Cup Re-Training -- How long is too long?

JTelcontar

Member
My buddy Cicero was doing GREAT cup feeding before summer began, but he has fallen off the horse. I've been hand feeding him lately, but I want to get him back to eating out of his bowl too. I think I may have spoiled him with all the hand feeding!

On Sept. 14th, I fed him by hand one last time. Ever since then, I have ONLY offered him his dubias out of the bowl. I used the same bowl he was very successful with previously, but no luck. I tried another bowl (different color and material) but also no luck. I see him eyeing the dubias in the bowl sometimes when he doesn't see me looking... I know he knows they are there... ;)

I don't want to give in! haha. We are in a battle of wills right now. I am ordering him some butterworms to see if that might catch his fancy in the bowl since they are brightly colored...

I guess my question is, how long is too long? He hasn't eaten anything since Sept. 14th.

He's been doing his normal stuff, basking, exploring, hanging out. He's drinking and his urates are good (but obviously not much in the way of "brown" fecal material due to not eating for 3 weeks!).


Should I just keep going and see who is more stubborn, me or the chameleon? Or should I be concerned that he's not eating?


(For reference, he's a Nosy Be Panther Chameleon who's just about to be 1 year old. His cage temps rage from 69° on the coolest side to 95° in his basking spot so he has a very nice range and uses it to his full advantage that's for sure. His MistKing goes off for 2 minutes at a time, 5 times a day. ReptiSun 5.0 UVB bulb was replaced after 6 months in July so it's pretty new. His food is dusted with Repashy Calcium Plus every day. He likes dubias and silkworms and also phoenix worms but they are a bit too small for him now. I'm hopeful the butterworms will be something new and exciting... I think that's about it!)
 
you are going on three weeks now without him eating? Has he lost weight?? If he were mine I would just try letting the feeders loose if you do not want to hand feed. If that does not work then hand feed!! JMO!! I know a healthy adult can go quite awhile without eating but three weeks is getting up there in time.
 
you are going on three weeks now without him eating? Has he lost weight?? If he were mine I would just try letting the feeders loose if you do not want to hand feed. If that does not work then hand feed!! JMO!! I know a healthy adult can go quite awhile without eating but three weeks is getting up there in time.


I would say he's probably lost a *little* weight, but not very much (I haven't weighed him so I couldn't say exactly-- but visually he's virtually the same). I was thinking 3 weeks was a bit too much myself, which is why I wanted some other input!

I don't mind hand feeding, but he's lucky I work from home so he can continue to enjoy this luxury. ;) I'll give him until Monday, then I guess I will have to give in!
 
hey, it is your chameleon and you can do what you want. There must be a reason why he will not eat from the cup. They say they will eat before they will starve but I don't know... When my chameleon would only eat supers everyone said starve him from the supers and he will eat crickets or whatever other feeder you provide. Well after about 4 days I gave in and he eats everything now. They are finnacky little creatures!!
 
If he was healthy and perhaps slightly overweight (most captive ones are) they can easily go 2 and yes even 3 weeks. They adjust their metabolisms more readily than we mammals do!
But Perhaps its time to "give in" with just one feeder. Then go back to your battle of wills. Also you should weigh him at least weekly. If he looses more than 10% of his body weight, let him win for awhile
 
You said your basking spot is 95 degrees, that seems hot for a panther. I have a panther of about the same age and I try to keep his basking spot between 87-89 degrees. Maybe that could have something to do with it.
 
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