2 month old ambilobe not eating enough

[FrankTheTank]

I hand fed him 2 crickets from a cup the first 2 days. I just assumed he was just stressed and getting used to his environment. But he still hasn't eaten more than a couple of crickets since then. This is the 4th day I've had him, and I don't think he has eaten any from the cup I gave him. They are tiny crickets that are the perfect size for him. Didn't have trouble with the first two he ate, but he won't really touch them if I leave them in the feeder cup on the cage. I placed it near the top so that he has easy access to it since he doesn't venture towards the bottom at all. Is this normal? I know chams this young are usually starving and eat like 20 a day. Any advice would be great!

 

[Jordyt]

Hey

Mine really never eats from a feeder cup. Have you tried free ranging. That just might be what he is used to. All of the crickets close together in the cup may freak him out.

Give it a shot and see if it works. Can't hurt.

 

[KWALA]

Well he might be too young to be cup trained. So just let the crickets roam the cage I would say.

 

[FrankTheTank]

The cage is too big for free range and I don't want to put too many in there that can hide and then bother him at night

 

[FrankTheTank]

And he has eaten two from the cup right out of my hand already. Just don't want to let them loose. Any other suggestions?

 

[FrankTheTank]

I know now that I should have put him in a smaller cage but I don't really have one. This cage was set up for an adult male veiled. I have a smaller cat but it is still somewhat large but I don't have any coverage in that one. Has anyone had success keeping a small Cham in a large enclosure?

 

[carol5208]

Try and section the cage off to make it smaller. Raise the floor up by putting some buckets or something underneath it. If you free range the crickets and are worried about them bothering your chameleon at night, put some food for them at the bottom of the cage to eat.

 

[ir0k]

Hey frank, how big is ur cage?

 

[FrankTheTank]

Try and section the cage off to make it smaller. Raise the floor up by putting some buckets or something underneath it. If you free range the crickets and are worried about them bothering your chameleon at night, put some food for them at the bottom of the cage to eat.

That is a geat idea but then I would have to take everything out and remove his favorite tree that he practically lives on. I don't see any way around doing that.

Perhaps I could put a larger cricket "cup" that he could feed out of. Maybe a large Tupperware container

 

[FrankTheTank]

Hey frank, how big is ur cage?

BIG! Lol

It's like 35x26x40. So yeeeaaah...not really suitable for free tiny roaming crickets with numerous places to hide. I could also possibly put a small terrarium inside with the lid off and keep crickets in there with a vine or two that hang down inside for basil to get to them.

 

[symphonica]

What's the temp range and humidity of the enclosure? Before we run to free-ranging the crickets, lets make sure everything else is in check and that nothing is otherwise interfering with his appetite. I have a 2-month old who eats 10 crickets a day out of a cup with no issues. Also, you're not watching him, are you? You should be throwing the crickets in there, and then leaving him be. Leave the room and close the door - don't watch him - put him in a quiet area.

 

[FrankTheTank]

I tend to linger for a minute or two after putting them in so I will stop doing that. He has his own room right now though. Nice and quiet. I spend very little time in there other than to mist and feed. Temps stay around 78 in the upper part where he normally stays. 84 in basking area

 

[FrankTheTank]

Well he ate two more cricks from a cup yesterday and 3 today. And only while I hold the cup close. Today he ran towards the cup which excites and worries me at the same time. I'm glad he is not scared of me to the point that he will eat from a cup in my hand but today he acted like he was starving when he lunged at the cup. I left it in there near the top all day and he didn't touch it. Will he be ok just eating a few cricks a day while he gets settled?

 

[symphonica]

What color and size is this cup?

 

[FrankTheTank]

It's actually a glass cup. Never thought about this before.could he be seeing his reflection and it scaring him away? And it's like a whiskey glass

 

[nj011908]

It's actually a glass cup. Never thought about this before.could he be seeing his reflection and it scaring him away? And it's like a whiskey glass

get a red solo cup and just hand feed a couple and then throw like 10-15 in the cup in front of him and make a way to hang it on the side of the cage next to his basking area, trust me he will eat them , he just needs you to show him where they are, my chameleon learned in 1 day how to do this, another thing you can try is not feeding for one day, they are instinctively great hunters and if you have the cup mounted high by the basking area then he will find them no doubt at all, and he will eat

 

[FrankTheTank]

get a red solo cup and just hand feed a couple and then throw like 10-15 in the cup in front of him and make a way to hang it on the side of the cage next to his basking area, trust me he will eat them , he just needs you to show him where they are, my chameleon learned in 1 day how to do this, another thing you can try is not feeding for one day, they are instinctively great hunters and if you have the cup mounted high by the basking area then he will find them no doubt at all, and he will eat

You don't think a red solo cup is too deep for a 2 month old to eat from? He already has to lean inside the glass cup to catch the cricks. I want him to be able to reach them. I guess I could cut a little off the top though. Any reason it needs to be red?

 

[symphonica]

A clear, plastic cup works well, wide and shallow enough where he can easily get into and out of it. I use this for one of my adults because he doesn't have a tongue.

With the red solo cup, I'd be afraid of him falling in and not being able to climb back out. I'd say stick a branch in it that he could use to climb back out, but that would get used by the crickets to climb out, too.

It's been a few days since you initially posted this. Still no change? I'd almost say leave him completely be for a day, don't even feed him.

 

[FrankTheTank]

His ribcage seems to be showing a lot more today. I don't think he ate anything at all today. I tried the red solo cup and I don't think he ever even got near it. I'm starting to get a little worried. Should I try to force feed him tomorrow? I don't have any silkworms or anything small and fatty to give him to bulk up. Any suggestions would be great

 

[symphonica]

It may be time for the vet. Bring a fecal exam to check for parasites.