Need some help

[CHAMaDdIcT]

hey everyone, i just got home and i checked on my chameleon and he didnt eat any of crickets that i put in, and recently hes been showing signs that he doesnt care about eating like not going after the crickets unless they come to him. so i was thinking - is he tired of crickets? and he needs a new feeder? or is there a medical problem with him?

heres his rundown

Cage type: 18x18x36 all screen enclosure

Lighting: Zoo Med Repti Basking Spot Light (50 watts) and a Reptisun 5.0 UVB 18" light

Temperature: Basking Spot temp - about 90 degrees Farenheit. Floor temp - about 75 degrees Farenheit. i use a regular thermometer that looks kinda like clock (i forgot the brand )

Humidity: humidity is about 35 RH right before a spraying, and when sprayed the humidity goes up to 45 RH. i spray about 3 times a day, and i measure with a hygrometer that came with my thermometer

Plants: in the cage is a ficus tree shown in the second picture

Placement: the cage is in my room which is very quiet (basically silent) and my window is opened about 1/4. the cage is on top of my dresser, and is about 5 feet above the ground

Location:i live in Southern CA ( in a little town called Claremont)

Chameleon info

My Chameleon: name is Xanthus (means "golden haired" in Greek), he is a veiled cham (c. calyptratus), he is a male, and he is 5 months old
Handling: held him to take him outside

Feeding: i feed him crickets about 8-10 crickets a day, 4-5 in each of the 2 feedings. i feed him at about 9:00 AM and feed him again at about 5:30 PM. i gut-load the crickets with Cricket crack and water crystals

Supplements: i use Herptivite calcium powder, and i put on one feedings worth of crickets lightly every other day, and Herptivite calcium with D3 once a week, and Herptivite multivitamin once a month

Watering: i spray my cham about 2 times a day

Fecal Description: normal, hasn’t been tested for parasites, but he is CB

History: he was the only healthy male in the group of 10 babies i got him from. i bought him at Prehistoric Pets in Chino, CA

Current Problems: not eating

thanks for the feedback

 

[jojackson]

Thanks for all the info mate. At 5 months your bloke is approaching maturity and appetite tends to diminish some, so it may be nothing to worry about.
The appetite will be greater mid morning after he's had a good bask, so this is probly the optimal feeding time.
Feeding in the afternoon is fine, just ensure that the heat remains on for atleast an hour or so afterwards, so he can bask and begin the digestive process.

They do get a bit bored with one type of feeder, variety is best, so whatever you can get in your area and rotate will see him happy.
Everything else seems to be great, I dont think you have much to worry about.
cheers

P.S. the clock type thermometors (analog) are kinda dodgy, not quite as accurate as digital, so if you can get hold of a cheap digital type, all the better. Same applys to humidity gauges.

 

[CHAMaDdIcT]

ok thanks

 

[jannb]

I think 5:30 pm is too late to feed him. I would feed earlier in the day.

 

[jojackson]

Lol, I don't think chameleons can tell the time Jann. They are opportunist and wont refuse a tasty bug so long as they are awake. They still digest it. If theres heat the next day, I fail to see the concern. Bugs wont rot in the stomach overnight.

The appetite will be greater mid morning after he's had a good bask, so this is probly the optimal feeding time.

 

[PardalisGirl]

Pictures please....

Hi there....why don't you share some pictures of your male and his cage from a distance. Pictures often show what words can't. We can see if his overall health looks good or if there is something to be concerned about.

Also, Chams can tell time. They detect the seasonal changes if you are in a room with windows. Adult chams often slow down if they detect earlier sun set times due to time of year. My cham rooms all have windows and the adults have all slowed their eating a little bit. The babies and juvies still seem to eat the same.

Chams detect the passage of time even without a window. The lights come on and the lights go off. They do have an ability to judge the passage of time and get settled for sleep before the lights turn off. Mine all get to their favorite sleeping spot well in advance of the lights turning off. I agree that you should feed your male much earlier in the day. It gives him time to digest his food better during daytime temperatures. Chams are heavily dependant of environmental temperatures to boost metabolism to a rate needed for digestion. When temperatures fall during the night time drop their metabolism slows down.

Please post some pictures....

 

[withlime]

Also, Chams can tell time.

Chams detect the passage of time even without a window. The lights come on and the lights go off. They do have an ability to judge the passage of time and get settled for sleep before the lights turn off. Mine all get to their favorite sleeping spot well in advance of the lights turning off. I agree that you should feed your male much earlier in the day. It gives him time to digest his food better during daytime temperatures. Chams are heavily dependant of environmental temperatures to boost metabolism to a rate needed for digestion. When temperatures fall during the night time drop their metabolism slows down.

Yes, once my male chams have started to get into their "bedtime spots" they won't eat anything, even if they haven't been fed for a day or two.

chamaddict- continue to monitor him for any other changes, but like others mentioned, his appetite is likely tapering off because of his age.

 

[summoner12]

I am willing to bet he is tired of the crickets... and it is just that time of year... My chams are all hungry when I offer food... but that is because I am not offering it to them as often...

If he is pooping normally... has white urates... and is otherwise 'normal' then I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[CHAMaDdIcT]

ok ill try to get some pics up soon because i just got him a new cage but also he has a piece of shedded skin on his side that wont come off should i peel it off? or should i keep waiting?

 

[jojackson]

Dont peel it, if its not right you may damage skin beneath, leaving it wont hurt since its on his side, it'll come off next time.

 

[CHAMaDdIcT]

Dont peel it, if its not right you may damage skin beneath, leaving it wont hurt since its on his side, it'll come off next time.

ok thanks jo

 

[jeanjacket812]

I will concur that Chams can definitly tell time or at least get on routine my old male veiled was on his sleeping branch about a half hour before lights out. He would also watch for me to wake up in the morning and to come home from school and he would rush to his feeder cup because he knew what was coming.

 

[jojackson]

Yeah ok, time to clarify after a few such 'time' responses'. I realise they sense passing of time via visual and enviromental cues, my own guy setlles just before lights out.
I simply meant that they arnt fussy about what time they eat if they are awake and hungry and will still digest it provided they bask the following morning.
Once again I did mention that after morning basking is optimal feed time.