Advice - How to open the Chameleon's Mouth?

[Taz04]

Hi All,

My first post, apologies in advance if this question has been asked already,

Please can people offer advice how i can open the chameleons mouth? My Male Ambilobe panther chameleon is nearly 7 months old if that changes any thing.

I have seen different techniques such as slightly rubbing the back of the head or even using a flat edge to almost force the mouth open, either these techniques dont work very well or im not executing them well enough,

My main concern is hurting the chameleon, i understand im causing a great deal of stress.

Any advice or suggestions would be great. Thanks

 

[NHenn]

Welcome to the forums! What is wrong with your panther that you need his mouth open?

Here is a great link to Olimpia's blog on administering different types of medicine which should be very helpful! http://muchadoaboutchameleons.blogspot.com/2014_05_01_archive.html

 

[Taz04]

Welcome to the forums! What is wrong with your panther that you need his mouth open?

Here is a great link to Olimpia's blog on administering different types of medicine which should be very helpful! http://muchadoaboutchameleons.blogspot.com/2014_05_01_archive.html

He's not eating & barely drinking, i have been force feeding for the past 3 days and either done 2 grasshoppers or 2 crickets whilst giving him water with this, the crickets & grasshoppers are dusted with calcium or vitamins.

Hes not exactly in the worst condition but im trying to avoid getting to that stage.

I mist twice a day whilst i have made my own dripper which runs throughout the day so liquid constantly avialble.

My thermometer & hydrometer are are at the corret settings so its slightly confusing as to why hes not really eating.

Hope that helps.

THanks for your response

 

[camimom]

Have you seen a vet?

Can you post photos?

And please post your filled out help form.

If its only been a couple days, then its nothing to worry about in regards to food.

Just because you haven't seen him drink, doesn't mean he isn't.

 

[Taz04]

I havent been to a vet, wanted to avoid this (Financially) but obviously if completely necessary i will.

I will be able to post photos later at work at the moment apologies.

Sorry i didnt realise about the help form.

Its been a on going thing as my chameleon has never really eaten a lot, eating 6/7 cricekts on a day would be a very good day.

He doesnt seem interested or phased by the crickets or grasshoppers i put in the viv.

Like i say hes not in the worst shape, just want to do my best avoiding him getting there as iv read several forums about people who have lost the cham's.


Thanks

 

[carol5208]

That is about the right age for him to get fussy with his food. He is probably tired of eating the same old thing. Try to get some other feeders if possible. I don't know what is available over there. On the other hand, there could be something health wise causing the issue also. Force feeding should be a last resort really and forcing his mouth open may cause more harm than good. Drip some water on his nose continually as opposed to squirting it in his mouth. This usually works, but it sometimes can take several minutes. Are you from the UK?

 

[camimom]

Try going a few days without feeding at all.

Then start to offer him bugs. Like carol said, try to get variety, as sometimes, they just get bored.

How are you so sure he isn't getting water?

If the urates are white, then hes hydrated just fine. He probably just doesn't want to drink around you. my 3.5 year old veiled rarely drinks in front of me. if ever.

IF you fill out the form, we may be able to help there as well.

I don't think you need to go so far as to force feed.

As adults, they can go every other day to every two days with no food.