Baby panther stopped eating.

[richardschris]

So I have had my panther for almost a week. The first few days I have had he has been eating just fine, but the last two days he wont touch a thing, the moment I open up his cage to put food in he runs and hides. So I just leave the crickets and roaches in there and let them freeroam.
I put about 5 roaches and 5 crickets in there this morning and when I got back from work this evening I found most of them still roaming around. I am getting worried because the little guy is starting to look pretty skinny.
Any help would be very appreciated.

 

[Oliviabryant]

depending on their age and size you could be over feeding them.
can you please take a picture of your cham and setup?
also the feeders should not be any longer or wider than the width between their eyes

please fill this out so we may actually help you
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[richardschris]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Ambilobe panther, sex im not sure I believe a male, a little over 2 months old is my best guess. I have had him a week.
Handling - almost never
Feeding - I feed a combo of crickets and roaches that are gutloaded with vegetables and bug burger. I put about 5 bugs in his cage in the morning and let them freeroam. I also put a few more in about eight hours later.
Supplements - Right now I have only been dusting with zoomed repticalcium without d3 at every feeding.
Watering - I have a little dripper that is always dripping and exoterra monsoon that mists every 2 hours for 2 minutes.
Fecal Description - Half is dark brown/black and the other half is white.
History - He just had his first shed.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Reptarium screen cage 18x30x36
Lighting - 22" t5 ho reptisun 5.0 and a 18" 6500k plant bulb
Temperature - Basking temp is 85 and the lowest temp near the base of the plants is 72
Humidity - between 60 and 80. around 80 right after misting. I use a digital hygrometer to measure this.
Plants - I have a hibiscus and a schefflera
Placement - Located in my living room in a corner away from any vents. Not a high traffic area.
Location - I am located in salt lake city utah.

Current Problem - He was eating fine the first three days I had him. Now he will not eat at all. I know he sees the crickets, they are right by him and he looks at them but then turns his head and ignores them. I am worried that he is not eating at all. The bugs i put in there yesterday morning are still all there.

 

[richardschris]

Anyone? No ideas?

 

[NHenn]

I would give some worms a try. Whether they are small mealworms, silkworms, or hornworms and see if he wants to eat any of them.

I currently cup feed my 3 month old panther as she is a slow eater and will only eat one cricket at a time and come back later to eat more. She knows exactly where they are at and when she is hungry she just heads over to the cup to eat. It is a shallow cup so some crickets will jump out too so she can also hunt for her food if she see ones passing by.

 

[NHenn]

Also, I consider my female on the small size for her age so if she eats a decent size silkworm in the morning, she might not eat anything the rest of the day. Maybe he is just full and needs a day or two and a poop to make some more room in his tiny belly.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

Could he be about to shed?

 

[richardschris]

Could he be about to shed?

He just finished shedding this morning, he still has a couple of skin pieces hanging on him. Could the shedding be the reason he doesnt want to eat.

Sidenote: I just got home and he hasnt touched any crickets or roaches that I left in there today. I am going to go buy some worms tomorrow and see if that does the trick.

 

[ataraxia]

Please dont listen to the worm suggestion. I know it was an attempt to help but not a valuable recommendation.

If you are sure your kid is 2 months. I would strongly sugges investing in a much smaller cage. something in the range of 18x12x20 screen or even a 66qt clear sterilite tote would do well. If your kid is skidish, place the cage above your head. Place a good amount of floiage and limbs for him to climb on and hide. Your temps are good. I would also take the recommendation above on making sure the feeders are correct size. Do you have any hydei fruit flies?

 

[richardschris]

Please dont listen to the worm suggestion. I know it was an attempt to help but not a valuable recommendation.

If you are sure your kid is 2 months. I would strongly sugges investing in a much smaller cage. something in the range of 18x12x20 screen or even a 66qt clear sterilite tote would do well. If your kid is skidish, place the cage above your head. Place a good amount of floiage and limbs for him to climb on and hide. Your temps are good. I would also take the recommendation above on making sure the feeders are correct size. Do you have any hydei fruit flies?

Im not sure the cage size is a problem because the bugs are right in front of him on leaves and twigs. They are also the right size, either pinhead or 1/4". I will try to find a place locally that sells fruit flies, I know of a local store that sells fruit flies but they are so small, they look almost like gnats. Are those what your talking about?

 

[ataraxia]

I am just giving some personal experience from raising many young kids. I would listen to it but to each there own

Yes, the fruit flies look like gnats. I would recommend hydei.

 

[richardschris]

I am just giving some personal experience from raising many young kids. I would listen to it but to each there own

Yes, the fruit flies look like gnats. I would recommend .

I'm definitely not saying your wrong, I'll look into finding a smaller place for him and I'll see about the flies. I have no idea how to take care of flies, any suggestions or any place to look for info? I really don't want to lose this guy.

 

[imcurt]

I go threw this with new keepers quite often as does Ataraxia. The basic guide line to feeding most reptiles is.The feeder insect should not be longer than the width of the reptiles mouth. This is a very important rule to follow with baby chameleons.I advise my new customers with this issue to remove all food at night.The next morning waters as instructed.and wait till mid morning to feed. Then put 3 1/8in-1/4in crickets in a feeder cup up high close to where it hangs out.But low enough so he can see in threw the top.And release about 8 into the cage.then back off and give him some privacy.Chameleons need to be high to feel secure. Make sure your the top or your cage is slightly higher than eye level.If he is under 3in total length.I agree that you should consider the hydei flys(looks like a mini house fly)as a secondary food source until he no longer is interested in them.And keep him in a small screen cage. A spare small cage is nice to have for transporting or sunning. So don't look at it as something that won't be used when he out grows it. Good luck

 

[richardschris]

I go threw this with new keepers quite often as does Ataraxia. The basic guide line to feeding most reptiles is.The feeder insect should not be longer than the width of the reptiles mouth. This is a very important rule to follow with baby chameleons.I advise my new customers with this issue to remove all food at night.The next morning waters as instructed.and wait till mid morning to feed. Then put 3 1/8in-1/4in crickets in a feeder cup up high close to where it hangs out.But low enough so he can see in threw the top.And release about 8 into the cage.then back off and give him some privacy.Chameleons need to be high to feel secure. Make sure your the top or your cage is slightly higher than eye level.If he is under 3in total length.I agree that you should consider the hydei flys(looks like a mini house fly)as a secondary food source until he no longer is interested in them.And keep him in a small screen cage. A spare small cage is nice to have for transporting or sunning. So don't look at it as something that won't be used when he out grows it. Good luck

Thank you guys for all the help! this community truly is great! I will look for a smaller cage tomorrow.
I do have 2 more questions.
1. what should I make a feeder cup out of? something like a small yogurt cup? or does it need to be smaller?
2. I live in a small one bedroom apartment, I dont really have a way to put him up any higher. Any suggestions on how to do that? Would it be ok to put him on top of my entertainment center? would the vibration from the tv bug him at all?

 

[imcurt]

A little yogurt cup is the right size,but look for one semi clear. This way you can see in it with out invading his space unless you have too.Maybe you can find something from goodwill or a resale shop that your cage will sit on that's waist high or higher. Place it where it's semi dark after lights out.

 

[richardschris]

success! I went today after work and bought some fruit flies and a few worms, at first I put a few of each in a feeder cup but he ignored them. Then I put them on a leaf in front of him one at a time and he started eating again! I am so relieved! I also purchased a smaller cage which I will set up this morning to hopefully make him feel more comfortable.
Thank you guys for everything! You guys rock!