Eating Problem

Crayola

Crayola

New Member
I have a 2 month old Veiled Chameleon! Ive had him for a week today. The first couple of days I had him he ate fine and now I'm having a problem with him not eating! Its been three days that he hasnt ate. Ive tryed to hand feed him and also put the worm in front of him as he watched it move he just cocked his head and went on with he was doing. I'm worryed that he wont eat! Does any one know what i should do???
 
I find it weird that he was eating for the first coupe days and just completely stopped. He may just be stressed though. Normally chameleons don't eat for the first few days to a week you have them.

Fill out this form, please. It will help us understand anything you're doing wrong.

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.


Pictures are helpful
 
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled chameleon, male, and 2 months old. I've had him a week
Handling - 3 or 4 times a day
Feeding - He eats mealworms, 1 or 2 a day, I put 2 worms in his bowl before i leave for school.
Supplements - I use Calcium+D3, and i use it once a week.
Watering - I use a dripper and I use a spray bottle to mist him about 3 times a day. No i do not see my chameleon drinking.
Fecal Description - I have bark at the bottom of the cage so i dont see any at all, and no my chameleon has not been tested for that.
History - Had it shipped from a pet store in Florida
Cage Info:Eco Terra
Cage Type - I have a 18 by 18 by 24 glass cage
Lighting -I have a ultraviolet light source and a heat lamp! I have the regular light on during the day and the heat lamp on at night occaionally but its usually off
Temperature - My temperature has been normal about 75 or 80. The lowest temp at night ive seen is about 70. I have a temperature and humidity gauge.
Humidity - My humidity range is about 85. I keep it that way but misting his home 2 to 3 times a day. I have a humidity gauge.
Plants - I have Manzanita and fake vines and leafs.
Placement - It is located in a bedroom, Its about 4 feet off the ground.
Location - Northern California
Current Problem - My chameleon wont eat anymore.
 
Crayola said:
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled chameleon, male, and 2 months old. I've had him a week
Handling - 3 or 4 times a day
Feeding - He eats mealworms, 1 or 2 a day, I put 2 worms in his bowl before i leave for school. Mealworms are not a good staple food. They have a high ratio of shell to meat. Crickets are the most common staple. Some other good staples are dubia roaches, superworms, and phoenix worms. You should alternate between them. They also need to eat WAY more than one or two a day. A chameleon that young needs around 15 crickets (Or whatever you're feeding) per day. You need to gutload them as well. I am going to link Sandrachameleons blog about gutloading. It is very helpful.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
Supplements - I use Calcium+D3, and i use it once a week. You need calcium WITHOUT D3 every day (Can not be found in your local store, only online), calcium WITH D3 twice a month, and a multivitamin twice a month. However, there is a product called Repashy calcium plus, which is an all in one product that can be used every day.
Watering - I use a dripper and I use a spray bottle to mist him about 3 times a day. No i do not see my chameleon drinking.
Fecal Description - I have bark at the bottom of the cage so i dont see any at all, and no my chameleon has not been tested for that.
History - Had it shipped from a pet store in Florida
Cage Info:Eco Terra
Cage Type - I have a 18 by 18 by 24 glass cage
Lighting -I have a ultraviolet light source and a heat lamp! I have the regular light on during the day and the heat lamp on at night occaionally but its usually off You need to get a UVB bulb ASAP. Without this, they can not absorb calcium into their bones and will develop MBD (Metabolic bone disorder/disease). On this forum we mostly recommend a reptisun 5.0. They also should not have a night lamp. They do best with complete darkness. In addition to the reptisun 5.0, you need a basking light. So in total, two bulbs. Reptisun 5.0, and preferably a 45 watt basking bulb.
Temperature - My temperature has been normal about 75 or 80. The lowest temp at night ive seen is about 70. I have a temperature and humidity gauge.
Humidity - My humidity range is about 85. I keep it that way but misting his home 2 to 3 times a day. I have a humidity gauge.
Plants - I have Manzanita and fake vines and leafs.
Placement - It is located in a bedroom, Its about 4 feet off the ground.
Location - Northern California
Current Problem - My chameleon wont eat anymore.
Could you upload a photo of his enclosure?
Click to expand...
Answers are in red. :)
 
Well he roams all over the cage and lets me hold him. He just wont eat. Anyone have any suggestions?
 
That is my Terranium and That is my 2 month old Chameleon
 

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Pilotman800 gave you the necessary changes you need to make. You say you have a UVB bulb? What kind are you using? It looks like it is a tube light which is good, but you have to make sure it is the correct kind and not one that is used for Bearded Dragons or other types of lizards. Remove the bark from the cage. It will become wet and soggy and breed bacteria. you chameleon may eat it and could die. No heat at night necessary, especially if you temps are in the 70's. Get some appropriately sized(1/4 inch) crickets. You are starving your chameleon by offering him a few meal worms a day.
 
I got everything I have from my dad and his girlfriend that has two 4 month old chameleons and theres did perfectly fine with it all. I cant be starving him if he wont even eat, I will go to my local pet store tomorrow and get those crickets.
 
Crayola said:
I got everything I have from my dad and his girlfriend that has two 4 month old chameleons and theres did perfectly fine with it all. I cant be starving him if he wont even eat, I will go to my local pet store tomorrow and get those crickets.
Click to expand...

how old are their chameleons now? how long have they had them?
 
Pilotman gave you correct information. The crickets will be better for your Cham especially if you gut load them.

What works for one may not be the best for all. I am very glad the other two chams are doing well.

The bark stuff can cause issues more cases than not. The bacteria for one and if your little Cham gets any in their mouth they can not digest it. Then they get impacted (blocked) and can die without a vet treating them.

We are only trying to help you since you asked for help. The Breeders and keepers on this forum have many many years of experience. They are not trying to scold you or make you feel defensive. This is what has been proven in the past. Just go look at their pictures you will see the beautiful creatures they have raised doing the things that were told to you.

I am very new to Chams 3 months only. I read here all the time to keep learning because I want Chams as healthy and gorgeous as theirs :D


Good luck with your new baby and keep asking questions thats the only way we noobs can learn
 
Still not eating

So its been over a week and the first couple days my vieled chameleon would eat and then he stopped and he ate one worm tuesday and he ate one yesterday. It worrys me cause alot of people on here and the research i read say he should be eating alot more. I got him worms and i put them in and cant find them,I dont know if there in the bark or if he really ate them. It worrys me that he isnt eating alot like i read and was told.Im afraid my chameleon is going to die.. What do i do???
 
Hello, He is still not eating? Did you correct the things that were wrong in his cage.
The D3 all the time can cause issues and did you get a UBV light?

He could also be impacted from the bark you have on the bottom.

I am not trying to be harsh or attack you. He needs the things listed in your other post fixed. Unless you do that he will never be healthy :(

You could try giving him a shower with warm water- have him in the tub on a plant and have the water hit the wall and bounce onto him. They need warmth to digest food and maybe the warm water will stimulate his body into being hungry.

I am sure others will be here to help you with more experience than me
 
I dont give him the calcium at all. He was eating for a few days and then stopped an then ate one worm and then stopped again. How can all that be wrong when my dad gave me all that stuff and his are doing fine. I dont understand. What do you have in your cage? am i missing somethin. Im afraid if i get rid of the bark he will fall and hurt himself! its a glass cage can he hurt himself if he falls and there is nothin on the bottom?
 
How long has your Dad had his?

I've been keeping chameleons for over 20 years....and here's some information I hope will help you with things like supplements, gutloading, etc....
Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption.

Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.

A wide variety of insects that have been well fed and gutloaded should be fed to it.

Since many of the feeder insects we use in captivity have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).

If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).

Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite which has beta carotene.)

Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)

Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.
Please note that various supplements have various amounts of D3 and vitamin A and so some can be given more often than others. The idea still is not to overdo the fat soluble vitamins like D3 and prEformed vitamin A.

Here are some good sites for you to read too...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
If you can't access the sites above that have the word "archive" in you can do it through the WayBackMachine.
 
Crayola said:
I dont give him the calcium at all. He was eating for a few days and then stopped an then ate one worm and then stopped again. How can all that be wrong when my dad gave me all that stuff and his are doing fine. I dont understand. What do you have in your cage? am i missing somethin. Im afraid if i get rid of the bark he will fall and hurt himself! its a glass cage can he hurt himself if he falls and there is nothin on the bottom?
Click to expand...
When we sent you that stuff, I sent you a Repti-Glo 5.0 and a Heat-Glo bulbs. I told you to use the heat lamp only if the temps in your room were getting too chilly for him. And to leave his other light on 12-14 hours a day.

I also told you that having nothing on the bottom of the cage would be the best and that you could put the bark down only if you couldn't keep it humid enough and to make sure to take it out every couple of months rinse it with bleach water and rinse it good and bake it dry so it would be clean and kill any germs.

You also got dishes for the food and I told you to put the dishes up off the bottom of the cage so he wouldn't try eating off the bark.

But, most importantly, I told you to get on ChameleonForums.com and do lots of research and ask questions.

I am thrilled to see that you are here! I have been looking for you to join. I was just looking under the wrong name! lol
 
Crayola said:
I dont give him the calcium at all. He was eating for a few days and then stopped an then ate one worm and then stopped again. How can all that be wrong when my dad gave me all that stuff and his are doing fine. I dont understand. What do you have in your cage? am i missing somethin. Im afraid if i get rid of the bark he will fall and hurt himself! its a glass cage can he hurt himself if he falls and there is nothin on the bottom?
Click to expand...

You need to give him the proper supplements. he needs the crickets, nto meal worms. if you give him too many worms, he can become spoiled and only want those, and wotn eat other bugs, which is a big nutrition issue.
PLEASE follow what pilotman and the others have said.
Chams are built to take falls. remove the bark.
If he is not impacted now, he will be eventually.
ANd cahms shouldnt fall if they are healthy and have lots of plants to hold onto.
 
Everyone here is right Crayola. You MUST listen to what they say. These guys are probably some of the most incredible people with knowledge of chameleons I have ever seen. Take it from me :D I was (well still is) a newby and they helped me SO much when I had no clue on some of the things. Thanks to these people on the forums, especially Camimon and janbb (sorry for bad spelling) have amazing experience and helped me out to make sure I could raise the best little chameleon there could ever be! Hell, even one offered me 20$ to pay for my shipping! Listen to them carefully and stay alert on the other threads people post! They can help you learn so much!
 
vladdimir26 said:
Everyone here is right Crayola. You MUST listen to what they say. These guys are probably some of the most incredible people with knowledge of chameleons I have ever seen. Take it from me :D I was (well still is) a newby and they helped me SO much when I had no clue on some of the things. Thanks to these people on the forums, especially Camimon and janbb (sorry for bad spelling) have amazing experience and helped me out to make sure I could raise the best little chameleon there could ever be! Hell, even one offered me 20$ to pay for my shipping! Listen to them carefully and stay alert on the other threads people post! They can help you learn so much!
Click to expand...
Thank youfor the compliment.
:eek:
 
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