I have a 4 month old veiled and he isn't eating. A couple days ago he was eating crickets like he hadn't seen food in weeks, but now he won't eat. He won't eat crickets or supers. He just sits in his basking light and chills. His colors look fine, nothing noticeably different in his poop, skin is smooth. He doesn't show any visible signs of distress. Any ideas?
Male Veiled not eating :(
- Thread starter xVERITAS
- Start date
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DavidBuchan
Guest
Hello, welcome to the forum 
, could you fill out the 'how to ask for help' form?
Chameleon Info:
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?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful
If you want a quick guess though, maybe he's about to shed, do you know when his last shed was? they sometimes go off food for a couple of days......have you tried other foods before?
, could you fill out the 'how to ask for help' form?Chameleon Info:
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?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful
If you want a quick guess though, maybe he's about to shed, do you know when his last shed was? they sometimes go off food for a couple of days......have you tried other foods before?
His last shed was probably 1.5 weeks ago. I have used Phoenix worms, crickets and supers. And when I handle him he helps get flies out of my room.
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled, 4 months old, had him since 6 weeks
Handling - I try to handle him a few times a week
Feeding - Crickets and supers are gut loaded with dinofuel and veggies. I feed him 2 times a day, about 10-20 crickets depending on how hungry he is (each time) and he snacks on supers
Supplements - I give him calcium w/o d3 often, and w/ d3 every couple weeks
Watering - I see him drinking. I have a dripper and I mist 2-4 times a day
Fecal Description - His poop is all dark brown
History - He is super adventurous and loves climbing up and down my stairs
Cage Info:
Cage Type - I have him in a medium size cage (i think 18x18x30) but i am moving him into a 2x2x4 tomorrow (once I get the water drainage setup)
Lighting - I use a reptisun for UV and I keep his basking spot around 95-100 during the day, and i use a night heat lamp to keep it at about 75
Humidity - I have a hydrometer. Humidity is around 65-75
Plants - 2 small ficcus plants
Placement - It is by a window and if it is a really hot day, I open the window to get some fresh air going through. The bottom of his cage is about 2.5 feet off the ground
Location - Central Coast CA
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled, 4 months old, had him since 6 weeks
Handling - I try to handle him a few times a week
Feeding - Crickets and supers are gut loaded with dinofuel and veggies. I feed him 2 times a day, about 10-20 crickets depending on how hungry he is (each time) and he snacks on supers
Supplements - I give him calcium w/o d3 often, and w/ d3 every couple weeks
Watering - I see him drinking. I have a dripper and I mist 2-4 times a day
Fecal Description - His poop is all dark brown
History - He is super adventurous and loves climbing up and down my stairs
Cage Info:
Cage Type - I have him in a medium size cage (i think 18x18x30) but i am moving him into a 2x2x4 tomorrow (once I get the water drainage setup)
Lighting - I use a reptisun for UV and I keep his basking spot around 95-100 during the day, and i use a night heat lamp to keep it at about 75
Humidity - I have a hydrometer. Humidity is around 65-75
Plants - 2 small ficcus plants
Placement - It is by a window and if it is a really hot day, I open the window to get some fresh air going through. The bottom of his cage is about 2.5 feet off the ground
Location - Central Coast CA
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DavidBuchan
Guest
It's about time to cut to one feeding per day now, he's probably just not very hungry right now having finished a bit of a growth spurt. The calcium with no d3 should be everyday. I'd take the basking temp down to 84, and nightlights can disturb sleep. You only need extra heat at night if the temp drops below 60F.
Everything else seems good (I'm assuming there is a white section to his poop too, if it were yellow it would mean he was a bit dehydrated).
If he seem otherwise healthy don't worry at all for a couple more days yet, while he adjusts his own feeding schedule.
This is a great caresheet for Veileds - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
My male went nearly 3 weeks on hunger strike and never looked unhealthy, they really can last without food if they just don't feel like eating
Everything else seems good (I'm assuming there is a white section to his poop too, if it were yellow it would mean he was a bit dehydrated).
If he seem otherwise healthy don't worry at all for a couple more days yet, while he adjusts his own feeding schedule.
This is a great caresheet for Veileds - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
My male went nearly 3 weeks on hunger strike and never looked unhealthy, they really can last without food if they just don't feel like eating
dinokeeper
New Member
I agree with the above statements. 10-20 crickets a day sounds like alot. My jacksons eat about six a day and will go for a few days every now and then on only a couple. I would definately wait to see if any other problems developed before before i would be worried
chameleoman
Avid Member
ya hes still growing at that age just for now i would cut down a LITTLE but not a lot and dust with some multi-vitamins and try switching up feeders try horn worms,silkworms, mantis, pheonix worms, and butter worms and try offering his some fruits/veggies see if hell eat them
Solid Snake
Avid Member
This /\ /\ /\ /\
To clarify, a generally recomended supplementation schedule is:
Calcium without D3 at every feeding
Calcium with D3 once, every two weeks(twice a month)
Multivitamin every two weeks(twice a month)
I would also stress, that when dusting, you should apply the least amount of dust possible to the feeder. Coat it, but VERY lightly.
Elizadolots
New Member
Hi, VERITAS.
Can we get pictures of the chameleon? Preferably ones that indicate size? If you can't actually pose him with a ruler, then pose him on your hand, then give us a picture of your hand with a ruler (and, no, hands are not all the same size!).
Can we get pictures of the chameleon? Preferably ones that indicate size? If you can't actually pose him with a ruler, then pose him on your hand, then give us a picture of your hand with a ruler (and, no, hands are not all the same size!).
D
DavidBuchan
Guest
I think the op meant 10-20 each feeding, and feeding twice a day......that would be quite a lot, especially with extra superworms. I'm not saying its overfeeding, just that he might be wanting a bit less. This theory depends on the size of the crickets of course...........
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
oh, did not see it that way. Thought twice a day, but that amount in total. funny how we all perceive things! Reading it again, you are probably right. I fed my panther about 20 1/4 inche crickets a day at that age, but yes size will matter also. Maybe the OP can clarify.! So, he can be feeding upwards of 35-40 crickets a day, PLUS worms is too much!!!
