Jackson won't eat

[Cadance]

My Jackson wont eat is there anything I can do to help him? We have had him for about 9 months he was doing great but now I can't get him to eat. I hold a cup of crickets by him and he won't eat them he used to eat them I do the same think with mill worms and he won't eat those either!!! I have tried letting the crickets lose in his cage and they are still there. Is there anything else I can try to help him? I spray him 3-4 times a day we moved him to the basement a few months ago he has the UVB and the heat light on and because it is winter he has a heat light at night. Any advice would be great!!!

 

[pigglett79]

My Jacksons gets tired of the same feeders. I usually try to have 5 different feeders at all times so that I can switch things up. And one thing he will never refuse is blue bottle flies, he goes bananas for them!

Also remove the night heat light and replace it with a ceramic heat emitter, the light will disturb his sleep. How cold does it get? He is fine down to about 60 degrees or so. He actually would prefer a nice drop in temp at night. I let mine go down to about 65 each night. I just use a small space heater in the room at night to keep it just warm enough, but not too warm.

 

[deadhd5]

Have you tried any other feeders? Sounds like this could be a case of food boredom.

Blue bottle flies, silkworms, and hornworms are excellent feeders to break hunger strikes, especially food boredom based hunger strikes.

 

[Cadance]

Can I get the different feeders from the pet store? He has never done this before. I am worried about his he is still drinking every time I spray down his cage he just won't eat.

 

[Cadance]

I have tried silkworms before and he would never eat them I will give them a try again. I will go get a bunch of new feeders today for him!!

Have you tried any other feeders? Sounds like this could be a case of food boredom.

Blue bottle flies, silkworms, and hornworms are excellent feeders to break hunger strikes, especially food boredom based hunger strikes.

 

[Cadance]

I will try that!!! Also I will find a new night light for him he has had it the whole time we have had him and during the summer I don't use it because it stays above 69 but during the winter he needs a night heat source.

My Jacksons gets tired of the same feeders. I usually try to have 5 different feeders at all times so that I can switch things up. And one thing he will never refuse is blue bottle flies, he goes bananas for them!

Also remove the night heat light and replace it with a ceramic heat emitter, the light will disturb his sleep. How cold does it get? He is fine down to about 60 degrees or so. He actually would prefer a nice drop in temp at night. I let mine go down to about 65 each night. I just use a small space heater in the room at night to keep it just warm enough, but not too warm.

 

[deadhd5]

I will try that!!! Also I will find a new night light for him he has had it the whole time we have had him and during the summer I don't use it because it stays above 69 but during the winter he needs a night heat source.

How cold does it get at night? A night light is a no no and could actually be causing the problem. They need total darkness at night and can see red/blue heat light.

A nighttime temperature drop is actually vital for the chameleon's metabolism. So, as long as the temp says above 50, you wont need to supplement heat. If heat is needed, use a heat emitter that does not put out light.

Good luck!

 

[deadhd5]

Can I get the different feeders from the pet store? He has never done this before. I am worried about his he is still drinking every time I spray down his cage he just won't eat.

You may need to order online.

I get my bluebottle flys from Mantispets.com; they offer pupae in 100 counts

 

[Cadance]

I was told to use it if it drops below 69 and we only keep out heat at 69 so I am sure it is cooler then that in the basement. And this all started before I started using the heat light at night I started using it again because I thought maybe he was getting to cold at night. I will turn it off tonight and double check what the temp is without it that is good to know it can get at low at 50 in there.

How cold does it get at night? A night light is a no no and could actually be causing the problem. They need total darkness at night and can see red/blue heat light.

A nighttime temperature drop is actually vital for the chameleon's metabolism. So, as long as the temp says above 50, you wont need to supplement heat. If heat is needed, use a heat emitter that does not put out light.

Good luck!

 

[Cadance]

I will check them out and order some!! Thanks.

You may need to order online.

I get my bluebottle flys from Mantispets.com; they offer pupae in 100 counts

 

[pigglett79]

Definitely order some flies, you will be amazed at how excited he gets.

 

[Cadance]

I just added a dripper I was told I could just mist 3-6 times a day and he would be fine. Well after adding the dripper (it is a cup with a pin hole right now I am getting a real one) anyways he sat under it for about 2 hours and I finally saw him eat a cricket!!!!!! Yay I hope he keeps this up we where getting worried about him!!! We will be still getting him different feeders to mix it up!!

 

[deadhd5]

I just added a dripper I was told I could just mist 3-6 times a day and he would be fine. Well after adding the dripper (it is a cup with a pin hole right now I am getting a real one) anyways he sat under it for about 2 hours and I finally saw him eat a cricket!!!!!! Yay I hope he keeps this up we where getting worried about him!!! We will be still getting him different feeders to mix it up!!

Great news! I personally think chameleons have a highly developed sense of humor and they pull out all the stops just to mess with us.

 

[Cadance]

I hope so he only ate one of the two crickets but I am hoping he keeps eating the kids and I where scared because we have lost a female Jackson before she was fine one day and gone the next so watching him not eat day after day was making us all stress a little.

Great news! I personally think chameleons have a highly developed sense of humor and they pull out all the stops just to mess with us.