I think i got the runt..

[GabeCastro]

My best advice would be to get a fecal test done...This would allow you to find out if he has parasites or not. Once you see your cham poop, scoop it up, put it in a plastic ziplock bag and refrigerate it. Be sure to take it to the vet asap, it should not be older than 24hours. And be sure you research some herp vets in your area.

Parasites can effect the way chams eat, so it's best to get a fecal done. My cham had 2 parasites. I found out because he wasn't eating anything. I bought every bug possible and he wouldn't eat it unless it flew around in his cage. I knew something was wrong so i took him to the vet for a check up/fecal test. Results came back with 2 parasites. Coccidia & Pinworms, which both parasites cause a loss of appetite for chameleons. Signs of parasites can be runny fecal, brownish fecal that looks like it didn't digest all the way through, Smelly fecal (this is the #1 most common sign), and loss of appetite.

If he does have a parasite, then you can take care of it asap. If not, then you just have a picky cham

Again I highly advise you get a fecal test asap.

-Gabe

 

[talvarez527]

im thinking about doing a floating test at home for now until i can find a vet to see if anything floats off
also, should i try bug juice?
just blend up some goodies and syringe feed?
another think i was thinkinh was pissing him off and sticking a super in his mouth so he can start the apparent addiction on them that other owners describe

 

[crocky]

So how many exactly is he eating a day, you said he never finishes the cup of 12 but how many does he eat? my guy prefers to hunt instead if cup feed although i still do both as i use the cup for dubias and worms. Do you try to free feed and let him hunt some?

 

[talvarez527]

i dont know exactly, but i filled a sunny D cup today with about ten and they are all gone but no way to tell how much he ate, im not home until about 7 every day so i let him do his thing worry free with no one around.
Maybe i shud move up the cricket size? so he get smore meat per bite

 

[crocky]

So how do you know he is not eating? I guess I am a little confused which is not hard to do sometimes. I can put a dozen crickets in Waldo's cage in the morning and he still has a few left over every night or most nights. Sometimes they are all gone but usually there are some left over. But I also supplement during the week with horns, butters and he also gets dubias everyday although he does not eat them I still put them in there.

 

[talvarez527]

i have seen his poop size when i know he ate a good amount of crix, and seeing his current poop size its significntly smaller and hes not growing as fast as others

 

[sandrachameleon]

1- more water - increase duration of misting and add a dripper
2 - reduce supplementation as previously described
3 - prey variety, all well gutloaded - and track what he eats (nothing should be running around the cage at night - remove all uneaten prey)
4 - get fecal test done
5 - weigh him weekly

he looks fine. I think you may be worried overmuch.

 

[talvarez527]

i am worried, but u cant hate me for it i also think that bugs may be getting out of cage, im gunna have to patch it up until the 2x2x4 comes. i made the cage myself so its not perfect

 

[sandrachameleon]

i am worried, but u cant hate me for it i also think that bugs may be getting out of cage, im gunna have to patch it up until the 2x2x4 comes. i made the cage myself so its not perfect

no hate here
worry is normal for us cham keepers

my cages are home made too - I tend to bowl feed for that reason unless I am there to watch to ensure all prey is eaten up quickly. All my current chams dont mind being watched when they eat (not always the case)

 

[talvarez527]

mine doesnt mind if i sit still, maybe a bowl will do justice, i just dont know where to put it to prevent drowning
i guess the 2x4x4 will give more room for that