Help: my 5 year old Yemen chameleon has stopped eating

[Metalheart]

Hi to anyone who's reading. I'm in desperate need of help And advice!
My 5!year old Yemen chameleon has stopped eating completely!
He's had the same uv and watt bulb. Same location. Same handling. Etc no changes to his lifestyle at all. He would normally eat up to 4 hoppers a day. Really healthy appetite. Now suddenly he won't eat it's been 4 weeks. I've changed his hoppers for wax worms. Meal worms etc and nothing. Just changed his bulbs. Left them on for 1 more hour? (7 hours a day light)
I've even cleaned his viv. And renewed his sand. He's a mystery no shedding signs and hasn't shed fr about 3 weeks.
Help me I'm so worried and have ran out of ideas.
I have tried hand feeding also. Which he usually loves.
Can someone tell me if he needs to see a specialist ? Or if is normal or just Amy suggestions?

Many thanks

 

[carol5208]

Sorry to hear your guy is not feeling well. Obviously, you have been doing something right if your chameleon has lived to the ageof 5 yrs. Other than not eating, are there any other symptoms? Is he drinking? If this the first time in 5 years that he has gone on a hunger strike then? They will do that from time to time. Have you had him tested for parasites recently?

 

[AngieL]

Hi there!

You may want to try other feeders like silk worms or roaches.

Also you should have the lights in for 12 hours a day and then 12 off.

Why do you have sand in there? It's no use to a male IMO.

You say he's 5 but how long have you had him?

 

[Metalheart]

I think he would burn if i left lights on for that long as hes not used to it.
different people have different opinions on the sand thing. he used to have wood chips but a reptile "expert" recommended sand as it holds heat.
he has been on hunger strikes as you call it before but never longer than 2 weeks max.
Would parasites happen for no reason? he seems well, he looks the same hasnt lost weight and he still looks bright in colour. not sure whether hes drinking as i never see him often. im spraying him once a day when room is warmer than usual.
do you think i should take him to a vets?

 

[Metalheart]

we've had him for 4/5 years raised from a tiny tiny size

 

[Lathelia]

I think he would burn if i left lights on for that long as hes not used to it.
different people have different opinions on the sand thing. he used to have wood chips but a reptile "expert" recommended sand as it holds heat.
he has been on hunger strikes as you call it before but never longer than 2 weeks max.
Would parasites happen for no reason? he seems well, he looks the same hasnt lost weight and he still looks bright in colour. not sure whether hes drinking as i never see him often. im spraying him once a day when room is warmer than usual.
do you think i should take him to a vets?

Hi, I'm not an expert, but from what I know chameleons should have lights on for about 12 hours a day. If you are worried that's too much maybe start with 8 or 9? When it comes to sand, I do not think thats a good idea. Chameleons go to the bottom when they are too hot to temoregulate. If it's hot at the bottom how can he do that? Also misting only once? You should mist more often, what is the humidity in your cage?
And congratulations that your guy is already 5 years old, not many keeper can say their cham lived that long.

 

[Captive Creations]

Well you must be doing something right if he is 5 years old. I would suggest removing the sand and replacing it with repti carpet or even paper towel as a temporary fix. My guy just celebrated his 6th year this year and sometimes he eats like crazy others he doesnt but after that long maybe a quick trip to the vet couldnt hurt just to make sure its not impaction which can happen easpecially with loose substrate like sand . All my reptiles are either on repti carpet or paper towel which can be easily changed. Also reptiles need the 12 hour light cycle to be able to digest their food and be healthy. Keep us posted. I hope he starts eating for you.

 

[AngieL]

I think he would burn if i left lights on for that long as hes not used to it.
different people have different opinions on the sand thing. he used to have wood chips but a reptile "expert" recommended sand as it holds heat.
he has been on hunger strikes as you call it before but never longer than 2 weeks max.
Would parasites happen for no reason? he seems well, he looks the same hasnt lost weight and he still looks bright in colour. not sure whether hes drinking as i never see him often. im spraying him once a day when room is warmer than usual.
do you think i should take him to a vets?

Hey I'm not knocking you as you've kept him alive that long lol!

He wouldn't burn if your temps are right. Pretty much everyone will say 12 hour light cycles to you.

Do you only spray him once a day? What other means of water have you provided for him?

Parasites can come from feeder insects so it's possible the could just appear out of the blue.

 

[Elizadolots]

I don't think the 12 hours is a requirement...certainly in the wild they do not get 12 hours of daylight all year. 7 hours is probably enough in terms of UVB.

If he's not losing weight it's probably not a crisis and you have some time to try things like other feeders.

What are your temperatures at the top and bottom of the cage? This board typically recommends a fairly good range from top to bottom. For that reason the idea of heat holding sand at the bottom strikes me (and probably others) as a bit counter to how we usually think.

 

[kinyonga]

Is he keeping his eyes open all day?
Can we ought post a photo of him please?

 

[Metalheart]

Wools wrote back twice!

 

[Metalheart]

His eyes are open all day he is very active climbing branches etc.
Im so worried this reptile shop expert has said the wrong base for his viv "sand" and now his light time seems to be wrong. He's ins a routine now so I don't want to disrupt him too greatly.
He has a water bowl at all times in the viv and sometimes shoots his tongue down at the bowl I will post a photo tomorrow he is a beauty.
Thank you for all your replies, so appreciative.

 

[Elizadolots]

This board typically recommends a dripper, not a water bowl. But if you've been giving him water for 4+ years in a bowl, I'm not going to tell you that's the wrong thing to do.

What does his poop look like? Is there a portion that's white, yellow or orange attached?

You've obviously done something very correct, so don't assume that just because this board typically does things differently that you need to make a lot of changes.

 

[Metalheart]

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[Metalheart]

This is my boy, Marley
He seems to have become very good friends with his food.
I wish he'd eat!
He's so stubborn!
I was wrong his actual UV and other bulb stay on for 9 hours so there is sufficient heat and light.
When his light goes off. he comes out of the viv and is allowed to go on little adventures climbing around the room. where he finishes his eve on a branch to rest on and go to sleep.
maybe this is his secret to long life