Female won't shoot tongue

[Weebo]

I have a 4 month old female veiled chameleon and for the past 4 days she won't shoot her tongue out to eat. She tries walking right up to the crickets and her tongue only comes out just past her mouth. She's still eating but I'm concerned

 

[Replife]

She could have bruised it on something or may have some bark stuck in it or maybe even a splinter but I have no clue how your cage is set up a calcium deficiency can also cause this

 

[Weebo]

This is a picture of her cage. There is no soil on the ground level. I have a couple different lights for her to get nutrients and I gut load all my crickets/worms with collars greens and lettuce

 

[Replife]

It's very possible she could have gotten bark or a splinter off that branch I'm not saying that is for sure do you dust the crickets with calcium without d3 every day And calcium with d3 and a multi vitamin 2 times a month

 

[Weebo]

No I don't. I was in the beginning but it seemed like it would all fall off by the time she ate them so I stopped

 

[Replife]

I'm sure this is your problem then.. they have to have calcium dusted feeders every day and sum d3 from time to time or they are guaranteed to develop a calcium deficiency and do you use a UvB bulb ? They need this to break the calcium down in side there body's

 

[Replife]

Also I prefer to hand feed my guy so it don't have time to fall off I drop a few feeders in his cage so he can still hunt but I 75% hand feed

 

[WAMBO]

Well, you better start dusting or your cham will suffer the consequences. Follow the instructions to the letter. Dusting is not optional:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

 

[WAMBO]

I'm sure this is your problem then.. they have to have calcium dusted feeders every day and sum d3 from time to time or they are guaranteed to develop a calcium deficiency and do you use a UvB bulb ? They need this to break the calcium down in side there body's

The Vitamin D3 main job is actually needed to absorb the calcium, rather than break it down.

 

[Replife]

I feel I mean break it down so it can be absorbed but sure sounds good your the doctor lol

 

[WAMBO]

I feel I mean break it down so it can be absorbed but sure sounds good your the doctor lol

I kinda figured you meant that. Since I dictate reports all day, and they must be exactly correct, I tend to bring my OCD here. You da man!

 

[WAMBO]

Back to Vit D3. Direct sunlight is the preferred method of getting vit D3 produced by your cham. Windows filter it out, so having the habitat near a window won't help get it. A UVB bulb is then needed, but must be replaced every 6 to 12 months depending on type, as it loses it's ability to produce UV in sufficient quantity, even though it still produces light. Next is supplements, but too much D3 can be harmful, so it is given infrequently, as per the caresheets. But calcium dusting is needed. Please follow the caresheet instructions for your cham. Read about MBD, metabolic bone disease, before your cham develops it.

 

[Lizzie The Chameleon]

Sounds like a calcium deficiency. My Cham had it and she had to get several calcium shots and shortly after she passed from unknown causes. I'd get her to a vet

 

[nightanole]

If its calcium, then the aim will be off. If the tongue just stops one day, then odds are its an injury and it will take a week or 2 to get working again. Ive only have maybe 25% have full tongue use at time of death. Most have had too many injuries to be working their whole lives. My saddest was a 1 year old that hit the cricket, but the log too, and decided to put itself across the cage with its tongue vs let go, it never worked after that.

 

[Lizzie The Chameleon]

If its calcium, then the aim will be off. If the tongue just stops one day, then odds are its an injury and it will take a week or 2 to get working again. Ive only have maybe 25% have full tongue use at time of death. Most have had too many injuries to be working their whole lives. My sadist was a 1 year old that hit the cricket, but the log too, and decided to put itself across the cage with its tongue vs let go, it never worked after that.

Good point

 

[WAMBO]

If its calcium, then the aim will be off. If the tongue just stops one day, then odds are its an injury and it will take a week or 2 to get working again. Ive only have maybe 25% have full tongue use at time of death. Most have had too many injuries to be working their whole lives. My sadist was a 1 year old that hit the cricket, but the log too, and decided to put itself across the cage with its tongue vs let go, it never worked after that.

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[Weebo]

I have a UVB bulb and a CFL bulb on top of the cage. I hand feed 1 super worm every 2 days mainly just to get her use to me. I'll start dusting again since I have the calcium just figured it was being wasted since it looks to fall off after literally seconds of the cricket being in the cage

 

[Weebo]

In regards to the calcium.....isn't that what gutloading the crickets does? I thought by gutloading them it would ensure my charm is getting the calcium and nutrients she needs

 

[WAMBO]

In regards to the calcium.....isn't that what gutloading the crickets does? I thought by gutloading them it would ensure my charm is getting the calcium and nutrients she needs

NO, not calcium.

 

[Weebo]

Ok thank you. I'll start calcium dusting immediately