My chameleon has stopped drinking

[winterbones]

Hi, I hope someone can help me.

My 9 month old veiled chameleon has decided to stop drinking (it's now been 8 days).
Strangely enough his temps and humidity are fine, he isn't showing signs of dehydration, his droppings and urine are normal and he's going about his every day business as normal (same temperament, activity and feeding).

He has his dripper and I spray him thoroughly 5 times a day. He's never taken an interest in his dripper but instead has always preferred to drink when I spray the cage, but over the last week he hasn't drank at all and I haven't seen him drinking from the leaves or dripper at any point either.

I've currently given him water cress soaked in water to help with some hydration (though I know this can't be used long term).

Can anyone please help? I'm extremely concerned

 

[Chameleonic]

Hi and welcome to the forum. It's at about that age that Veileds often cut down on their eating naturally, but I've not heard of stopping drinking before. If his urate is white then he is not dehydrated (as you seem to know), so maybe he has decided to use his dripper while you aren't looking. Nothing to be concerned about if his urate is white, but maybe you could offer him some high moisture worms like hornworms or silkworms to make yourself feel better about it for now.

 

[Hoj]

Some chams esp, veiled can be very rare drinkers and often do it when no one is looking. I have a few male veileds that I swear never drink but they are hydrated and healthy so they get the moisture somehow. Just watch the poop and for other sings of hydration but I wouldnt be worried if all seems well.

 

[winterbones]

Thank you for the welcome

His appetite seems to have increased recently. His urine has a little yellow in it, though I was told this is fine as long as it's only a little. I've given him some silk worms for moisture to be safe but I don;t want to give him too many as they are fatty. I can only assume he must be using the dripper, but I am genuinely around him for 90% of the day (he's in my bedroom and I'm a part-time student). I'll keep an eye on him, just seems so strange and I've never heard of it before. Thank you for your help

 

[winterbones]

He's never been a private eater or drinker (for a cham he is extremely outgoing and affectionate, never seen the likes!) He's had his same routine and always goes to the same area of his cage on the 2nd spray of the day and drinking from there. My main concern is that he has been non-stop shedding for over a month now, I'm really worried something might be wrong

 

[Chameleonic]

Actually, silks are very low fat/ high calcium so all in all a great feeder. Seems like you are doing a great job with him.

 

[winterbones]

Sorry I meant to say wax worm! I cant get silk worms in my area, though will definitely look into ordering them if they are a good all rounder. Thank, I try my best! Like I said he SEEMS okay, I'm just concerned that his usual routine has suddenly changed, especially with something as vital as water. How long would you recommend feeding him the water cress? I know they're high in oxalic acid so don't want him on it for too long, I'm just trying as many different ways to hydrate him as possible

 

[Chameleonic]

I don't know about the watercress, my guy don#t like his veggies

 

[winterbones]

No problem thank you though. Mines loves his greens. I'm going to keep him on the water cress for a few days and if I start to see signs of dehydration I'm taking him to a chameleon specialist I was recommended.