Baby panther tries to eat his tail!

[ponders]

My 2 day old panther was hunting today and the prey was his tail! He was sitting across a branch with his tail straight out below him on a leaf. I was watching to see if he would eat a FF (haven't seen him successfully eat yet-keeps missing by 1/8" or so.) So he's looking at the leaf and at his tail tip, shoots at and grabs his tail and he bites it! He freaks out and yanks his tail out of his mouth and then rolls up his tail. Looks around to see if anyone noticed (just kidding). I can't believe what I just saw, told my daughter about it and 5 mins later he does it again! Of course I didn't have my camera ready, figured he learned his lesson the first time.So I put a tiny silkworm in there figuring he like wormy things-he ate it then spit it out.
Anybody else seen this before?

 

[FOREVER ENDEAVOR]

wow thats funny.. my jackson babys would attack each other..but not themselves!

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

My 2 day old panther was hunting today and the prey was his tail! He was sitting across a branch with his tail straight out below him on a leaf. I was watching to see if he would eat a FF (haven't seen him successfully eat yet-keeps missing by 1/8" or so.) So he's looking at the leaf and at his tail tip, grabs his tail and he bites it! He freaks out and yanks his tail out of his mouth and then rolls up his tail. Looks around to see if anyone noticed (just kidding). I can't believe what I just saw, told my daughter about it and 5 mins later he does it again! Of course I didn't have my camera ready, figured he learned his lesson the first time.So I put a tiny silkworm in there figuring he like wormy things-he ate it then spit it out.
Anybody else seen this before?

I have never seen that before . That is too funny. I am sure he will figure it out soon.

 

[Kat77]

Hmm..is he by himself in there? I might say it is caused by stress if he is in with other clutch mates and (perhaps?) not getting enough to eat....but then who knows...
I just hope he doesn't hurt himself!

 

[studiocham]

See this thread, it may be a brain chemical imbalance?

https://www.chameleonforums.com/self-mutilation-3335/

 

[ponders]

Interesting thread. Thanks. I hope it's not a chemical imbalance and that he's just learning how to hunt. But he seems to be missing when he shoots so maybe he has vision troubles. I babysat some eggs for a friend that were hatching. He incubated for 12 1/2 months and I saw mites in the vermiculite and on the eggs. I was surprised he even hatched. His tail is so small I can't see any damage. Hopefully he'll learn how to hunt real food. He's by himself in a 10g tank with both types of FF, fruit pieces to attract the flies, fake vine and a real plant.

 

[Lancecham]

I have been breeding chams for years and never saw that before. WOW. I'm sure he will realize that his tail is not food real quick.

 

[PantherVeileD]

Try to move him into a smaller gallon. Like 1-5 gallon. Use paper towels at the bottom with fake plant lying on the ground. He is only two days old? He won't be able to eat the silkworms I don't think. Flightless fruit flies is a good start. I bought a thing call bug boundary and paint the top edge so the flies won't be able to crawl out.