First Chameleon

[KyleFitzz]

I'm happy to say that Friday of last week I purchased my first male Jackson's Chameleon! He is a very beautiful reptile and I've given him a great home. I am a littled worried though. The first day I put him in his terrarium (repti-breeze 18x18x36) he ate like a little monster. After that which was last Friday, he hasn't been eating nearly as much. I'm contimplating on buying smaller crickets next time, to see if that helps. I've also put a mealworm bowl in his terrarium as well. I just did that this morning. I was curious to see whether it's because he's still acclimating to his new home or if I should be worried. I've caught him eating from time to time, but hand feeding him isn't working. Any suggestions would really help! Also here are some pics of his set up. The mealworm bowl is slightly different. I have it hanging from the right side of the terrarium in an old waxworm container. Please let me know what I can do or if I'm just worrying a little too much. Thank you!

 

[nightanole]

Welcome to the forums, and sorry about your wallet.

For hand feeding i try:
10-12" tongs
feeding out side the cage.

Sometimes they just dont like your paw in their tree, even if it has food on it.

 

[szpond]

Hello! Congratulations on your first little dude and welcome here.

This may be random, but, Did you purchase from PetSmart?

 

[szpond]

Just because I recognize everything you have as things we sell (I work at PetSmart!). I bought my first chameleon from my work, a mature Jackson's Chameleon. I like the look of your set-up, lots of places to hide. I would exchange the repti-bark at the bottom for just paper towel (it really helps with cleaning!!). When I was new to chameleons, those at my work suggested the same bark. I found that he would accidentally eat small pieces while hunting.

I believe I see a repti-fogger as well? I have one for my Jackson's that I started out with as well! It's winter here in Michigan and I use it to keep his humidity up. It runs on a time interval. I believe 10 minutes out of the hour.

How much are you feeding and of what, per day?

 

[Sinfulintent]

Welcome to the forums! If you have any questions about anything that you may need help with feel free to ask!

 

[KyleFitzz]

Where I Got HIm

I got him on a website called backwaterreptile and he came within a day, I also just purchased longer tongs to try and feed him outside the terrairum. We will see what happens and I'm very eager to see how big he gets. I'm also setting up my own humidfier system and mist system soon!

 

[KyleFitzz]

Feeding

I try to feed him twice a day at least but I don't see him hunt much. It's more or less him purchaed on a branch and moving every once in a while. There are small crickets in his terrarium now so we will see if that intices him to hunt

 

[Sinfulintent]

Any new news on him?

a week isn't too long to go without eating, I doubt it is a hunger strike, are you giving him just crickets or are you giving him a varied diet of crickets, worms, roaches, and what not..

Some chams won't eat if they even see someone in the same room as them, when you first got him he may have just been super hungry. I'm not sure how backwater keeps them and don't want to bad mouth them in any way but he really might have been hungry.. Do you know how old he is, how big is he and what size are your feeders? They shouldn't be bigger than the space between his eyes from what I've read here.

So far are you've tried is meal worms and crix? Have you tried horned worms or something similar that is kind of juicy? From what I've read as well chams go crazy for those things (be careful as they can go on hunger strikes and wait for just those and they have a higher fat content). Just try to give him one, especially for the hand feeding/tong feeding so he associates you more towards the juicy treat. His bowl may be too low for him and he does not want to go to the bottom of his cage there is a picture of how someone has one set up here : https://www.chameleonforums.com/feeder-cups-87580/ along with a youtube link for a how to. If you can get yours suspended up higher in the cage along with some wire mesh so the crickets/meal worms can climb up he may go for that A LOT more.

Along with the feeder cup I would try giving him alone time with the feeder cup like I said some don't like being seen while eating so you could try leaving the feeder cup in there for a while and completely leave the room (or put him somewhere he won't be disturbed) and check on him periodically.

hope this helps you!

 

[KyleFitzz]

Thanks

I have tried mealworms and crickets! So far he eats the crickets but hasn't bothered with mealworms. I also have some roaches coming in the mail and should be here soon! I can also try to get some horned worms soon and try them out! I left my house for a few so when I get back ill check the terrarium for any leftovers if there are any! Lets hope he went to town!! Thanks for all the advice and I may go get some waxworms too! Are there any good sites to get feeders from?

 

[Get bunkered]

You should throw in a ficus tree !! my Cham loves it and it provides a sence of security for them, I also would try a variety of feeders. I like to use crickets and dubai roaches for feeding just make sure to gutoad the crickets for nutritional value

 

[KyleFitzz]

Ficus tree

A real ficus tree or the fake kind haha

 

[Sinfulintent]

Whoa there Kyle don't start an argument on real vs fake

I would go with real it will help keep humidity up with the watering and stuff. Make sure you cover the soil with rocks and stuff. There are a few threads around on how to take care of live plants if you do a quick search I'm not gonna do all the work for ya on that one Just make sure he can't eat the soil because that could cause issues later down the line. I personally have those fake vines running along the walls of my viv, a tree branch from the bottom of the cage to the top, and then 2 small live plants at the bottom. but since mine is blind he can't see it or move anywhere so it's kinda useless for now .

 

[KyleFitzz]

No arguments!

Hahha ill buy a real on ASAP! I'm sure homedepot will probably have them there or another store that sells plants! I will def research them! Also I don't want to keep asking the same questions but hey what the heck I have your attention! Do you guys no of any good insect websites to get them from?! I like backwater but I want to get a few horned worms and not 100 of them haha!

 

[KyleFitzz]

Good news!

I believe he ate some of the mealworms that I have in a bowl and it looks like some of the crickets are gone as well! I also moved all his lighting to one side and keep the other side wet and humidified. That's a pretty good idea huh?! This is a lot more work then leaopard geckos haha but I enjoy taking all this time!! I want him to live the most perfect life he can!