounds like an injury.

Tikitimer,

There is a wild population of veileds (introduced obviously) living in Florida so I think the natural night time temps are fine outside.
I'd make a few changes to improve your boys situation.

Remember .... our husbandry is constantly being tweaked so .... what was good 2 years ago has been changed somewhat as we learn more.
Additionally we have only had veileds in captivity in the States for maybe 16 or 17 years ... it's all pretty new.

First, I strongly recommend removing the ceramic heater and giving him a white light basking bulb for daytime.

Second, review your dusting schedule and the products you are using. I'll link you to my site where there is an article on supplements.

Third, I would get some silkworms to try, and also make sure those "super mealworms" are Zoophoba morio and not the "king mealworms" that are hormone fed.
Look at your gut load for insects as well and make sure you are offering the most nutritious food you can to the feeders.

A wellness check including fecal examination wouldn't hurt anything, there is a link to finding a reptilian vet in your area on the site.

Finally, I strongly recommend the repti-sun 5.0. It sounds like he may get some natural sunlight as well which is great ... try to increase that.
My site:

http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

-Brad

hairfarm67 said:

By this happening just recently, do you mean like fine one day then having problems the next? If so, it is likely an injury. I've had animals get the tongue stuck on something and, for lack of a better word, sprain muscles retracting it. Keep handfeeding him to make sure he's getting enough food and hopefully it will get back to normal. If this is a problem that has slowly gotten worse, there may be some other issues to discuss, but from what you've described it sounds like an injury.

Click to expand...

I think what Kent is saying here makes a lot of sense.

-Brad

edit: need to give Ian_norman704 props as well (same theory)

Reply to Hairfarm67:

Pretty much yeah, Like fine one day then weird the next, gotten a bit more weird though, like at first he wouldnt fling his toung out far, but a little, then couple days later wont put it out hardly at all, like just past his lips.

Reply to Brad:

So you really think the ceramic bulb is bad? Thats what my vet said to use... Cuz he already has a lot of UVA UVB, But I dont know I am open to any suggestions. And I know it is sad people release them to the wild here in Florida, Its mostly Iguanas, But it is the chameleons too I know, It was so sad cuz it still gets too cold here in the winter when we get cold snaps, and just a couple weeks ago it got down to the high 30's mid 40's and they had it on the news that there were dead Igaunas and chameleons all over the place We bring our in when it gets below 60.

How do I post his Pic?

TikiTimer said:

Reply to Hairfarm67:

Pretty much yeah, Like fine one day then weird the next, gotten a bit more weird though, like at first he wouldnt fling his toung out far, but a little, then couple days later wont put it out hardly at all, like just past his lips.

Reply to Brad:

So you really think the ceramic bulb is bad? Thats what my vet said to use... Cuz he already has a lot of UVA UVB, But I dont know I am open to any suggestions. And I know it is sad people release them to the wild here in Florida, Its mostly Iguanas, But it is the chameleons too I know, It was so sad cuz it still gets too cold here in the winter when we get cold snaps, and just a couple weeks ago it got down to the high 30's mid 40's and they had it on the news that there were dead Igaunas and chameleons all over the place We bring our in when it gets below 60.

Click to expand...

Well it's certainly not a replacement for a proper basking light.
I wouldn't use it. As long as the temps in the room or on the patio are no lower than 60 it is not necessary. They really need it cooler at night so their metabolism can slow down and they sleep well.

-Brad