My girl wont eat

Whitneyb

New Member
I got two Jackson chameleons about a month ago, they are both females and I noticed my green girl being very protective of the drip system and food bowl. I then noticed the green one climbing on the back of my brown girl and a scratch/mini gouge by the brown ones eye. I got a second cage with whole set up to prevent them from fighting. Since I have separated them my brown girl hasn't eaten in almost two weeks. After 6 days of not eating I force fed her a few wax worms after the reptile store I go to suggested and explained how. I then left her alone for a few days, I made sure she had Crickets free roaming in her cage as well as her bowl 24/7 just in case she wanted to eat. I have tried roaches, crickets and wax worms. I just force fed her a Dubai nymph roach since it has been another 6 days since the last force feeding. I don't want to hurt her or stress her out to much but I don't know what else to go. My green girl is eating like crazy and weighs twice as much. Any advice would be great.
 
Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Jackson chameleon not sure how old I have had her for a month she is about 5 inches long "just the body"
How long has it been in your care? About one month
Handling - when i first got her to transport then to transfer her to her new cage and the two times i have force fed her. I have tried to leave her alone not to stress her out
Feeding - crickets, roaches and wax worms. I put six crickets in her bowl every morning and have a few free roaming in her cage hoping she will hunt them. I have switched up and put a few roaches ib her bowl.
How are you gut-loading your feeders? Lettuce, apples broccoli and fluker's high calcium cricket diet
Supplements - rep-cal phosphorus free calcium with vit. D everyday when i put crickets in Watering - i have a drip system
How often and how long to you mist? 2-3 times a day 1-2 mins at a time I also have a fogger I turn on for at least thirty mins a day
Do you see your chameleon drinking? Only when i mist and not every time
Fecal Description - at first white and slimy since force feeding she has pooped once and it was solid and brownish.
Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? I'm not sure

Cage Info:

Cage Type - screen cage
What are the dimensions? 48 x 24 x 24
Lighting - a 50 infred light and a 5.0 uvb light
What is your daily lighting schedule? Ir 24/7 uvb 12 hrs
Temperature - 75-85 in basking area
Lowest overnight temp? 70
How do you measure these temps? Ir gun
Humidity - I don't have anything to measure humidity I mist the cage 2-3 times a day
Plants - all the plants are fake
Placement - in my bedroom on a chest 2 1/2 feet off the ground 5 feet from the window low noise
At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? 6 1/2 feet
Location - colorado

Current Problem - she isn't eating on her own and getting skinny
 
Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Jackson chameleon not sure how old I have had her for a month she is about 5 inches long "just the body"
How long has it been in your care? About one month
Handling - when i first got her to transport then to transfer her to her new cage and the two times i have force fed her. I have tried to leave her alone not to stress her out
Feeding - crickets, roaches and wax worms. I put six crickets in her bowl every morning and have a few free roaming in her cage hoping she will hunt them. I have switched up and put a few roaches ib her bowl.
How are you gut-loading your feeders? Lettuce, apples broccoli and fluker's high calcium cricket diet
Supplements - rep-cal phosphorus free calcium with vit. D everyday when i put crickets in I would stop this immediately. Purchase some plain phos free caclium and use this every feeding. jacksons are very finicky to supplements. This could be one of the problems leading to the appetite loss.Watering - i have a drip system
How often and how long to you mist? 2-3 times a day 1-2 mins at a time I also have a fogger I turn on for at least thirty mins a day
Do you see your chameleon drinking? Only when i mist and not every time
Fecal Description - at first white and slimy since force feeding she has pooped once and it was solid and brownish.
Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? I'm not sure

Cage Info:

Cage Type - screen cage
What are the dimensions? 48 x 24 x 24
Lighting - a 50 infred light and a 5.0 uvb lightDitch the IR and buy a normal house hold bulb. Typically with jacksons a 25-40 watt bulb is all you need for heat. What type of uvb bulb?
What is your daily lighting schedule? Ir 24/7 uvb 12 hrs Turn all lights out at night. 12 on and 12 off.
Temperature - 75-85 in basking area
Lowest overnight temp? 70
How do you measure these temps? Ir gun Not a fan of IR guns. Digital therm with a probe is the best way to go imo.
Humidity - I don't have anything to measure humidity I mist the cage 2-3 times a day With jacksons i would purchase one. 50-80 fluctuating is great. Cool mist humidifer maybe implemented to maintain this.
Plants - all the plants are fake
Placement - in my bedroom on a chest 2 1/2 feet off the ground 5 feet from the window low noise
At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? 6 1/2 feet
Location - colorado

Current Problem - she isn't eating on her own and getting skinny

Where did you buy her?
 
Ditch the IR and buy a normal house hold bulb. - that was what I had and the reptile store told me to get it bulb and leave it on all night. I will switch back

I would stop this immediately. Purchase some plain phos free caclium and use this every feeding. jacksons are very finicky to supplements. This could be one of the problems leading to the appetite loss. - thank u for the info I will give pick that up and see.

I purchased both of them from an individual that was not taking very good care of them. My other girl is doing great it breaks my heart to see this happening
 
Also, try to put a divider up between the cages. Its not typical between females to have to do this but try antyhing :)

Giver her lots of water and outside sun if you can.
 
My green girl

She is super active and eating really well.
 

Attachments

  • Chameal 2.jpg
    Chameal 2.jpg
    248.6 KB · Views: 124
My brown girl not the best picture

She seems healthy other than the not eating. Eyes, mouth and body all look good just getting skinny.
 

Attachments

  • Lizzy2.jpg
    Lizzy2.jpg
    252.8 KB · Views: 116
Also, try to put a divider up between the cages. Its not typical between females to have to do this but try antyhing :)

Giver her lots of water and outside sun if you can.

I put a divider up when I got the new cage for her just to try to eliminate any possible stress from seeing the other one. - thank you for verifying that it wasnt a horrible idea.

I open the blinds in the room every morning to let in some natural light but it is not directly on the cage. I leave the window itself closed so there is no breeze or wind coming in through it.
 
You said..."a scratch/mini gouge by the brown ones eye"...does she shut the eye during the day since this happened?

Wondering if she could be gravid and not eating because its getting near her time?
 
Her eye is fine the scratch is healing great. I don't think her being gravid is a possibility since she has only been caged with females
 
Back
Top Bottom