Help!Food Strike

[reptileguy112]

Hi, I have a female veiled chameleon that might be gravid and she has been going on a food strike for a couple weeks.She started to only eat a cricket once a day to only eating wax worms to not eating since 3 days ago.I need some help.I feed super worms, wax worms, giant mealworms, and crickets.She hasn't had calcium for a long time since I can even coat the wax worms and she is starting to look greyish with dots sometimes.She is in a 2' 2' 4' all screen cage with a 18" 5% uvb 30% uva tube, and a 75 watt intense basking spot light.It has plenty of plants and bend-a-vines and she occasionally gets stuck on the roof of the cage or the wall.Help would be very appreciated. P.S. Her laying bucket is a 1 gallon plastic ice cream bucket with moist play sand.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

Why can't you coat the waxworms with calcium?

I do feed waxworms occasionally as a treat for both my chams, but I give them a good shake in calcium powder before they go into the feeding cup, as I do with all my feeders.

You mention having fed crickets, did you coat them?

the calcium supplement is very important, and if she hasn't had any in a long time, and you are concerned, then my advice in the first instance is to take her to a qualified and experienced herp vet - explain the hunger strike and tell them what you have been doing and get some advice.

 

[reptileguy112]

I coat everything, I was saying it doesn't stick to the waxworms.That is not the problem, she is starving and she still hasn't eaten.

 

[reptileguy112]

I force fed today and it was easier.I put a little bit of calcium w/d3 and reptivite along with some crushed mealworms in a syringe and she ate most of it.When she with licking water I stuck a live meal worms head in her mouth and she ate it.I hope she is going to be okay.Also, it seems like all of the pictures of chameleon cages they have vines near the top of the cage about 5" away from the top.Mine has a good foot from the top of the cage.Is she too far from the top?I would like some input and it seems like nobody it answering any questions. I hope she turns around soon.One more thing, is sticky tongue vite-all a good source as every other week being used as the vitamin supplement.Thanx!

 

[zlew]

please fill out the "how to ask for help" sticky at the top of the forum. You can copy and paste your answers into this thread.

 

[reptileguy112]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?

Female Veiled Chameleon.For about 3 months.

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Usually never unless I need to but recently every day to get a meal worm in her mouth while she drinks or to syringe feed her.

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?

I gut load feeders with the polymer gel stuff, a fish food cat food mix powder, and lettuce/carrots.I have wax worms, giant meal worms, super worms, and crickets.I want to buy some silk worms, calcium worms, and hornworms.I don't really have a schedule for feeding.

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?

Flukers calcium w/d3, exo terra calcium w/no d3, exo terra reptivite, and sticky tongue vite-all.Everyday calcium, once every other week d3 and every other week reptivite.Not sure how to use the vite-all.


Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?

I have a dripper, spray bottle, and ultrasonic fogger (not for drinking but it does condense on leaves.I do see my chameleon drinking.I Mist it 2-3 times a day and dripper for 5 minutes every day or every other day.

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?

Never tested, I haven't noticed any recent dropping but I have been able to manually feed her today and yesterday so there should be some soon.Its a big cage.

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

I got it from LLLreptile at a show and they were supost to give me a male but I got a female with out them telling me.It was in a 20g tall glass terrarium for the first 1.5 months of its life here and had no problems except for drinking.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?

All screen sides (except for bottom) and is 2' 2' 4'.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?

I have a exo terra 5.0 18" uvb bulb that has 5% uvb and 30% uva output.I also have a compact 5.0 uvb bulb for inbetween tube changes while waiting for the next one to come in the mail.I also have a 75 watt and 150 watt intense basking spot light.I use the 75 watt but I am not sure if the 150 would be better.I turn them on when I wake up (6:30 on weekdays, and 8:30 on weekends.I turn them of between 7-9:30pm.

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?

Usually 73 on cage floor and 85 on basking spot.It may get to 68 on a cold night.I use a aquarium sticker on the screen and a digital temp and humidity gauge.

Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?

I maintain these levels using a ultrasonic fogger and misting.The frog moss helps to. use a digital hygrometer.It is between 60% and 80% at all times.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?

Yes, a pothos, money tree, jasmine vine, honeysuckle bush and frog moss.

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?

In my room in front of a window and on its side a bird cage of similar size that is visually blocked off and its other a dresser with a 40g tropical tank (that also help humidity.) on top of it.4' high.There is a vent in the room.I don't go in my room more than 5 times a day not including sleeping and getting up.

Location - Where are you geographically located?

Sacramento, California.

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

She is not eating herself.I feed her with a feeding cup that she has never ate out of and offering bug with tong sized tweezers (she has never ate from those, or just offering bugs by putting them on a nearby leaf.I have been syringe feeding her and feeding her while drinking the last 2 days because before that she din't eat for a week.