Jackson Chameleon not eaten for a week 1/2

[TrafficKing]

Hi, my name is tyler and im new to the chameleon scene. I got a female jackson chameleon from a friend of mine because he had a pair and the male died one day when his auto mister quit working. the female didnt seem effected but now she has not eaten in about a week 1/2. ive tried live crickets(from bait shop) and grasshoppers(from yard) but she just looks with little to no interest. i have a (W)17.5x(L)17.5x(H)24.5 ExoTerra with a UVA and UVB light. I have some nutrients and i read somewhere else where you can mix nutrients with water and use plastic syringe to force feed to "jump start" appetite. i not to sure but am willing to try anything. thanks for your help in advance. also the humidity is at 68 and i live in florida. temp is 74 in house. the uvb light is exoterra 2.0 and uva is 100w exoterra sun glo

 

[S3edl3ss]

Try mealworms

 

[nthompson]

If you fill this out more people will be able to offer suggestions/thoughts. Her enclosure seems to be too small. If you can supply pics that would help too.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[K9Luvn]

Hi and Welcome to the Forum

https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/



Please copy and paste with your answers to the questions so that experienced members can better assist you


***Also if you have pictures it can be very helpful***

Chameleon Info:

1. 
   [*]Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
   [*]Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
   [*]Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
   [*]Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
   [*]Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
   [*]Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
   [*]History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
   
   [*]Cage Info:
   [*]Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
   [*]Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
   [*]Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?

 

[TrafficKing]

she is a jackson chameleon, 6 months old, and i have had her for a few days know but it was my buddys and ive been around it since he got it. i switched the 2.0 uvb light to a 5.0 uvb light earlier this afternoon and got zoo med eco carpet and she ate 3 freeze dried meal worms this evening with some calcium powder on them. im new to the whole reptile scene, besides snakes. she is about the length of a new no.2 pencil from nose to tail tip. any advice or suggestions is appreciated. im not sure on all the info for a description but i can take some pictures tomorrow and put them on here. thank you for your responses.

 

[carol5208]

many times chameleons are very stressed out in a new environment and will not eat. I would not force feed at this point. Try and get some live meal worms. I am surprised she ate dead worms cause normally they only eat live prey. They are not like snakes!!! Hopefully she will come around. If she starts closing her eyes during the day, that is a problem as they do not sleep during the day ever. Just in case you do not know this. What kind are temps are your providing in the cage itself and the basking area? also if you can get her out in the sun, it is very beneficial to them. edit: I am sorry, I thought I read you only had her for a few days and she had not eaten. A week is a long time for a growing chameleon. The adults can go much longer and survive if they are healthy. also, try some flying insects, like moths. if you can catch them

 

[chamlover98]

many times chameleons are very stressed out in a new environment and will not eat. I would not force feed at this point. Try and get some live meal worms. I am surprised she ate dead worms cause normally they only eat live prey. They are not like snakes!!! Hopefully she will come around. If she starts closing her eyes during the day, that is a problem as they do not sleep during the day ever. Just in case you do not know this. What kind are temps are your providing in the cage itself and the basking area? also if you can get her out in the sun, it is very beneficial to them. edit: I am sorry, I thought I read you only had her for a few days and she had not eaten. A week is a long time for a growing chameleon. The adults can go much longer and survive if they are healthy. also, try some flying insects, like moths. if you can catch them

I agree only forcing food brings more stress, I would give the opportunity of food same thing with misting when he gets hungry he will eat. Even if he does not eat do everything as you would regularly supplements misting etc. Eventually he will eat.

 

[carol5208]

I agree only forcing food brings more stress, I would give the opportunity of food same thing with misting when he gets hungry he will eat. Even if he does not eat do everything as you would regularly supplements misting etc. Eventually he will eat.

well maybe not, as we do not know what is wrong here. There may be something going on that is causing the cham not to eat, not just stress from the new environment. A 6 month old usually has a pretty hardy appetite, especially after a week of not eating.. If it were an older adult I would be less worried. and if he doesn't eat how will he supplement?

 

[chamlover98]

well maybe not, as we do not know what is wrong here. There may be something going on that is causing the cham not to eat, not just stress from the new environment. A 6 month old usually has a pretty hardy appetite, especially after a week of not eating.. If it were an older adult I would be less worried. and if he doesn't eat how will he supplement?

free roaming without a supplement if you can get him to start eating then supplementing should be no problem, I never said it could be only for stress there could be many reasons why he won't eat I only gave a suggestion, there is an ask for help just for things like this so people don't assume. I only try to help the community that's all sorry if i'm wrong.

 

[carol5208]

free roaming without a supplement if you can get him to start eating then supplementing should be no problem, I never said it cou. be only for stress there could be many reasons why he won't eat I only gave a suggestion, there is an ask for help just for things like this so people don't assume. I only try to help the community that's all sorry if i'm wrong.

no problem, I know you are trying to help. We all are! It is just you said eventually he will eat and we do not know that. Hopefully he will but if the cham is ill he may not. I was just trying to figure out when you stated to him to keep supplementing. The only way I know to supplement is to dust the feeders (aside from liquid calcium) and if the cham is not eating I was confused as to how he was to supplement! No need to be sorry!

 

[TrafficKing]

i talked to my buddy i got it from and he was NOT feeding them a couple crickets a day jus one or two every few days. she doesnt seem ill but then again im no exotic vet lol. she is acting the same as when he got her just not eating. i know that the tank used to have a auto mist but it broke and the male that he had passed away i guess fro stress from low humidity. i have been keeping the humidity aroung 75 and im going to get som live mealworms in a little while. i did buy a pump mister and i plan on getting a thermometor today. i really appreciate all your help guys again im new to the whole chameleon thing. also i only handle her for about 10 min a day dont know if thats too much. thanks again and what is the best type of food to get for her she is eight 1/2 inches length. can i use cricket from bait shop with calcium powder or only pet store crickets? again thank you guys soo much

 

[Captive Creations]

crickets, silk worms, and dubia roaches are all good feeders to try. just a suggestion if you have access to any of these I would try them and see how it goes. you might want to get her into a vet or at least send a fecal test in and have it checked just to be sure. it could have been a number of reason the male died and if it was parasites she might have them too. Again just a suggestion. Good luck and keep us posted.

OH YA AND.. Welcome to the Forum to by the way.