Bad Aim?

[therealmermaid]

Hi guys,

My panther chameleon Roger has had a change in the way he eats. When I first got him in October 2011 his aim was brilliant, extending his tongue fully in order to catch food.

For a couple of months now though - he literally cannot strike his tongue out to get a bug. His tongue fully extends and shoots out, but his aim is completely off. He'll strike about 3-10cm off of target. He's hungry, and I have to hold the cricket/locust closer to his face before he's able to eat them.

Just wondering if anyone else has had a problem like this before? It's strange to me and it's quite taxing holding the food for him all the time!

 

[AngieL]

Hi there! This seems to be relatively common problem on the forum and is usually connected to supplementation. If my memory serves me, I think it's a vitA problem that relates to tongue issues. It could maybe be his eyesight too?

Please can you fill in this form https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ and the good folks here can maybe help you guys further

 

[pssh]

It can also be a sign if metabolic bone disease. It may also be from damage to the tongue. Pictures are helpful too.

 

[RicoRoxy]

Rico had it..

We noticed the same thing with our Rico.. after we started a stricked supplementation regimen he got better almost immediately.

 

[therealmermaid]

My supplementation at the moment is Calcium with no D3 on every feeder, then Nutrabol once a week.

What sort of regime did you start with your supplementation where your little buddy got better? I'd be interested to try it just to see if Roger benefits.

I'll post pictures soon!

 

[therealmermaid]

It can also be a sign if metabolic bone disease. It may also be from damage to the tongue. Pictures are helpful too.

Here is a video of Roger when he was 6 months old in December 2011, eating a cricket. This is when he fed normally. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT-OpMcWYTU&list=UU1qZ58qyEDKRdEaQQ_bDo4A&index=4&feature=plcp

Here are 2 videos taken tonight of him eating his crickets:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkCgMdYK5nc&list=UU1qZ58qyEDKRdEaQQ_bDo4A&index=2&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2RK3Psrf_8&list=UU1qZ58qyEDKRdEaQQ_bDo4A&index=1&feature=plcp

I hope these help? He's been like this for 6 months now - I thought he would get better as he got older but it's a constant thing. It's horrible watching him struggle :-(

I'll also fill out that questionaire in due course! Thanks for everyone's help so far

 

[Texas Panther Man]

When you are feeding him can he see out of both eyes? Try holding his feeders on either side of his head so that he cant use the other eye to find the feeder. If he is only striking at feeders on one side then you know he lost eyesight or partial eyesight in the other eye. He could have damaged the eye somehow or got a foreign object in there and scrated the cornea in some way and has limited sight in that eye. I have a wc female that came in w/a damaged eye. She can hunt and eat fine although at times she does have difficulty with depth perception. So he may not have any tongue issues, it may be that he has damaged or lost sight in one eye so its affecting his depth perception. So hes missing when he shoots.

 

[therealmermaid]

When you are feeding him can he see out of both eyes? Try holding his feeders on either side of his head so that he cant use the other eye to find the feeder. If he is only striking at feeders on one side then you know he lost eyesight or partial eyesight in the other eye. He could have damaged the eye somehow or got a foreign object in there and scrated the cornea in some way and has limited sight in that eye. I have a wc female that came in w/a damaged eye. She can hunt and eat fine although at times she does have difficulty with depth perception. So he may not have any tongue issues, it may be that he has damaged or lost sight in one eye so its affecting his depth perception. So hes missing when he shoots.

Yes he can see out of both eyes. When he strikes he moves both eyes forward and focuses on the feeder. I offer him crickets/locusts on either side of his head and he can see them. But I will definitely carry this on to see if there's a definitive side that he doesn't react to feeders on.

 

[Creative1]

My chameleon, Draco, hasn't had good aim at all since I got him, but the lady I got him from always held the food right up to him. Some local breeders I know told me that in his case the tongue has probably weakened from lack of use (it is a muscle). He also doesn't drink from the leaves etc. I have to drop water right into his mouth (another bad habit he came with). I have been told that I have one very spoiled chameleon.