HELP...why is my Veiled basking under the UV? and not eating?

[photogurl247]

She has slowed down on eating...we have had her for 2 weeks and she has everything she needs..we have been gutt loading w proper foods, and dusting w Calcium, then calcium w D3 was what they were using at the pet store. I now only do that 2 times a month and dust w just calcium daily. She has been pooping fine..but I caught her 2 times licking the dirt in her egg laying pot. She hasn't eaten today at all and is under the UV and I am now really worried. Here is a picture of her and her lighting if you click on it brings you to my facebook album
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...201309370.1073741897.629939369&type=3&theater

 

[browncofan]

I am not sure what is going on with your cham, but I can help you find out. If you go to the health clinic section on the forums the third sticky down is a heatlth and usbandry questionare. If you fill that out and post it in Health Clinic the right people will see it and be able to respond. It may take a little while to get some responses so dont just keep reposting.

Hope that helps get you the answers you need.

 

[Deevo]

My cham basks under his uvb light a lot. He will bask sometimes under the 30W though

 

[photogurl247]

can you post a link to that page? I am very new on this site so I am having a hard time figuring out stuff...thank you

 

[MelissaB]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

Here's a link to the form, copy and paste it, filling it in with your information. It'll make it a lot easier for the experienced folks to help figure it out. Post it in the Health Clinic section.

 

[photogurl247]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Veiled, female, 4 months old. We have had her for 2 weeks

Handling - We have only handled her 2 times

Feeding - feeding gutt loaded crickets n super worms? 12 daily? fed in a bowl in the morning/some get out so she has a few that free range?

How are you gut-loading your feeders?-they get blended up kiwi,squash,apples,orange,kale,oats and fresh leafy stuff

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 was what she was on at the pet store...we are going to use this 2xs a month...daily we use Exo Terra Calcium (just started) Exo Terra Multi Vit. 2xs a month. (just gave her some because wasnt sure she was getting proper dusting at pet store)

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?- I mist her cage almost all day..when I see the leaves dry I mist...always stays above 30 % humidity.

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?- Its dark brown & moist..she has 3 to 4 poos in there a day. Today she had a yellowish one with white on it I believe is the calcium if like a bird? Goes daily

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. She was in a pet store in a tiny glass aquarium..being fed crickets that only ate oatmeal, being dusted w calcium d3 ..I saw her and had to rescue her.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? 4ft high and 2 ft wide ..screen cage

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?- Reptile uvb 100 26w Exo terra.. 100watt day light basking light Exo terra...night is 60 w zoo med moon light bulb

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?- basking area is higher then 90...and entire room temp is 85 during the day..night temps are in 70s she has a temp n humidity gage

Humidity - What are your humidity levels?- above 30 daily
How are you creating and maintaining these levels?- misting when I see it in the 30s

What do you use to measure humidity?-humidity gage

Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?- yes..Hibiscus and plants all around the outside of her cage ...in a closet

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?- its in a closet...there is 2 feet space above the cage..no drafts or fans..no traffic

Location - Where are you geographically located? New Hampshire

 

[pssh]

Well, her ambient temps are kind of warm, so maybe she isnt basking under her heat lamp because she doesnt need to. Since she is almost at breeding age, I would try to lower the temps to the 70s and then low-mid 80s in her basking spot. She is eating 12 crickets/worms daily? That sounds fine to me.

 

[photogurl247]

Well 12 daily was the first week we had her..sorry. She only had 3 super worms a minute ago but has had no interest in food all day.

 

[photogurl247]

I was just reading this-A "hunger strike" refers to a short-term (usually less than a week) refusal of food. The most common cause of a hunger strike is boredom from a monotonous diet comprised of one or two insect species. This problem can often be corrected by adding new prey items. Cessation of feeding may also occur in some females just before giving birth or laying their eggs. This is a natural and temporary condition (normally a week or less) and should not result in a visible loss of strength or body fat.

So we are going to find her some new things to eat...still doesn't explain the basking under the UV ..if its because she is hot she could go anywhere in the cage but she is choosing right under the UV...it seems its some kind of digestion thing?

 

[Cmergy]

I would also get rid of the night time light as well...they don't need lights at night. Just a suggestion

 

[photogurl247]

I would also get rid of the night time light as well...they don't need lights at night. Just a suggestion

I do agree however I live in New Hampshire and especially during the up coming winter months I would hate for her to get cold, I will definitely not use one during summer

 

[Jay Sick]

this is just something i noticed my chams do around this time of year because i live were the season's happen and i believe you as well. I notice mine slow down a little when fall just begins it's like they have a slight case of season depression lol but they bounce back in a week or 2. They know whats going on in the environment even if they live indoors on timers and so on. This is just a thought no real facts to back it up just what i noticed about them all 37 of em

 

[browncofan]

Chameleons will be fine with an ambient night time temperature as low as 55 degrees F. If your house is colder than that I would suggest getting a ceramic heat emmiter.

All types of lights can disturb a chameleons sleep, they see all lights red, blue, and black light.

Sounds like he is eating pretty good, superworms are pretty big, even the smaller ones. Three of them is a pretty good meal. Chameleons slow down their eating if they are preparing to shed.

 

[Cmergy]

Yeah just get a space heater if it gets to cold, that's what I use.

 

[chameleoman]

Well, her ambient temps are kind of warm, so maybe she isnt basking under her heat lamp because she doesnt need to. Since she is almost at breeding age, I would try to lower the temps to the 70s and then low-mid 80s in her basking spot. She is eating 12 crickets/worms daily? That sounds fine to me.

Breeding age near 4 months? Shes got at least another 2-4 months till becoming receptive don't you think?

 

[photogurl247]

this is just something i noticed my chams do around this time of year because i live were the season's happen and i believe you as well. I notice mine slow down a little when fall just begins it's like they have a slight case of season depression lol but they bounce back in a week or 2. They know whats going on in the environment even if they live indoors on timers and so on. This is just a thought no real facts to back it up just what i noticed about them all 37 of em

WOW you have 37? Thats so cool ..do you have pictures? Would love to see them or if you have a youtube channel?

 

[photogurl247]

Chameleons will be fine with an ambient night time temperature as low as 55 degrees F. If your house is colder than that I would suggest getting a ceramic heat emmiter.

All types of lights can disturb a chameleons sleep, they see all lights red, blue, and black light.

Sounds like he is eating pretty good, superworms are pretty big, even the smaller ones. Three of them is a pretty good meal. Chameleons slow down their eating if they are preparing to shed.

Thank you that is good to know

 

[photogurl247]

Yeah just get a space heater if it gets to cold, that's what I use.

Ok ...so the light is really that disturbing? Well I'm sure you all know more then I do ..I am just getting into learning hands on..my boyfriend had Jackson chameleons free range style in Hawaii but also a different climate then here and he would hunt for their food in the wild and bring it home..we tried looking tonight for bugs outside and its to cold. Anyways thanks for your help!

 

[Cmergy]

Yeah ambient lights will screw with their sleep cycle

 

[ridgebax1]

In the upper right hand corner of the forums page are site sponsers. Many have a large variety of feeder insects. I feed 6 or 7 different types of bugs and if I do run out of one kind and have to give the same a couple days in a row he doesn't eat them. Also superworms are not that nutritious, they have a fairly high fat content. Its hard not to worry though!