How do I do it?

[Pilotman800]

I received my Ambilobe Panther a few days ago. He drinks but still has not eaten. I know he may be stressed still. I would really like to hand feed him, but would think its going to be very hard to do so at such a young age. (born on 6/21/11)

Should I just keep attempting it every day until he finally gets hungry and gives in? I am offering him a few crickets in a styrofoam cup and bringing it kind of close to him.

He also started shedding the day he got here, and is not finished, so could that also be why he is not eating?

 

[armyrec1]

It definitely could be stress. Try some mealworms or fruit flies if you have them or can get them.
Also, I know from experience that some babies refuse to eat out of cups or containers. Our male refuses to eat anything unless it is just moving around on a branch or the screen of his cage.
Good luck

 

[Pilotman800]

It definitely could be stress. Try some mealworms or fruit flies if you have them or can get them.
Also, I know from experience that some babies refuse to eat out of cups or containers. Our male refuses to eat anything unless it is just moving around on a branch or the screen of his cage.
Good luck

Will do, thanks. I guess ill have the mealworms on my hand. Hopefully he'll eat them. Mealworms are gutloaded the same as crickets, right?

 

[armyrec1]

No, just make sure you sprinkle calcium on them, and they are small.
If he is still tiny, fruit flies are a good way to jump-start his appetite. When Rufus was young, he wouldn't eat anything until we dumped some fruit flies in with him. He would munch on some, and then eat whatever else we gave him.

 

[carol5208]

just let the crickets loose in the enclosure. I have never cup fed ever.Either handfeed or let the feeders loose. Worms you can put on the branches of vines or the sides of the screen if they are the kind that can grip. Make sure you count how many though as to keep track cause they will hide and you will think they have gotten eaten. I let the crickets go on the bottom of the enclosure and they usually run right up the screen towards the top towards the light.

 

[Pilotman800]

just let the crickets loose in the enclosure. I have never cup fed ever.Either handfeed or let the feeders loose. Worms you can put on the branches of vines or the sides of the screen if they are the kind that can grip. Make sure you count how many though as to keep track cause they will hide and you will think they have gotten eaten. I let the crickets go on the bottom of the enclosure and they usually run right up the screen towards the top towards the light.

When you handfeed, do you let the crickets walk around your hand? I guess i'll release them in the enclosure, but I would eventually like to hand feed.

Also, won't the calcium come off if they're roaming in there?

Thanks!

 

[snipeusa14]

I cup feed all 3 of my chams it just patients lol

 

[carol5208]

no not really. It stays on there for awhile. I mean if he did not eat them for a long time eventually it will wear off. I just hold the crickets by one of their legs. You can also get a pair of wooden tongs or something and feed them that way. I feed my chameleon his supers with tongs sometimes. Honestly, my chameleon rarely eats crickets anymore but he did when I first got him. If I am feeding a silk worm I usually just hold it with my fingers or stick it on a branch.