Chameleon not eating

[Picks]

Hello everyone it has been a long time. My Chameleon Pickles has been doing great except her periodic vet visits for her right eye which remains a mystery. I got her that way. Anyway she is almost 5 years old and began to not eat as much as she used to. We had a cold start to our winter here in NC and I thought maybe she was going through brumation but has never done this before. I reduced her feeding to every third day… then her stress colors started showing and she started losing weight. I took her to my reptile vet Avian and Exotic in Raleigh NC. Vet perplexed as to why she is not eating. Full bloodwork work up just came back within normal limits. We are giving her Cerenia to hopefully pick up her appetite. Oh by the way I have been hand feeding her last couple of weeks an Omnivore diet just increased to 1 ml daily to hopefully get weight back on her. We are also deworming her out of an abundance of caution. sorry for the long post but has anyone had issues with their older Cham not eating.
Thank you for any and all input.
Have gone through husbandry with vet and all on there.
Picks owner very worried

 

[egk]

Hi, I am not a super experienced Cham owner, I only have one Chameleon named Kiwi, and I got him 7 months ago. But from the research I did before purchasing my Cham it sounds like Pickles is getting old Chameleons don't live for very long, and 5 years could be about the end of her life time. I recommend watching this video linked below by Neptune the Chameleon on signs your chameleon is getting older. (p.s. Pickles is the cutest name! And I hope she feels better soon!)

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

I would just make certain that your chameleon is comfortable, well hydrated and keep at offering your chameleon a variety of feeder insects.

Hunger Strikes happen once in a while with chameleons and that sounds as though your chameleon is going on a Hunger Strike. Hunger Strikes can happen with the healthy chameleons. The best thing I recommend and have found for a Hunger Strike is to keep offering a variety of feeder insects. Good Luck!

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[Picks]

I would just make certain that your chameleon is comfortable, well hydrated and keep at offering your chameleon a variety of feeder insects.

Hunger Strikes happen once in a while with chameleons and that sounds as though your chameleon is going on a Hunger Strike. Hunger Strikes can happen with the healthy chameleons. The best thing I recommend and have found for a Hunger Strike is to keep offering a variety of feeder insects. Good Luck!

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

Thank you for your input. Greatly appreciated

 

[Picks]

Hi, I am not a super experienced Cham owner, I only have one Chameleon named Kiwi, and I got him 7 months ago. But from the research I did before purchasing my Cham it sounds like Pickles is getting old Chameleons don't live for very long, and 5 years could be about the end of her life time. I recommend watching this video linked below by Neptune the Chameleon on signs your chameleon is getting older. (p.s. Pickles is the cutest name! And I hope she feels better soon!)

Thank you so much for sharing that video. I follow and watch Neptune the Chameleon along with Chameleon Academy and missed that one. As you know with research you look as many places as you can. Pickles is our first Cham we got her from someone who said they could no longer care for her she was a mess when we got her. We had her spayed two years ago and she was doing great. You get so attached to these beautiful creatures. Anyway Thank you greatly appreciated

 

[kinyonga]

Please post some photos of her from today so I can see her.

 

[Picks]

These are pictures of her from this morning. 1/8/25. She has lost 20 percent of her body weight. I have been syringe feeding her OxBow Omnivore diet and the last couple of feedings along with medications (I can list them if you need) it has been tough on her I am having to force her mouth open. I elected to stop force feeding her. Yesterday I went pet store for and got her crickets ( I haven’t been feeding her crickets hoping she might be interested in something different). She is normally fed Hornworms (treat) dubias, silkworms when I can get them, soldier fly larvae and wax worms. I am hoping she may eat something today. I am afraid she is shutting down.

 

[Picks]

Please post some photos of her from today so I can see her.

 

[GrannyK]

Just want to say I’m sorry you’re going thru this with her. She is beautiful and sounds like she has had a good life with you. Sending a big hug your way.

 

[Picks]

Pickles passed away today. I want to thank everyone for their support throughout my time with her. This group is definitely recommended for anyone who owns or decides to be a chameleon guardian.
My husband and I have decided to not rescue another chameleon right now. We are going to concentrate on our aquariums for a while.
thank you all