Why Isn't He Eating? (Veiled, ~4 months)

I just received my first chameleon 2 days ago and since that day, he has not eaten a single mealworm or fruit-fly. Some info on his housing and health:

Chameleon: ~4 month old Veiled cham, male, approx. 4" body length
Cage: 2' tall, 2' long, 1' wide (wire mesh)
Foliage: 1x 1ft. tall Schefflera (quite bushy), 3 small tree branches for perching/climbing
Lighting: 1x 60W lamp bulb positioned next to the cage (very close to a small branch for perching), 1x 40W lamp bulb positioned over the top of the cage
Temps: Next to 60W bulb = 90-95F, inside foliage = 70-75F
Water: 3-4 ice-cubes set ontop of cage to drip throughout the day, everyday and 2-3 mistings also, per day
Food: Small mealworms, fruit-flies

He was purchased at a PetCo and we were told to keep him fed with mealworms, as that was his main diet in the store. I haven't gotten around to purchase any crickets yet, as they're pretty hard to find this time of year. Other than not eating, he seems to be doing fine. He climbs all around his cage and basks in the heat of the lamps. He drinks water that accumulates on the leaves from the misting sessions and doesn't show his 'bad' colors unless he's held for more than 4-5 minutes (he only gets held when I need to drain the water from his cage or rearrange the limbs). I'm just very concerned over why he hasn't been eating a single thing, and how long he might live if this were to go on. I've been placing the mealworms on the very top leaves so that he might see them - and also on the floor of his cage in a dish, but at the end of the day, they're all still remaining. I've also seen a fruit-fly or two flying around in his cage, but even if he were to have eaten them, it would probably just make him even more hungry - but he still will not eat.

Any advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated. This is my first chameleon and I would at least like to see him grow

How about UVB lighting-very crucial to your pet's care. I would continue to mist 3 5-10 minute sessions a day, but the ice cube thing is not reommended. Fruit flies are too small for a nearly 4 month old, and mealworms are not a great diet either. Crickets and silkworms are better staple feeders. How about supplements? He may not eat for several more days as he adjusts too his new surroundings, and until then I would not be holding him.

Thanks for the quick response! I've been searching for crickets around my area (even went to the woods to try and find something, but appearantly it's too cold for anything right now). I'll have to make a trip to a pet shop tomorrow and see if I can buy crickets in bulk - I might even have to breed the food he eats

Lots of cricket breeders in AL-but you won't need 500-1000 for 1 cham! Again-how about UVB and supplements-your little one definiely needs them.

Exposure to UVB light (that does not pass through glass or plastic) allows the chameleon to produce vitamin D3 which allows it to use the calcium in its diet....so its important that you have a UVB light on the cage if the chameleon isn't getting direct sunlight (that also should not pass through glass or plastic).

Some compacts and tube lights that produce UVB have been causing problems with the eyes of some reptiles...so most people are recommending the Repti-sun 5.0 now.

You didn't mention supplements or gutloading/feeding your insects a nutritious diet either. Do you know about this? Do you use supplements or gutload?

Most insects that we use as feeders have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorous...so dusting the insects before giving them to the chameleon with a phos.-free calcium powder it helps to make up for this.

yeah mealworms are not a great staple for your cham. Have you tried an online website to order? reptilefood.com for example. 20 bucks for 1000 crickets. that's 2 day delivery. or lllreptile.com 17 bucks for 1000 and that's 2 day shipping.

Good news: he's finally eating. I found some small crickets at Pet Depot and also found some T-Rex Chameleon Dust (on sale for $1.50, btw). As soon as I tossed the first dusted cricket in his cage he immediately stalked it down and ate it. It's so cool to see them eat - first time I've seen one eat in person. Well, 6 or 7 more crickets later and he's enjoying his misting session. I'm just glad he wasn't in too bad of shock not to eat. Now for a nice UVB light and another plant to occupy his enclosure. Slowly but surely he's becoming more 'at home'.

Good deal-glad he ate! But without proper UVB lighting he will stop eating and develop some nasty issues. You don't have tons of time. PetCo is not famous for healthy chams and they probably did not have proper lighting on him. At 4 months old, he will need a cage that is 24X24X48 very soon. Not sure about chameleon dust-Repcal with vit. D and without as well as Herptivite are recommended supplements-search this forum for supplement schedules.

Hurry and get UVB!