Help Please!!!

[Zhadoz]

i just got a chameleon and I know a lot about them or so I think but I am doing something wrong or at least I think I am. I love her but she isn't acting normal. She is a hatchling and a veiled chameleon. I am not sure of her age but I know she is quite young as she is the size of a hatchling. I know hatchlings tend to be shy but shy enough to starve?

I am going crazy trying to get my baby to eat. I tried crickets and I don't stare at her so I don't know if she ate them. But some were still in the tank and I freaked since they can bite her so I removed them and now I'm trying flightless fruit flies. Again can't see if she eats them or not. Somebody said that it might be because I don't have a feeder bowl up to where she is? But can't she hunt?
I love her someone please help me. I can see her ribs and I know that's a sign of a lethargic chameleon but what if she is just so small that you can see them?

I have so much to learn based on how to check their health I would love every ounce of input possible. I have a appointment Friday to see my local exotic pets doctor. For her money is no object.

Her name is tbd


This is her sleeping is that how they usually sleep? I really just need to know she is healthy

I mean she looks really healthy isn't bright good?

Guys please teach me.

 

[Fireborn]

Have you read this? https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

 

[Remkon]

How often and long do you mist? What are your temperatures?

Showing ribs is a sign that she hasn't eaten a lot lately... When they are lethargic they often are not eating and they will start to show their ribs. So ribs is not a direct sign of lethargy it could just as well be caused by a parasite or one of the other reasons that can cause her to decline food.
They can actually show their ribs pretty fast when they haven't eaten, I mean way before lack of food becomes a reason to worry.

She can hunt but you should try to cupfeed since you can keep track more easily of what amount of food is consumed.
You want to try normal flies or blacksoldier flies (and their larvae (phoenixworms) instead of fruitflies, they are bigger so she may notice them sooner and get enthused by their movement.
You may want to try feeding without supplements at first in case that's what's putting her off.

Keep a close eye on her behaviour, if she sleeps during the day that's a bad sign, obviously if she's on the floor that's a worse sign.... Give her as much privacy as you can.

I'd get that vet appointment done too and bring a stool sample so they can check for parasites.

 

[leedragon]

fill this up.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• 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?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful

 

[Zhadoz]

Have you read this? https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

Yes I have

 

[Zhadoz]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Veiled chameleon, Female, and young(maybe a month or two) She has been with me for about a week now.
• Handling - Almost never. So far only three times.
• Feeding - I tried crickets but she didn't eat them. I put 5 in. I removed after day two since they can bite. I am now trying flightless fruit flies. Can't tell if she had any or not. Their currently is no schedule as she does not eat... With calcium dust I cover her food in.
• Supplements - I use repti calcium and I dusted her food once( since I had her a week) but I wanna do it twice a month.
• Watering - i use the mistking and sometimes hand spraying. By hand a spray for a minute and the mistking sprays morning and afternoon. She drinks quite often which I am happy about just extremely extremely shy.
• Fecal Description - I own almost every kind of reptile so her droppings look normal to me. I do not think she has parasites as she is a newborn.
• History - Was shipped to my job ( PetSmart ) less than two weeks ago and I've had her since. Was extremely healthy while kept at my job and apparently even ate in front of the employees.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - A combo cage. With screen top and side and all the rest glass. The dimensions are 16 in L and 16 in W and 24 in H ( inches )
• Lighting - For basking bulb I am using a daylight blue 60w ( zoo med ) and for uvb I am using a reptisun 13w (zoo med) my lighting schedule is perfectly in sync to 6am to 8pm everyday.
• Temperature - Don't be mad guys but I don't have this answer I don't know what gauge to buy as people say most are off by a lot.
• Humidity - Based on my science I keep it pretty high it's almost always moist except during like a few hours of his sun time. Again I don't have a gauge for this either.
• Plants - Yes, I am using one large hibiscus tree and a small Croton plant.
• Placement - I am in Florida and I can't have my baby outside( I'll explain in detail if you ask) She is beside my bed with little traffic near her and tv is other end of room. Her cage is about in the middle of my wall length wise to the floor.
• Location - United States Florida the sunshine state. ( but she still can't be outside unless I'm with her.)

Current Problem - She isn't eating or I think she isn't eating. I would like to setup a feeder dish that is safe for her and can contain crickets and etc but I have no idea how to if anyone has extremely detailed tips for me that would helpful and any and all advice is appreciated. I don't want her to die not that she looks ill but I can see her ribs I don't know if that matters when they are so young. She moves around her home quite a bit tbh so she isn't afraid of her home is more so me.

 

[Zhadoz]

How often and long do you mist? What are your temperatures?

Showing ribs is a sign that she hasn't eaten a lot lately... When they are lethargic they often are not eating and they will start to show their ribs. So ribs is not a direct sign of lethargy it could just as well be caused by a parasite or one of the other reasons that can cause her to decline food.
They can actually show their ribs pretty fast when they haven't eaten, I mean way before lack of food becomes a reason to worry.

She can hunt but you should try to cupfeed since you can keep track more easily of what amount of food is consumed.
You want to try normal flies or blacksoldier flies (and their larvae (phoenixworms) instead of fruitflies, they are bigger so she may notice them sooner and get enthused by their movement.
You may want to try feeding without supplements at first in case that's what's putting her off.

Keep a close eye on her behaviour, if she sleeps during the day that's a bad sign, obviously if she's on the floor that's a worse sign.... Give her as much privacy as you can.

I'd get that vet appointment done too and bring a stool sample so they can check for parasites.

How do you Cupfeed because I can't think of a way to trap the crickets

 

[Zhadoz]

I got a picture of her stool but it's not how it was looking a few days ago

And I just misted her cage and I caught her laying down in the branches with her head in a leaf it looked like she was drinking but moment she saw me she got up

 

[Zhadoz]

This her right now I can't even tell if she is healthy or not

 

[Zhadoz]

This is a better view of her body

 

[Remkon]

How do you Cupfeed because I can't think of a way to trap the crickets

I found that a big shampoo bottle works extremely well. Cut out a piece of the front, scratch the inside of the rear with something sharp so they can climb up.
Easy to clean too since dead insects will just fall down in the bottle cap.

But a milk jug will also work, google cupfeeder and you will find examples.