hesitant to shoot..

[cla2806]

Why would a cham be hesitant to shoot? My guy has been having issues with this and I've been trying to figure it out. He misses prey more often then he should.

I have improved my gutload using veggies like carrots,kale,collared,zucchinni,sweet potatoes,celery and a dry gutload as well. I dust with calcium w/o d3 and vit a. For the past few days hoping he will get better.

He has been outside everyday all day for almost a week now I bring him in when the sun goes down hoping the sunlight helps him out. I mist him at least 3 times a day and he always drinks. Poops good no parasites..so what's wrong?

He opens his mouth and I can see his tongue about to shoot but he hesitates its not that quick shot it used to be!

 

[Jac1582]

Do you feed him calcium with every feeding? And do you give him D3 supplement at all?

 

[christinecollins87]

would you have to cook the veggies? so they can eat it

 

[Jac1582]

Giving the feeders raw fresh veggies is best, cooking them removes half the nutrients in the water. Just make sure the veggies are washed before giving it to the feeders

 

[Elizadolots]

I'm wondering if he just got self conscious because he realizes you're there watching.

 

[Meow Kitty]

I'm wondering if he just got self conscious because he realizes you're there watching.

my chameleon is totally void but is pretty hesitant and often changes targets multible times before shooting his tongue, and seems totally void of me.

 

[Elizadolots]

Not all chameleons are the same. Mine play "Statues" when they realize I'm there. They freeze up completely.

Regardless, I don't think that a bit of hesitancy is a problem as long as the poop looks good.

 

[cla2806]

I give him plain calcium every feeding! Veggies are raw. He used to keep one eye on me and get distracted but depending how hungry he is he doesnt care if I'm a little close.

I still try to give him his privacy.

I haven't dusted with d3 yet, only because I was told I had been.over supplementing him for quite sometime now I had been giving him cal with d3 every feeding and its been maybe two months since I've taken a break to let him detox a bit.

He had become sluggish and had some eye issues after a month he improved and here we are now! So I was unsure how often I should give him the d3 when he spends almost everyday outside?

If he had a tongue injury , how would I know?

 

[Jac1582]

Well good I'm glad he's doing better, there's so much debate I've seen on here about D3 supplement for a Cham that spends alot of time outside in the sunlight. I'm sure a senior member could answer when you should start supplementing him with D3 again.

 

[camimom]

I give him plain calcium every feeding! Veggies are raw. He used to keep one eye on me and get distracted but depending how hungry he is he doesnt care if I'm a little close.

I still try to give him his privacy.

I haven't dusted with d3 yet, only because I was told I had been.over supplementing him for quite sometime now I had been giving him cal with d3 every feeding and its been maybe two months since I've taken a break to let him detox a bit.

He had become sluggish and had some eye issues after a month he improved and here we are now! So I was unsure how often I should give him the d3 when he spends almost everyday outside?

If he had a tongue injury , how would I know?

If he had a tongue injury, you migght see swelling, blood, discoloration, or he may not use it at all, or leave it hanging out of his mouth.

Is he actually missing hitting the bug? or is he just sticking the tip out and waiting?

 

[cla2806]

He doesn't have any swelling or any of that..he does wait I see the tip of his tongue and sometimes he gets them, sometimes he doesnt even at short distances..he also turns and twists his head like he has to get yhe right angle which I don't think is a problem?

I have been putting ointment in his right eye because id see him rubbing it and it wasn't as bulgy as the other but it looks a lot better.

The only thing i could think of is he needs supplements. I am planning on making him a sunny d death trap feeder so I can keep track and make sure he's eating the dusted bugs.

He does not like to cup feed but after seeing how they work its perfect for him the bugs will crawl up and that's what catches his attention!

 

[cla2806]

I read in another post on the forum that missing bugs more then a couple times a week should be considered a problem. And from what I've seen he misses at least once a day.

 

[camimom]

He doesn't have any swelling or any of that..he does wait I see the tip of his tongue and sometimes he gets them, sometimes he doesnt even at short distances..he also turns and twists his head like he has to get yhe right angle which I don't think is a problem?

I have been putting ointment in his right eye because id see him rubbing it and it wasn't as bulgy as the other but it looks a lot better.

The only thing i could think of is he needs supplements. I am planning on making him a sunny d death trap feeder so I can keep track and make sure he's eating the dusted bugs.

He does not like to cup feed but after seeing how they work its perfect for him the bugs will crawl up and that's what catches his attention!

if theres no damage thats a good thing.

the hesitation is normal, al lmy chams do it. i think they are just waiting till they can get it. like you know how we lick our lips when we are super hungry? similar concept IMO.

as for the missing of bugs, thats a supplemental issue.
I had a similar problem with my adult male veiled he would miss bugs that he should have gotten.

once i switched to repashy all in one calcium plus. 2 months hlater, he can hit every bug, and is extending his tongue farther than before.

 

[cla2806]

Is he actually missing hitting the bug? or is he just sticking the tip out and waiting?[/QUOTE]

Sometimes he hits the cage, sometimes I see the bug move away like maybe he hit it but i think if he was hitting the bug it would be in his mouth right?

 

[cla2806]

I actually ordered some all in one yesterday I'm hoping that helps. With that I dont need to dust with anything else?

 

[camimom]

I actually ordered some all in one yesterday I'm hoping that helps. With that I dont need to dust with anything else?

It is normaly for them to miss abug once in awhile. It happens, the bug moves, whatever. but when it occurs mor than id say, once a week... its time to evaluate wahts going on.

and yes if you use the all in one, you dont need to dust with anything else.

I dust every feeding, but i feed every other day.

 

[cla2806]

Great, well I feed him everyday because he seems so small for his age and I just want him to grow! He just shed last week so I was happy about that.

So should I dust everyday or every other day regardless if I feed everyday?

 

[camimom]

Great, well I feed him everyday because he seems so small for his age and I just want him to grow! He just shed last week so I was happy about that.

So should I dust everyday or every other day regardless if I feed everyday?

how old is he?

 

[cla2806]

About 10 months old but he's so small! Only about 4 inches snout to vent maybe 7 including his tail!

 

[camimom]

dust everyday.