Chameleon not eating

[Ralphus]

Hi, I have a male veiled Chameleon who is almost a year old now, I've had him for about 5 months. In the past week he has stopped eating completly. He's still drinking as normal and his colour keeps changing dramatically. He's either really dark or bright green. We feed him locus and we were recommended not to feed him crickets as we use to. He has had locus in the viv with him and he keeps sitting looking at them but not actually eating them. Nothing in him viv has changed and he's still happy walking round it. Any ideas what could be wrong as we're getting worried about him

 

[DavidBuchan]

Hello, welcome to the forum This could be a normal cutting back in food as he is now an adult, it could be a 'hunger strike' or it could be a sign of something serious......Here is a great basic caresheet I always recommend to new people with Veileds - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
Why were you recommended not to feed crickets?
If you want to fill out all these details you will get the best possible advice - https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[Ralphus]

I was told not to give him crickets as if he doesn't eat them straight away then they could cause him harm and that locus were just as good. He's been on them for a couple of months now with no problem at all.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Male veiled about a year old
Handling - Since we've had him he's not allowed us to handle him
Feeding - He has about 5 locus every other day, we gut load them by feeding them greens before they go into the viv
Supplements - The bugs have calcium powder of them about once a week.
Watering - We see him drinking everyday normal a bit after we mist the viv. We mist him twice a day to keep the humidity right
Fecal Description - His droppings are a white/ yellowish colour, thats never changed Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? No
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Combo its about 4 foot by 1.5 foot
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? We use the terra light bulbs, red lamp on all day & uv light on a timer on through day ligh hours
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? How do you measure these temps? Lights are at the top of the cage so has a large amount to space to move up and down. Temp is about 80/85
Humidity - Keep the humidity at about 50, but it can go between 40-60.
- How are you creating and maintaining these levels? Misting Warm Water
- What do you use to measure humidity? 1 normal Thermo/Hygro
Plants - Just using plastic plants
Placement - The cage is in theliving room next to a large window nothing else near it

 

[Sinfulintent]

Kind of odd to be told not to give him crickets I know they can take small bites out of your cham if they are left in the cage for a lengthy time and hungry. But to cut them out completely is strange to me. Maybe he's going on a hunger strike? Can you try going back to crickets or getting mealworms, wax worms, or any other feeders?

Also what kind of calcium powder are you using once a week? What is in your gut load for them?

 

[DavidBuchan]

Firstly it seems like you are not giving much Calcium. Usually people will give plain calcium powder (no phosphorous/d3) every feeding. Just a light dusting. Does your powder have any d3 in it?

There's no reason not to offer crickets, just try not to leave any in overnight. Crickets will eat gutload much better than locusts. I guess you are in the UK? Perhaps the weather has changed your temps a bit. Combo thermometers are usually pretty inaccurate, a digital one would be better.
His basking temp is 80/85F? It could go a little higher, that might stimulate his appetite a bit.
Here is some useful info on other feeders (variety is best for them really) - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html

Here is some great gutload info. - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
If he is just getting bored of the locusts it will probably take him a while to start eating again. Healthy chams can go a long time not eating (my guy stopped for almost 3 weeks once when he got 'addicted' to waxworms )
Why a red light? A white one is much more natural looking..... is it a 12 hour day?...... And what strength is your uvb? Do you have a dripper in case he wants more water? Yellowish urate indicates dehydration, which could affect appetite.

 

[Kate]

Please don't leave locusts in the viv overnight. Believe me they are just as evil as crickets and could annoy/ bite. I lost a Cham through a locust bite.