Need advice on feeding

fastgixxerlv

New Member
My super shy baby chameleon is not eating his crickets or worms, he eats the crap out of the fern though. I have the crickets and worms in cups and tried putting it in different spots but no luck. Should I let the crickets roam around in the cage? I also tried isolating his cage where no one goes.

I house him in an 18x18x30 cage. Should I put him in a bigger one? He's obviously not getting any of his supplements. What do I do? :confused:
 
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?
 
HOLY CRAP!!!


Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? It's a male veiled, 3 months old, and had him for 2 weeks.

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? 3 times since I've had him to clean his cage. All 3 times he's had some sunlight.

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Crickets and mealworms in a cup that I leave in all day. I gut load only the crickets with the good veggies.

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Repcal is the brand from my old chameleon. I dust calcuim no d3 everytime, no vitamins yet or d3 since I've only had him for 2 weeks. Got him from FLCHAMS

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I had a Haba mister but broke so I use a little dripper till mistking gets here. I mist 3 times a day for a couple minutes. I don't see him drink cause he is so shy when I'm near his cage so I just leave him alone after I mist.

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? His poops looks like normal poo, white with a dark piece that goes with it.

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. I just got him 2 weeks ago from FLCHAMS to replace my old one that past. He is Janoris offspring and suppose to be more docile as the website states. (Maybe they gave me a different one)


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? It's a reptibreeze. The box says 16x16x30. (thought is was bigger)

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Zoo med UVB compact 5.0, and a basking 75watt basking light. Lights are on from 9am to 9pm.

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? floor says 76 and basking spot said 82. The room is 72 at night. I use Flukers digital thermo hydro combo.

Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Humidity is 70-75 after misting and does not get below 60. Waterbowl at the bottom to keep humidity, fern plant and misting.

Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Yes. Boston fern. He is eating it.

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? In my music studio, ceiling fan but not on, air vent is in the middle of room, top of cage is 5 feet above floor on a desk. No traffic but me and I'm gone most of the time except morning lunch and at night.

Location - Where are you geographically located? I'm in Las Vegas Nevada.


He does eat cause I noticed the fern leaves are chewed up but he's not getting his supplements from the food I give him.

He is so damn shy there is no way I would be able to watch him except across the room with binoculars. Thanks!
 
if he is eatting the fern im going to say he need more hydration at this point. i would also recommend changing your uvb bulb to a repti glo or repti sun linear tube. i would also bump his basking to high 80's (what kind of bulb are you using?) 75 watt seems a little high for a 30" cage..... so change all that and set up a dripper fir the little one and see how it goes. also did FLchams cup feed? if they didnt you may need to free range feeders until he feel secure to feed from a cup.

also what colors is he normally?
 
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He is so damn shy there is no way I would be able to watch him except across the room with binoculars. Thanks!

What? your a cham owner and you dont have a pair?!!! LOL :D

Setup a dripper and offer a range of feeders of suitable size. The cham is probably trying to get more water by eating the fern. :) Are you sure boston fern is a non toxic plant?
 
Yeah, what size are the crickets? I would try placing crickets on screen and see how that goes, may not understand the cup thing yet.
 
What? your a cham owner and you dont have a pair?!!! LOL :D

Setup a dripper and offer a range of feeders of suitable size. The cham is probably trying to get more water by eating the fern. :) Are you sure boston fern is a non toxic plant?


I would have had a few already if my girl did'nt mind grabbing bugs to help me feed them.:) Maybe I'll sneak one home from the reptile show in May.:D
 
Im not a Vieled specialist by any means but I thought they are big into foliage grazing?

I would not have a fern, as some may be toxic. Stick to the standard chameleon foliage (ficus, scheflera, etc.) There are other on here that can other plant options.

I hope he eats for you soon. Keep him hydrated. Good luck.
 
i have a boston fern for my chams and they love them,they ARE cham safe,if i can find the list of cham safe plants i will post it..but wanted to let you know IT IS OK for them,mine has been snacking on his boston fern for mnths and mnths and all is well:)
 
plants that are SAFE for chameleons

here is a list from A to Z of plants that ARE safe: i found this on some site somewhere(dont remember where but i was researching chams one day and seen this)i guess i should mention that my chams eat their ferns and they do get alot of water,i have a monsoon and mist like a mad woman lol,also i have a dripper and i see them drinking every day so i must add that i think they just like the leafy green snack :)
ABELIA (Abelia grandiflora)
AFRICAN DAISY (Arctotis)
ALYSSUM, SWEET (Lobularia maritima or Alyssum maritimum)
AMERICAN ELM also ELM (Ulmus americana)
ANTHEMIS also known as CHAMOMILE (Anthemis)
ARBUTUS (Epigaea repens)
ASPARAGUS FERN (Asparagus plumosus or A. setaceus)
ASPEN (Populus tremuloides) - Tree
ASTER (Aster - all species)
B
BABY'S BREATH also known as GYPSOPHILA (Gypsophila elegans)
BABY'S TEARS (Helxine soleirolii)
BACHELOR BUTTONS also CORNFLOWER (Centaurea cyanus)
BEGONIA (Begonia Corallina de Lucerna)
BENJAMINA also FICUS also WEEPING FIG (Ficus benjamina)
BIRCH (Betula) - Tree
BIRD'S NEST FERN (Asplenium nidus)
BOSTON FERN (Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis)
BOUGAINVILLEA (Bougainvillea glabra) - Vine
BRIDAL VEIL also known as TAHITIAN BRIDAL VEIL (Tripogandra multiflora)
C
CALENDULA also POT MARIGOLD (Calendula officinalis)
CAMELLIA (Camellia japonica)
CAST-IRON PLANT (Aspidistra elatior)
CHAMOMILE also ANTHEMIS (Anthemis)
CHICKWEED (Stellaria media)
CHINESE HIBISCUS also HIBISCUS also ROSE OF CHINA (Hibiscus rosasinensis)
CISSUS also KANGAROO VINE also GRAPE IVY (Cissus antarctica) - Vine
COLEUS (Coleus blumei)
CORNFLOWER also BACHELOR BUTTONS (Centaurea cyanus)
CORN PLANT (Dracaena fragrans)
COTTONWOOD (Populus deltoides) - Tree
CRABAPPLE (Malus) - Tree
CUT-LEAF PHILODENDRON also SPLIT-LEAF PHILODENDRON (Monstera deliciosa)
D
DAISY, AFRICAN (Arctotis)
DAISY, LIVINGSTON also ICE PLANT (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis or Mesembryanthemum criniflorum)
DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale)
DILL (Anethum graveolens)
DRACAENA (Dracaena - all species)
E
EASTER CACTUS (Rhipsalidopsis rosea) - Cactus/Succulent
ECHEVERIA also PAINTED LADY (Echeveria derenbergii) - Cactus/Succulent
ELK'S HORN FERN also STAGHORN FERN (Platycerium bifurcatum)
ELM also AMERICAN ELM (Ulmus americana)
EMERALD RIPPLE also PEPEROMIA (Peperomia caperata)
F
FICUS also BENJAMINA also WEEPING FIG (Ficus benjamina)
FIRE THORN (Pyracantha)
FUCHSIA (Fuchsia)
G
GARDENIA (Gardenia jasminoides)
GERANIUM (Pelargonium sp.)
GLOXINIA (Sinningia speciosa hybrids)
GYPSOPHILA also BABY'S BREATH (Gypsophila elegans)
GOLD-DUST DRACAENA (Dracaena godseffiana)
GOLDEN POTHOS (Scindapsus aureus) - not to be digested in large quantities
GRAPE IVY also CISSUS also KANGAROO VINE (Cissus antarctica) - Vine
H
HEAVENLY BAMBOO (Nandina domestica)
HENS AND CHICKENS (Sempervivum tectorum) - Cactus/Succulent
HIBISCUS also CHINESE HIBISCUS also ROSE OF CHINA (Hibiscus rosasinensis)
HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera) - Vine
HOYA also WAX PLANT (Hoya carnosa) - Vine
I
ICE PLANT also LIVINGSTON DAISY (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis or Mesembryanthemum criniflorum)
IMPATIENS also PATIENCE PLANT (Impatiens sultanii or Impatiens wallerana)
INDIAN HAWTHORN (Raphiolepis indica)
J
JADE PLANT (Crassula argentea)
JAPANESE ARALIA (Fatsia japonica)
JASMINE (Jasmine officinale grandiflorum)
K
KALANCHOE (Kalanchoe) - Cactus/Succulent
KANGAROO VINE also CISSUS also GRAPE IVY (Cissus antarctica) - Vine
KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE (Gymnocladus) - Tree - Coffee is Toxic
L
LAVENDER also ENGLISH LAVENDER (Lavandula officinalis or Lavandula spica)
LILAC (Syringa)
LIVINGSTON DAISY also ICE PLANT (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis or Mesembryanthemum criniflorum)
M
MAIDENHAIR FERN (Adiantum pedatum)
MANZANITA (Arctostaphylos)
MOCK ORANGE (Philadelphus)
MOSES-IN-THE-CRADLE (Rhoeo spathacea or Rhoeo discolor)
MULBERRY (Morus alba) - Tree
N
NASTURTIUM (Tropaeolum majus)
NORFOLK ISLAND PINE (Araucaria heterophylla)
P
PAINTED LADY also ECHEVERIA (Echeveria derenbergii) - Cactus/Succulent
PAMPAS GRASS (Cortaderia selloana)
PARLOR PALM (Chamaedorea elegans bella)
PARSLEY (Petroselinum crispum)
PASSIONFLOWER (Passiflora caerulea) - Vine
PATIENCE PLANT also IMPATIENS (Impatiens sultanii or Impatiens wallerana)
PEPEROMIA also EMERALD RIPPLE (Peperomia caperata)
PETUNIA (Petunia hybrida)
PIGGYBACK PLANT (Tolmiea menziesii)
PILEA (Pilea sp.)
POPLAR (Populus) - Tree
POT MARIGOLD also CALENDULA (Calendula officinalis)
PRAYER PLANT (Maranta leuconeura kerchoveana)
PURPLE PASSION also PURPLE VELVET also VELVET PLANT (Gynura aurantiaca)
R
ROSE OF CHINA also CHINESE HIBISCUS also HIBISCUS (Hibiscus rosasinensis)
RUBBER PLANT (Ficus elastica decora)
RUSSIAN OLIVE (Elaeagnus angustifolia) - Tree
S
SENSITIVE PLANT (Mimosa pudica)
SPIDER PLANT (Chlorophytum comosum vittatum)
SPLIT-LEAF PHILODENDRON also CUT-LEAF PHILODENDRON (Monstera deliciosa)
SPRUCE (Picea sp.) - Tree
SQUIRREL'S-FOOT FERN (Davallia trichomanoides or Davallia bullata)
STAGHORN FERN also ELK'S HORN FERN (Platycerium bifurcatum)
STAR JASMINE (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
SWEDISH IVY (Plectranthus nummularius - often sold as Plectranthus australis)
SWEET ALYSSUM (Lobularia maritima or Alyssum maritimum)
SWORD FERN also WESTERN SWORD FERN (Polystichum munitum)
T
TAHITIAN BRIDAL VEIL also BRIDAL VEIL (Tripogandra multiflora)
TI PLANT (Cordyline terminalis)
TREE MALLOW (Lavatera trimestris)
U
UMBRELLA PLANT (Schefflera arboricola)
V
VELVET PLANT also PURPLE PASSION, PURPLE VELVET (Gynura aurantiaca)
W
WANDERING JEW (Zebrina pendula)
WAX BEGONIA (B. semperflorens)
WAX PLANT also HOYA (Hoya carnosa) - Vine
WEEPING FIG also BENJAMINA also FICUS (Ficus benjamina)
WILLOW (Salix sp.) - Tree
Y
YUCCA (Yucca filamentosa)
Z
ZEBRA PLANT (Aphelandra squarrosa)
ZINNIA (Zinnia elegans hybrids)
 
palofromSD: i think you gave some great advice,we do have to be very careful on the type of plants we house with our chams,researching is the best advice before causing a problem,i did do my research and that is a list i came up with, also i have been offering my chams "boston" ferns and have had no problems of any kind,so imho i believe they are a "safe" snack and a soft,fluffy,tickley place to crawl through lol:)
 
LOL, I meant a pair of binnoculars! :D

Hahaha!

Thanks for the suggestions. I've used the same fern on the older female I had with no problems. I'm gonna move him to the big cage and see if he feels safer in there and let the crickets roam around with him.

House flys? Do I have to hunt those things down or can I buy them?
 
May want to try the asparagus fern if you can find one, I bought mine at Lowes.
Also Flchams has a huge list of non-toxic plants on there site.
 
Hahaha!

Thanks for the suggestions. I've used the same fern on the older female I had with no problems. I'm gonna move him to the big cage and see if he feels safer in there and let the crickets roam around with him.

House flys? Do I have to hunt those things down or can I buy them?

You can buy them Pupae and hatch them yourself, let me warn you though it’s a pain!! some well a lot of mine escaped, soon after hatching because the holes in the cup were to big so I woke up to a house of flies!!!
 
If he is a little guy, then offer him fruit flies. Most chameleons - big or small - will hammer flies, without hesitation, even when they seem to be off other feeders. If he is off food AND off flies then it is either illness or a major husbandry issue (live bearing females about to give birth might be an exception to this).
 
I think I got it sorted out.:)

I raised the temp to low 90s and let the crickets roam and finally saw him catch one. Whew...

I went and got some asparagus fern and a bunch of others on the list. I'm gonna put him in the bigger cage. He is getting to be expensive like my great dane.

Thanks everyone! I'd be in trouble without you guys;)
 
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