Is he eating...? New owner, help needed!!

[Seffers93]

Hello everyone, my girlfriend and I purchased a jackson's chameleon three days ago from our local PetSmart. I wasn't told how old the little guy is. I just know that's it's a male.
His cage is much bigger than what the store offered him, and we filled it with everything a chameleon could ask for.
There's a lot of branches, vines, lots of greenery and "chill spots", even a waterfall!
The only bad thing about all of this stuff is I can't tell if he is eating or not. I would dump five or six crickets in each day the first two days I had him. I only saw him grab up two of them off of the leaves. However, there is so much stuff in the cage, for all I know, the other crickets could just be hiding. Or he could've gobbled them down. I can't be sure, and it worries me. So I put a dish in the cage about three or four inches tall so the crickets can't jump out, hoping I could tell if he was eating or not. The only time he ate out of it, I was holding him and pointed his face towards the dish so he could see the crickets inside. He ate two of them while I was holding him, but nothing since. I tried to hand feed him, but he wouldn't accept the crickets from my fingers, and the crickets jumped from my grasp and into the cage, so they are no longer in the dish. I'm having the same problems with mealworms.

Any suggestions??? I'm very concerned!!!
Thanks guys!!!

 

[carol5208]

I am very leary of your set up as you said you bought the chameleon from petsmart where I am assuming you bought all of your "stuff" for the set up. Unfortunately they are notorious for selling everything wrong and advising the customer incorrectly. On another note, many chameleons will not eat right away due the stress of being in a new environment. Hopefully, it is just that and your chameleon is healthy. One thing you should know right off the bat: chameleons do not sleep or close their eyes during the day. If so, there is a problem of either illness or something awry in your set up. Please fill out this form so we can better assist you. https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ P.S. You need to remove the waterfall. Chameleons drink from misting or dripping water which can be provided by purchasing a dripper, making one or buying a spray bottle or an automatic mister. Waterfalls are frowned up as bacteria breeding grounds.

 

[Seffers93]

Thank you Carol!!
I posted the same question including the form you wanted me to fill out. So there is much more detail now! I posted it under the health clinic