force feeding

[InGoodHands]

Its seems I must resort to force feeding. Without all the specs, they are good( temp, lighting ect.). I need to know the best method to force feed. I bought a sick veiled that wont eat, today is day 5 and I gatta do something. He was looking at a cricket today for like 1 min then just turned around and ignored it. He is active but never wants to bask. He is 3 inches long excluding tail. The cricket was perfect size and he does not seemed interested. Force feeding time! I do not want him to die, unfortunatley I got ripped off by a online breeder (no names) and he gave me a chameleon with awesome color, but looks like a holocaust victim. I have givin him his space and mist the viv 4 times a day, never seen him eat or drink...Any tips???

 

[pssh]

At the age your cham is force feeding would do more harm than good in my opinion. Stress kills.

Some chams just weren't meant to be and some babies will die when they are young, not because the owner did something wrong, but because it just wasn't meant to be.

 

[InGoodHands]

Wow, that was a little harsh. But I will accept it.

 

[pssh]

You can try to force feed, but it may just over stress him. Also, before you completely give up, try to make him hiss and use some tweezers and hold a cricket and once he opens his mouth throw it in.

 

[Julirs]

No need to use tweexers-take a cricket and kind of stun it by pinching it's head or slightly smashing it against something (cruel-I know). Hold the cricket by the back end and hold your cham. If he will gape or open his mouth to hiss gently stick the cricket on the edge of his mouth so if/when he bites down he bites the cricket. He should chew at this point, and before he finishes chewing, get another one and put it inside his mouth in the same way. If he will not open his mouth, gently pull down his lower jaw. This is so much easier with 2 people, but I have mastered it now alone. Good luck.

 

[Lovereps]

Why not try something other than crickets?
Some "Phoenix worms" which are quite wiggly and may be all the coaxing he needs or Butterworms or waxworms (the waxworms are not good as a steady diet, mind you).
Maybe there are things that are stressing him out, besides the move....
Are you taking him out of his cage--or putting your hand(s) in the cage?
Is he in a "high-traffic" area of the house?
Do you have other pets (even fish)? Are they within his view?
Do you go close to him to observe him (or see if he has eaten, yet) many times daily (or does your wife, kids,etc.)?
Obviously, you want the best for him and there are plenty of helpful and knowledgeable people here who are willing to help.
Help us to help you.
Post some pics of him and his setup and answer the "How to ask for help" questions in order to get the best results from using this forum.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[InGoodHands]

Nothing is gana stress him out where he is at. Im going to try and force feed him because he is active and will hiss. I leave him alone period. Ive checked on him today 3 times just because I misted his viv. Handled him 1 time since I've had him to put him in the viv. I know what stress can do to a reptile. I am an experienced bearded dragon owner, who is in love with chameleons now. so much more demanding. But LOVE my dragons...Im ganna try and force feed him now!- later

 

[jojackson]

Exactly what are those 'good' temps? maybe its not basking because it's too warm.
I dont recommend force feeding, it should always be the very last resort.
Advising it, based on virtulally no useful information from the threadstarter is irresonsible,
and akin to guesswork.
Atleast lovereps asked some useful questions.

Ingoodhands, I reccomend you fill in the questionair he posted, in full, so we have a better idea of whats happening.
and are you trying different insects? Is ther lizard well hydrated?

 

[Julirs]

Please understand that I have been PMing with the poster and I would not advise unless the situation warranted. Forum rules dictate that this entire story cannot be told here.

 

[kianna2118]

I have had the same problem with my chameleon back in may 2009. I have had my cham for 7 months now. By forcing ur cham to eat stresses them out and less active. What i have done was place a small feeders cup in his cage and just let my cham eat by himself pretty soon you will be able to see him eat. It does take time. He needs to get use to his cage and all of the other things around him out of his cage. My cham is a very picky eater but for the pass 7 months i had to learn what he likes and how he eats. He only eats by himself not wit me in the room . Hope this is helpful. But the small feeder cup will work it has done for me .

 

[jojackson]

Please understand that I have been PMing with the poster and I would not advise unless the situation warranted. Forum rules dictate that this entire story cannot be told here.

Oh I see, Fair enough. Thanks for the clarification and please accept my apology.

 

[InGoodHands]

I dont know why, but he is always hiding. He never wants to bask. my temps are 80deg with 60 humidity ()basking spot(). I just now checked it with a flukers digital after i misted. pretty soon he will die cause he is not getting his rays. Im going to send pics of his viv when later on tonight. this guy is stressin me out more than he is.

 

[Julirs]

No-he won't die anytime soon from rays-he is getting ambient UVB-don't worry about that. I would put about 5-10 crickets in the cage just in case he feels like eating. Make sure he has a spot where he can climb up pretty close to the basking lamp since that is where the crickets will go.