My chameleon wont eat anything if it isnt a lizardhe just wants to be free

[yeltcor]

My panther chameleon just turned one year old a week ago. he hast eaten for almost 2 weeks ive offered him dusted crickets, mealworms, superworms, superworm beetles, silkworms and just recently ordered dubias for the first time but he wont even touch those. All he wants to do is come out the cage even he has a zoo med extra large cage with plenty of vines, branches and an umbrella plant. the second i open the cage he runs toward my arm. i feel bad and let him roam on small tree i have in my backyard. every time he spots an anole he tries to shoot his tounge at it but i wont let him and thats the only thing he seems to be interested in. hes always had a good appetite i mist him multiple times daily hes been getting natural sunlight over the summer and is now basking with a powersun 100w uvb bulb. im verry worried about him because he wont eat and he only wants to explore the world.I really hope he doenst have parasites. I feel like ive made a mistake by giving him too much freedom and letting him out of the cage constantly. vets expensive but ill have to take him if i need to. advice would be greatly appreciated and i can answer any questions you have about him.

 

[SaintJimmy]

I think a vet would be good... The best thing to do in this situation is get him tested for parasites (c'mon, no chameleon turns down that variety of bugs). Also please fill out the how to ask for help form.

 

[ataraxia]

Can you tell us a little more about your care...https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

Some chameleons dont like to be caged up. I have one in particular that wants out every other day. If he is not let out. He will surf the front and sides all day long. Its like his sole mission to get out. With these kind of chameleons you have to give them variety as far environment is concerned. Can he see any other lizards or female panther?

For his appetite, we would need to know about your care to this point. Pictures would be very helpful.

 

[junglefries]

Careful feeding wild anoles. they are hugely infested with parasites. if i am not mistaken, they lead the top ten reptiles with parasites.

 

[FlChamMom]

I would definitely get his poop tested for parasites. When my cham got cocccidia the vet said he probably got it from an an anole getting in his outdoor cage. The only symptom was not eating and I was offering everything I could think of too... the test is not that much $20- $30 bucks.

 

[Carlton]

All he wants to do is come out the cage even he has a zoo med extra large cage with plenty of vines, branches and an umbrella plant. the second i open the cage he runs toward my arm.

I don't know if you can possibly free range him indoors, but wonder if this might help. I've done this with a wc rescue melleri and did it with each new one afterwards. When she first arrived I had built her in a huge (7'x7'x8') indoor wire cage full of everything I thought a cham would like...bushy tree, etc. She fretted, rubbed her snout, constantly tried to get out, and wasn't eating much. Whenever I let her out of the cage she settled down again. So I dismantled the cage itself, and left the tree and other plants right where they were in the room. After roaming the room a few days she settled down in the same space she had while caged. It worked for her. Maybe since your cham has had a "taste" of freedom before he just can't handle the feeling of confinement.

If the room you have the cage in is safe enough maybe this is the answer. You could create a free range area in a part of the room by clustering his potted plants together, hang his lights right overhead, and restrict his ability to roam too far by building a fence of smooth cardboard on the floor around his plants that he can't climb over. Put his feeders in a larger container wedged in the plants where he can see them move around and climb down to the rim of the container on his own. He'll eventually realize that everything he wants is available in his spot.

If you want to give him anoles, the safer way would be to catch or buy some, treat them for parasites and fatten them up before letting your cham eat them.

 

[sandrachameleon]

My panther chameleon just turned one year old a week ago. he hast eaten for almost 2 weeks ive offered him dusted crickets, mealworms, superworms, superworm beetles, silkworms and just recently ordered dubias for the first time but he wont even touch those. .... every time he spots an anole he tries to shoot his tounge at it ....

have you tried offering the insects to him while he is outside in the tree?

can you provide a different indoor space (full access to a room for example)

its not uncommon for a one year old panther to want to roam a bit more than usual, looking for females I believe. they do tend to settle down again by year 2

 

[pssh]

Have you tried hornworms or green banana roaches? Maybe he just wants something green? I also suggest getting checked for parasites.

 

[yeltcor]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - panther chameleon 1 year old. been in my care for a year
Handling - ill let him come out the cage every two days to let him get some sun on a tree outside. i keep a close eye on him to make sure he doesnt shoot his tounge at anything.
Feeding - hes eaten a variety of feeders. as of right now he is eating dubia roaches ill put about 5 in the bin. they are gutloaded with oranges, apples, papaya, green beans, and carrots. i take them out before they get moldy.
Supplements - i use rep cal calcium without d3 and with d3 and herptivite. i also dust with dinofuel raptor edition.
Watering - I mist with a spray bottle, usually 4 times a day for about 15 seconds, i usually spot him drinking every now and then
Fecal Description - his stool is a light olive green with a sort of gelatinous consistency. his urate is normally white sometimes orange.
History - Never had any health problems always had a good appetite until now

Cage Info:

Cage Type - zoo med extra large screen cage
Lighting - zoo med powersun turns on at 8:00 am turns off at 7:30 pm
Temperature - basking spot is 85 degrees the rest of the cage is about 70 degrees. it gets cold at night so i set up a heater that makes the room about 70 degrees at night. i have a dual temp and humidity gauge
Humidity - humidity is usually 65-85%
Plants - large umbrella plant
Placement - its in my garage theres alot of open space no traffic. Im the only one who in the garage most of the time.
Location - Florida


his apetite is getting better I set up an appointment to get a checkup on him and a fecal. and im probably going to make a much bigger custom cage to make him feel more at home. and where do you get green banana roaches?

 

[camimom]

How are you measuring your temps?