3yr old Male Veiled not using tongue?

[JlaPinska]

is it normal for them to stop shooting their tongue? i started cup feeding him last year so now he just chomps at his bugs instead of shooting for them also now that he's stopped using his tongue so much that when he does try to use it he misses. if i dont put them in a cup he will sit for days waiting for food to crawl close enough to chomp. did i just make him lazy?

 

[Scottsquatch]

I would love to help but I have no idea. Are you sure he did not hurt his tongue? If it was lazines he would just sit there and let his food come within range. Im more inclined to believe he might have a problem. Especially since you say that when he does shoot he misses. Perhaps some of the more experienced keepers will have some ideas.

 

[VeiledMathis]

is it normal for them to stop shooting their tongue? i started cup feeding him last year so now he just chomps at his bugs instead of shooting for them also now that he's stopped using his tongue so much that when he does try to use it he misses. if i dont put them in a cup he will sit for days waiting for food to crawl close enough to chomp. did i just make him lazy?

No it not normal for them to become lazy and stop using their tongue, sounds like something is off, maybe someone else will chime in, usually it's some kind of nutrional/vitamins deficiency, pics and filling out the help sheet will help out.

 

[Nursemaia]

I suggest filling out the how to ask for help form

 

[Bush baby]

Had this happen to my previous Cham. This is likely one of two things:

1) An Injury - caused by him shooting and hitting something, or a feeder going in his mouth in a weird angle and possibly scraping/scratching his tongue...

2) More than likely , he has a calcium deficiency. Calcium is needed for muscular functions i.e his tongue. If you feel he's getting enough then it may be a lack of UV light which would allow him to absorb it. You need to up his calcium intake and exposure him to a few hours of natural sunlight daily, asap. They deteriorate very rapidly, when they can't shoot their tongue in my experience. Not sure where you live but if you can't get him outside, then up his calcium with D3 supplementation for a short time. Exposing him to natural sunlight is safer because his body will only generate the amount of D3 it needs, vs with supplementation you run the risk overdosing.