My veiled chameleon has been acting very strange lately. He sits in one spot of his cage with his eyes closed for hours and shows no interest in food. He is not dead(I checked) but will not eat. Please help
Can you please answer the questions in this help form.
Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
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?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
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Please Note:
The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
I have a veiled male chameleon that has been in my care for 3 weeks. He is a couple of months old and I handle him once a week. I feed him meal worms and crickets, as many as he will eat at one time everyday and 2 times per week they are dusted in calcium. I mist his tank 4-5 times a day. It’s a screen 30gal with a 100 watt uvb bulb and 100 watt heat bulb that is kept on from 7 am to 7pm. The temp ranges from 89°F to 75°F. There is 65% humidity and I keep one marble queen pothos planet at the bottom of the cage. My tank is in my room about 3 feet from the floor on a desk not near any vents or windows. I am located in new york
Mealworms aren’t the best feeder as they have no real nutritional value. Superworms are better but as treats. Chams need a wide variety of foods. I’ll put the feeder image here.
Your supplement schedule is off. You should be using a phosphorus free calcium WITHOUT d3 every feeding except twice a month use a calcium WITH d3 and twice a month use a multivitamin on alternating weeks
you will also want to gutload your feeder insects before feeding them to your Cham. Here is some good items to use
what is the exact brand of uvb bulb you are using? Is it a linear bulb or a coil bulb?
89 is a bit hot. Should be closer to 85 max in his basking spot.