History repeating.

[astroprojector]

Hi There,

Not sure if I should be concerned yet, but I noticed change in the eating behavior. Not sure if it is normal or not.

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - Ambilobe, male, about 5 1/2 month. It is been in my care for little more than two months.
* Handling - Only when I bring out on a sun and then take him back to the cage. Currently while it is still warm, 3 to 4 times for less than a minute.
* Feeding - I try different foods: Crickets, silks, hornworms, superwors, various roaches (see picks below). I feed all the feeders cricket crack.
* Supplements - Calcium with D3, Calcium w/o D3, Minerall (Red cap). Up until a week ago the scedule was Mon and Thur - HERPTIVITE Multivitamin for reptiles and amphibians, Tue and Fri - Rep-Cal Calcium with Vitamin D3, Wed and Sat - Sticky Tongue Minerall OUTDOOR formula, Sun nothing. The schedule was suggested by KAMMERFLAGE KREATIONS breeders.
* Watering - Mist King 5 times a day 1 min each time, dripper.
* Fecal Description - Urates white and stool sample is brown. I do not feed him caught insects, just the ones I buy. I have not tested for parasites.
* History - Got him from KAMMERFLAGE KREATIONS in August.


Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Screen 18x18x36
* Lighting - Reptisun 5.0 and daylight 75watt for basking spot.
* Temperature - cage floor about 75 basking spot 80 to 85. The temp at night could drop to about 65 - 70. Measured using laser thermometer.
* Humidity - Live ficus in the cage, the back and the left side of the cage are covered with plastic.
* Plants - Live ficus
* Placement - The cage is in a guest house, not near any vents. No traffic unless, I com in the house to feed him or take him out. Most of the time he is there by himself.
* Location - Los Angeles area.

1. This is him when temp is about 75 to 85.

2. This is him on the sun or when temp is above 85.

3.

5.

Roaches I use
6.

7.

8.

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

Like I said I noticed a change in the eating habit. Before he would eat all of them except hornworms. He might eat 7 to 10 small roaches (pic 8), a 3/4 size orange head roach (pic 6) or dubia and maybe couple of silkworms. Now he might eat two silkrworms or maybe one hornworm a day, far cry from the amount he ate before. He would not be interested in roaches. He does like superworms, but I am afraid to give a lot of them because of the impaction. At first I though he is about to shed, it has been 5 weeks since last time, but it has been a week now and no signs of shedding. I see him opening his mouth wide and he wiggles his body, I assume it is a shedding routine, but so far no luck.

Starting now will try to feed him every other day.

This is not my first cham. I had Jackson before, who was a picky eater. I thought CB panther will be slightly easier, but I guess it is as frastrating as before. I see some panthers on the forum which are slightly older and already have great colors.

 

[carol5208]

As far as his coloring, he probably just hates his cage! Mine is very dark when he is inside his indoor cage also. I have an outdoor cage and he too is much more bright in the sun. He is only six months, so don't fret about the color. Some just take longer than others!!! I have a kammerflage kreation also and their chameleons have thrived for years on that supplement schedule! I think they know what they are doing! The forum has their own suggested supplement schedule and it is a good one too. Eating habits are a funny thing with chams and it seems alot of us go through periods where our chameleons don't eat as much or don't want to eat at all and it usually turns out to be nothing! Oh and its mealworms you have to worry about with the impaction, not the supers. I give mine supers everyday and he poops everyday like clockwork!! I also feed him silks. He quit eating crickets. Maybe he is just gettin tired of the roaches! Oh BTW I think he looks great!!!!!

 

[jr andrade]

I wouldnt be worried honestly...mine just recently came out of a hunger strike try not to worry and dont offer him food for 3 or 4 days....by then he'll be RAVENOUS! since he's so young and is building fat and stuff...he actually looks really healthy so again i wouldnt worry

~Jr

 

[Gensen]

I;m with Carol here!

As far as his coloring, he probably just hates his cage! Mine is very dark when he is inside his indoor cage also. I have an outdoor cage and he too is much more bright in the sun. He is only six months, so don't fret about the color. Some just take longer than others!!! I have a kammerflage kreation also and their chameleons have thrived for years on that supplement schedule! I think they know what they are doing! The forum has their own suggested supplement schedule and it is a good one too. Eating habits are a funny thing with chams and it seems alot of us go through periods where our chameleons don't eat as much or don't want to eat at all and it usually turns out to be nothing! Oh and its mealworms you have to worry about with the impaction, not the supers. I give mine supers everyday and he poops everyday like clockwork!! I also feed him silks. He quit eating crickets. Maybe he is just gettin tired of the roaches! Oh BTW I think he looks great!!!!!

I have a guy who also hates his cage, and is completely different looking in color when out and leftt to free range. But you mentioned temp when you referred to his color and Chams will darken up their color to absorb light if they wish to warm up. You said you recently changed your supplement schedule? Why? I too have two males from Kammerflage and I stricktly go and follow thier recommendations verses anything I see various people here suggest. Not that I don't value their opins or insight but if you are lucky enough to have gotten from a reputable breeder such as Kammerflage who has been sucessfully keeping nad breeding Chams for years then I would never questions what they recommend. Also if you ever have any questions or concerns I know for a fact the the Kammers will be happy to talk with you and assist you.
I think he is gorgeous, and his coloring out of the cage stunning... as for the eating is is recommended that around 5 months or so that you do slow down their intake a bit compared to when they were younger as they would now be considered juviniles. And as Carol mentioned some Chams will go on eatting strikes, maybe he has grown tired of a particular item, you may want to try something new and enticing. Good luck!

 

[astroprojector]

I did not change the supplement schedule by choice, but it is kind of hard to keep the schedule if does not eat everyday.

 

[Gensen]

I see...

I did not change the supplement schedule by choice, but it is kind of hard to keep the schedule if does not eat everyday.

Maybe you want to give the Kammers a call and see what they recommend as far as supplementing if the guy is not eating evey day...

 

[astroprojector]

I sent e-mail couple of days ago, but they are very slow to reply.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I certainly would NOT use Rep-Cal with D3 twice a week. It is a very potent product. I use it only twice a month, and my chameleons are always indoors.

His colours look fine to me.

Has the temperature gone down at all (low temp can mean less digestion)? The temps you list sound fine, if those are current / recently verified.
Is he still drinking well?

So long as he is still eating and growing, dont be overly concerned. Its not uncommon for them to prefer larva over other insects. You're right not to offer superworms very often, because they are fatty. But if he is not eating any "crunchy" bugs, he will actually need a little chinton from the occassonal superworm. He will not get impacted from superworms offered once a week. Be sure to gutload the supers and the silkworms and hornworms. Dandelion is a good choice that all three of these larva will eat.

You could try just not offering silkworms and hornworms for awhile, and only offer him the roaches crickets and other things. But as he is still young and growing, you dont want him to go without food for too long.

 

[kinyonga]

If you were supplementing with the D3 and vitamins that often for the Jackson's it might have had an overdose.

 

[stevie]

i dont think there's a problem , dont spray 5 times a day thas to much , stop feeding him only roaches the get borred of them , try to make a variation of his feeding insects as much as possible , and last butt not least its really not a problem if they do not eat every day and if its a grown up don't give him minerals and vitamins every day !!! overdose is not fixable
grts from belgium

 

[carol5208]

I certainly would NOT use Rep-Cal with D3 twice a week. It is a very potent product. I use it only twice a month, and my chameleons are always indoors.

His colours look fine to me.

Has the temperature gone down at all (low temp can mean less digestion)? The temps you list sound fine, if those are current / recently verified.
Is he still drinking well?

So long as the is still eating and growing, dont be overly concerned. Its not uncommon for them to prefer larva over other insects. You're right not to offer superworms very often, because they are fatty. But if he is not eating any "crunchy" bugs, he will actually need a little chinton from the occassonal superworm. He will not get impacted from superworms offered once a week. Be sure to gutload the supers and the silkworms and hornworms. Dandelion is a good choice that all three of these larva will eat.

You could try just not offering silkworms and hornworms for awhile, and only offer him the roaches crickets and other things. But as he is still young and growing, you dont want him to go without food for too long.

Sandra, this is the schedule Kammerflage Kreations gives out to all people who buy chameleons from them. They do say however, depending on outdoor use with the d3. I was following the same schedule but cut back on the d3 to twice a month as my cham gets natural sunllight every day from an outdoor cage. It is kinda hard to dispute the breeder, especially the Kammers who have kept gorgeous healthy chameleons for over 20 yrs or more. I am just saying if the people who breed them tell you to do this it has to have some merit. If people did not know about this forum, they would be doing exactly what the care sheet says from the breeder and some probably still do.

 

[astroprojector]

If you were supplementing with the D3 and vitamins that often for the Jackson's it might have had an overdose.

I were not.

 

[alexbrock]

Hi There,

Not sure if I should be concerned yet, but I noticed change in the eating behavior. Not sure if it is normal or not.

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - Ambilobe, male, about 5 1/2 month. It is been in my care for little more than two months.
* Handling - Only when I bring out on a sun and then take him back to the cage. Currently while it is still warm, 3 to 4 times for less than a minute.
* Feeding - I try different foods: Crickets, silks, hornworms, superwors, various roaches (see picks below). I feed all the feeders cricket crack.
* Supplements - Calcium with D3, Calcium w/o D3, Minerall (Red cap). Up until a week ago the scedule was Mon and Thur - HERPTIVITE Multivitamin for reptiles and amphibians, Tue and Fri - Rep-Cal Calcium with Vitamin D3, Wed and Sat - Sticky Tongue Minerall OUTDOOR formula, Sun nothing. The schedule was suggested by KAMMERFLAGE KREATIONS breeders.
* Watering - Mist King 5 times a day 1 min each time, dripper.
* Fecal Description - Urates white and stool sample is brown. I do not feed him caught insects, just the ones I buy. I have not tested for parasites.
* History - Got him from KAMMERFLAGE KREATIONS in August.


Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Screen 18x18x36
* Lighting - Reptisun 5.0 and daylight 75watt for basking spot.
* Temperature - cage floor about 75 basking spot 80 to 85. The temp at night could drop to about 65 - 70. Measured using laser thermometer.
* Humidity - Live ficus in the cage, the back and the left side of the cage are covered with plastic.
* Plants - Live ficus
* Placement - The cage is in a guest house, not near any vents. No traffic unless, I com in the house to feed him or take him out. Most of the time he is there by himself.
* Location - Los Angeles area.

1. This is him when temp is about 75 to 85.

2. This is him on the sun or when temp is above 85.

3.

5.

Roaches I use
6.

7.

8.

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

Like I said I noticed a change in the eating habit. Before he would eat all of them except hornworms. He might eat 7 to 10 small roaches (pic 8), a 3/4 size orange head roach (pic 6) or dubia and maybe couple of silkworms. Now he might eat two silkrworms or maybe one hornworm a day, far cry from the amount he ate before. He would not be interested in roaches. He does like superworms, but I am afraid to give a lot of them because of the impaction. At first I though he is about to shed, it has been 5 weeks since last time, but it has been a week now and no signs of shedding. I see him opening his mouth wide and he wiggles his body, I assume it is a shedding routine, but so far no luck.

Starting now will try to feed him every other day.

This is not my first cham. I had Jackson before, who was a picky eater. I thought CB panther will be slightly easier, but I guess it is as frastrating as before. I see some panthers on the forum which are slightly older and already have great colors.

He looks very nice. Colors are coming in very nicely. Supplementing is one of those things that no one is exactly sure on, but listening to some of the members on here can be a great guide.

 

[astroprojector]

i dont think there's a problem , dont spray 5 times a day thas to much , stop feeding him only roaches the get borred of them , try to make a variation of his feeding insects as much as possible , and last butt not least its really not a problem if they do not eat every day and if its a grown up don't give him minerals and vitamins every day !!! overdose is not fixable
grts from belgium

I was not giving him only roaches. As I stated I give him silks, hornworms, superworms and sometimes crickets, and when I have them praying mantids and banana roaches.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Sandra, this is the schedule Kammerflage Kreations gives out to all people who buy chameleons from them. They do say however, depending on outdoor use with the d3. I was following the same schedule but cut back on the d3 to twice a month as my cham gets natural sunllight every day from an outdoor cage. It is kinda hard to dispute the breeder, especially the Kammers who have kept gorgeous healthy chameleons for over 20 yrs or more. I am just saying if the people who breed them tell you to do this it has to have some merit. If people did not know about this forum, they would be doing exactly what the care sheet says from the breeder and some probably still do.

Hey Im just trying to help by giving you my advice, based on many years of experience (including with breeding). No disrespect to your breeder, bu You'll also find that what I am saying is essentially the same as most other senior members on this forum recommend. Excessive Vitamin D actually causes ABSORPTION of bone, and mineralization of organs. Perhaps the brand that your breeder uses is something other than RepCal wD3, a brand with less D3 in it?

I encourage everyone to do their own research, rather than rely on the advice of individuals (including the breeder), as everyones situation is different. To that end, you may find these links useful:
http://web.archive.org/web/20060421.../index.php?show=6.Vitamin.D3.and.Calcium.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.htmlhttps://www.chameleonforums.com/vitamin-d3-10858/

Anyways, its your chameleon, so do as you wish.

 

[carol5208]

Hey Im just trying to help by giving you my advice, based on many years of experience (including with breeding). No disrespect to your breeder, bu You'll also find that what I am saying is essentially the same as most other senior members on this forum recommend. Excessive Vitamin D actually causes ABSORPTION of bone, and mineralization of organs. Perhaps the brand that your breeder uses is something other than RepCal wD3, a brand with less D3 in it?

I encourage everyone to do their own research, rather than rely on the advice of individuals (including the breeder), as everyones situation is different. To that end, you may find these links useful:
http://web.archive.org/web/20060421.../index.php?show=6.Vitamin.D3.and.Calcium.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.htmlhttps://www.chameleonforums.com/vitamin-d3-10858/

Anyways, its your chameleon, so do as you wish.

Sandra, no intention of doubting you in any way! I know what you are saying, I was just trying to point out that this is not info given from a pet store, but from a reputable breeder who has chameleons who live for many many years. Like I said, say this forum did not exist and you buy your chameleon from a breeder, what are you going to do other than listen to what they tell you on how to care for them?. They do use Repcal w/d3 because that is what I purchased with my chameleon from them. No hard feelings I hope. I am using d3 twice a month also, but my cham gets lots of natrual sunlight. They do advise when they are adults to cut back on the supplements in their care sheet so it is not something they continue to do throughout the chameleon's life. And I agree with you totally to do your own research and in the end it is ultiimately up to you!