My veiled is acting weird, please help!!

armando

armando

Member
My 8 month male veiled cham has been on hunger strike for almost 3 weeks now..
He has eaten very little every now and then...
I have tried everything to get him back to normal... but still cant..
He has been acting very weird the past two days...
He has fallen down from branches (I have seen this twice) .. (I placed a towel aat the bottom to make sure he doesnt gets hurt)...
He has some problems walking around the mesh cage.. He seems to not be able to grab it strong
(Dont worry its not mbd) He gets uvb and direct natural sun light, and calcium and everything... I have him in the best "chameleon forum way" conditions
He has also been really scare of me lately (HE used to be very friendly)
And he also hides a lot...
I got really frustrated yesterday when I saw him fell off the branch, So I decided to take him out and force feed him.
I did force feed him today too..... I can easily see that this really stresses him, but theres nothing else I can do.

Could this weakness be due the hunger strike?
I have been reading around the forum for hours and I dont really see signs of Respiratory infections... I dont see an open mouth, I dont see mucus, I dont hear him breathing.... (only when I hold him to force feed him.. he hisses and I hear his breath) ... but im guessing thats because he is angry
Whats the matter with him????
what kind of signs should I look for?
I dont want him getting sick or injury :(
 
Can you post photos of him please?
also photos of his cage>

and if you could please fill out the how to ask for help form, so we can see what supplements you are giving him, how often, etc. that would be great.
 
Chameleon Info:
7 month veiled chameleon.. I have had him since he was a baby
How much do I handle it? Only when he jumps on my hand, but I usually dont grab him.
Feeding - I have most crickets, some dubias, superworms, hoppers.. I gutload them with oranges, carrots, jam, dandelion, sandrachameleon´s dry gutload recipe
Supplements -
plain calcium: monday tuesday thursday friday
calcium plus: wednesday
repcal vitamin and calcium d3: I switch between them on sundays
Watering - I never see him drink.. he has 3 sessions of mistking mistings of 7 minutes each, and a big dripper dripping on leaves.
Fecal Description - they are not soft, and dont look very hidrated (but I have been making him drink out of a syringe and they seem to be getting more and more hydrated)
History - He used to eat a lot, and his feces looked really good on the small cage... now he is on a bigger cage and he doesnt seems as hidrated as he used to be

Cage Info:
Cage Type - its the bigest reptibreeze ... I forgot the size..
Lighting - basking spot, reptisun 5.0, and a regular incandecent house bulb for aditional light... he is also next to an open window for some natural light.
the go on at 6 am and are down at 6 pm just like otside (winter)
Temperature - temperature is around 20C in the cold sides, and about 30C in the basking area... in night temperature drops to 16C
Humidity - its usually around 40... it goes up and down with the misting sessions.
Plants - I have two beatiful schefflera, and a Dracaena fragans
Placement - its in my room.. next to an open windon
Location - im located in Hermosillo, sonora mexico... right down the state of arizona
 
well i dont see anything in the form that jumps out at me as causing a problem.

How long have you had that uvb bulb?

can you post photos of him please>
 
How long has he been in his new cage? Can you tell us exactly how much he's eaten in 3 weeks? Are his new branches different sizes?
My own guy did a 3 week hunger strike at around the same age. It is his 'teenage' phase so maybe we are overthinking this?
 
here is his enclosure...
I have pictures of him bit they are from 3 weeks ago when the hunger strike recently started.... would they still work?
2013-01-19 16.10.40.jpg
 
I switch uv light every 6 months... and he has been in this cage for almost a month...
the last one looked just like this one but was about 50 cm shorter...
 
(Thanks both for the quick responses)

I have been force feeding him since yesterday...
he ate 4 crickets yesterday and 4 today in the morning...
I would say he ate about 2 crickets every 4 days or so... he would only go for superworms, but everyone told me not to feed anything until he got really hungry.. then he would go for the crickets and dubias...

But as soon I saw him fall off, I decided it was enough, and I had to force feed him!!
 
He used to be really friendly and not shy at all..
now He seems to hate me and hides away from me..
 
I would love to help more but without seeing him in life and knowing how he was before I have 2 options which I can't choose between :-

1. Stop worrying. He has been stubborn for worms. He has eaten much more than when my Rinty was addicted to waxworms. He will not starve himself to death. Guaranteed. My guy is in great health and eating fine now. Chameleons are naturally shy and territorial. His hormone changes are messing with him a bit. A couple more months should sort it.

2. Get a vet to look at him. Take fecal sample, etc.
 
what kind of symptoms should I look for an early Respiratory infection?
and how much should he be eating ?
 
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