Concerns for my female Panther?

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - 5 months old Ambilobe Female Panther. Been in my care for for a good 2 months now.
* Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Maybe once every 2 weeks.
* Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? Crickets. Usually 5 a day. Gut loaded with cricket crack and fluker wet cubes. Also collared greens and sometimes oranges. Also have fed hornsworms, silkies, and supers once a week as treats.
* Supplements - Rep-Cal Calcium no D3 every other day, Rep Cal Herptivite every 3 days and Rep CAl with D3 every 2 weeks.
* Watering - Drip every morning using little dripper and also have a mistking that runs 4 times a day for 2-3 minutes at a time.
* Fecal Description - She has not pooped in 2 days but the last one was a bit orange meaning she may be a little dehydrated. The night before she pooped that she drank a ton as I watched for drink for a good 5-8 minutes.
* History - I got her from the Kammers and really had no issue until now.


Cage Info:

* Cage Type - 2x2x4 screen cage
* Lighting - 24 inch reptisun 5.0 and also a 60 watt dome light
* Temperature - Temp is roughly 74-77 is lower area with a 85-86 basking spot.
* Humidity - Humidity hovers at around 50%. I have a humidifier hooked up going into the cage on a low setting.
* Plants - I have a live hibiscus tree in there and several fake vines and branches
* Placement - It is located in the basement that has AC and Heat so just like a regular room. It is not located near sun or breeze.
* Location - Where are you geographically located? Located in North NJ


Current Problem - The problem is that she has not eaten in about 4 days and I have not been able to get a good sample of stool to see if everything looks ok. She does tend to hang out by the basking spot more in the AM but I think that is because she likes to bask first thing in the morning. I tried offering Flies, crickets, supers but she has no interest at all. She weighs about 25 grams. Everything seems to be ok for her environment but not sure why she will not eat. She usually is a great eater and readily eats anything I out in there right away.

It's possible that she could have eggs. Do you have a laying bin set up for her? https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html

It's also possible that she's sick. I would recommend a vet visit and a fecal if you can get poop.

jannb said:

It's possible that she could have eggs. Do you have a laying bin set up for her? https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html

It's also possible that she's sick. I would recommend a vet visit and a fecal if you can get poop.

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Forgot to mention I do have a egg laying bin in there also just in case. She does not look like she has eggs at all. I want to schedule vet visit but need to get fecals first.

canzoman said:

Forgot to mention I do have a egg laying bin in there also just in case. She does not look like she has eggs at all. I want to schedule vet visit but need to get fecals first.

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If she's sick and not eating you will not get a poop.

I will see if there is a poop after work today and if not go to the vet.

I know my Deremensis would not eat for about 3-4 also but sometimes they are known to do that. Not sure if that is the case with Panthers. I am usually a Montane guy .

Normally, the little girls are starving.

My panther boy would go on food strikes sometimes (which worried the heck outta me because he's not normal sized) but he eventually came around. When he was less than a year old it never took more than a week for him to start back up again. BUT, he may also have done that because he isn't normal sized and stopped growing.

pssh said:

My panther boy would go on food strikes sometimes (which worried the heck outta me because he's not normal sized) but he eventually came around. When he was less than a year old it never took more than a week for him to start back up again. BUT, he may also have done that because he isn't normal sized and stopped growing.

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Thanks. Called the vet to explain and they said to bring her in for Saturday. I am hoping she eats by then. I may give her a warm shower to try and stimulate something when I get back from work today.

She seems perfectly fine not lethargic or anything and looks healthy. I could be jumping the gun but want to be careful with her. She is going to be my main breeder.

Take her out for a nice sun bath, then mist warm water over her and see if she will poop. Sun and water (especially both) make mine poop

pssh said:

Take her out for a nice sun bath, then mist warm water over her and see if she will poop. Sun and water (especially both) make mine poop

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Yeah I won't be able to do that until saturday cause I work 8-5p. I can give her a shower though tonight with warm water.

I hope everything goes well and I hope to hear the results soon! I have a Panther chameleon and I know how hard it is when they aren't being themselves.

Thanks.

I'll keep you posted.

Can you post a picture of her?

Preparing to lay eggs, or about to shed are two possible normal reasons to not want to eat. a hunger strike is possible if crickets are the only thing you are offering (easy to rule that out by offering some variety)
A vet visit should rule out any more serious possibility.

Hope all goes well

sandrachameleon said:

Can you post a picture of her?

Preparing to lay eggs, or about to shed are two possible normal reasons to not want to eat. A vet visit should rule out any more serious possibility.

Hope all goes well

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I will snap one in the morning.

So going to the vet tomorrow at 11am. I was not able to snap a pic but she still looks like the pictures I have of her in my photo albulm.

I am wondering though what the vet can actually do or diagnose without fecals. He will probably instruct me how to make a cricket mix and tube feed.

I listened to her this morning and do not hear any wheezing or signs of respitory illness.

Tried crickets, flies, and supers so far. Oredered hornworms also to try.

Gave her a nice shower but no poop because she has not eaten. She is still VERY alert and does not look like she lost weight.

vet may be able to advise if she's getting ready to lay eggs.
hopefully its just nothing, like maybe she isnt hungry because she's about to she

Well went to the vet and he said everything external looks fine and no eggs.

Just in case though he gave her some panacur and a small shot of I believe Sulfadimethoxine for coccidia. Don't have the name on me. He said if she did have anything that this may help her eat.

I also put her outside for about 45 minutes and she really soaked up the sun. She turned almost black for like 15 min and then went into the shade. I misted her outside also.

She is now back in her cage and hopefully will eat tonight or tomorrow. She has not lost any weight though. 24 grams.

Hopefully all works out if she still does not eat until Monday I will need to call the vet again.

Appertex and Ponazuril may be better at controlling Coccidia, IF she has this problem.

I'm told that Sulfadimethoxine / Albon is pretty harsh, and can cause them to stop eating.

sandrachameleon said:

Appertex and Ponazuril may be better at controlling Coccidia, IF she has this problem.

I'm told that Sulfadimethoxine / Albon is pretty harsh, and can cause them to stop eating.

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Yeah not 100% if it was the Albon. My 2 daughters were distracting me in the Vet room

Just one I threw out there. I know it was for Coccidia. Gonna get the name tomorrow.

At which point should I consider crushed crickets and tube feed?

Still no eating today.