3 week old won't eat

Jhatch

Jhatch

New Member
I recently purchased a 3 week old female veiled chameleon two days ago from a reptile expo. So needless to say I'm new to this. I've done some research on them but never saw anywhere how old one should be before you took them home. So with her not eating I'm worried. She hasn't eaten since we got her home but I have seen her drink water. I've tried small crickets, wingless fruit flies, and small meal worms. She's in 18x18x30 habitat and gets misted 3 times a day for 3 mins at a time. The temp near the top stays about 80-83 degrees. I use the 5.0 UVB bulb and a regular 25 watt bulb for heat. I've tried letting the insect free with no luck so today I'm trying a feeding cup to see if that makes a difference. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Chameleon Info:
  • Your Chameleon - 3 week old female veiled chameleon. I've had her for two days.
  • Handling - To move her around to get insect out.
  • Feeding - I've tried small crickets, wingless fruit flies, small meal worms, carrots. How are you gut-loading your feeders? I've been using carrots
  • Supplements - Crickets have been dusted with repti calcium with D3
  • Watering - Misting 3 times a day for 3 mins. I have seen her drink.
  • Fecal Description - Clearish and tan/orangish
  • History - She's 3 weeks old today

Cage Info:
  • Cage Type - Glass sides with a screen top and two doors in the front with vents below them
  • Lighting - 5.0 UVB bulb and a 25watt incandescent bulb. Her lighting schedule is 12 hrs 8 to 8
  • Temperature - Basking spot is 80-83 degrees and the thermometer is beside the basking spot
  • Humidity - 60-70%
  • Plants - Plastic
  • Placement - Living room and it's not near any vents
  • Location - East TN

Current Problem - Not eating
 
It's hard to say. Your set up and parameters seem good, though 2 things come to mind. The chameleon could be frightened if your living room is a high traffic area, with people coming and going. Also, in a terrarium, with glass sides, the chameleon may be seeing its reflection and being intimidated by it, though I don't imagine that is so, at this chameleon's age. Just keep offering suitable feeders and disturb the baby as little as possible. They are very shy, since at this size, they are subject to predation by many other creatures, in nature.
 
I tried installing a feeder cup a little while ago but I think that made things worse because her color has changed to black. So I just removed it since that was the newest thing I just added to her environment. How long can she go without eating because I'm a bit concerned?
 
It's not easy to answer, since how long depends on several factors. Try reducing the basking temps to 78-80F, make sure there is LOTS of foliage cover.
How long has it been since it hasn't eaten! They can take a while to adjust.
 
Extensionofgreen said:
It's not easy to answer, since how long depends on several factors. Try reducing the basking temps to 78-80F, make sure there is LOTS of foliage cover.
How long has it been since it hasn't eaten! They can take a while to adjust.
Click to expand...
I'm hoping she ate Sunday morning before we got her. So she didn't eat Monday and she hasn't eaten today. I tried the feeder cup at 4pm today when I got home from work but by 6pm she turned black on her head and arms and legs only.
 
The duration of no food is not worrisome, yet. After a week of refusing food or if there is worsening health, seek a vet. Perhaps some photos of your set up and chameleon might help us help you.
 
Here's her set up. I just got more vines and a Monsoon RS400 misting system but I haven't installed them yet.
 

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Here she is with her black coloring. Since I removed the feeding dish the black on her face is starting to go away.
 

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It could be she just isn't hungry. Just leave her be and make sure food is available to her. My experience was very different I bought my cham from petsmart and had her in a cage in high traffic area we picked her up constantly but she still ate furiously the momment she saw a baby cricket she gulped it right up about 15 or more a day then at about 6 months old she totally changed and would not eat hated hands anywhere near her cage then I found this site and became educated on Chams.
 
This is her earlier today when I moved her out to set up her feeder cup
 

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My 1st cage was way smaller perhaps you want to get a smaller one and move her to bigger ones as she gets older.
 
Are you sure she is a veiled her pattern looks very different than any I've seen maybe just cause she is young?IDK
 
YOu may also try to get in touch with the breeder you purchased her from and find out what they were feeding her although young chams usually aren't picky yours just might be
 
The first picture she does not look good. However if she's up in the branches most of the time and was just at that moment doing that then it's probably nothing to worry about. However if she's doing it for a prolonged periods of time... I would worry. Three weeks is awful young to sell. I also don't think she looks like a veiled other than being green...
 
The enclosure is ok, but some horizontal perches and more foliage will make the baby feel more secure. Place the feeder cup on the cage floor, under the branches and leave. Watch from across the room and stay still, but minimal fuss and making as if you don't exist is what is needed, for 3-4 months.
 
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