New Baby Tamatave

[Shaner]

Hey All,

I bought a new baby Tamatave last weekend. The car ride was a 5 hour drive so I bet it was stressful. The last time he ate though was on Saturday at the pet store. I have put different foods in there for him, small meal worms, and pin head crix, he doesn't even touch them, he drinks like a champ though.

I have him in a 38 gallon flexarium laying down on it's side so it isn't too high for him if he falls (god forbid that happening). I have a brand new UVB 5.0 Exo-Terra bulb in there (the flourescent tube not the compact) and a 50 watt heat light. The temps in the cage are the norm for chameleons.

He walks around and explores alot which I like to see, he is active, but I am just a little worried about why he isn't eating? Maybe he is still full from the egg yolk from when he hatched? He is the size of my baby finger which is about 2.5" long.

Any body have any ideas, my guess is he is stressed and still getting accustomed to his new home, it may not help that I keep putting him on the lip of his dish when I get home from work every night, but I am just a tad worried.

This isn't my first time with a baby cham either I am still raising one as we speak and she is doing wonderful and is getting quite big now, I also have a 3 year old adult, so before someone goes and calls me a newb...I just figured I would put this in here.

Thank you,
Shaner

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Congratulations on your new baby. A Tamatave from a pet store? I think that is unheard of in the US.

What exactly are the temperatures in his cage? Normal for adults and normal for babies are different. Also, I have found that not all chams like their temps to be "according to the book". How is his color? I am wondering if he is too warm or too cold.

You got him last weekend and this is Thursday. It's pretty unusual for even a stressed baby cham to forgo eating, especially for that long.

Would love to see some photos!

Another question- have you seen any poop? It's possible he's eating, just not enough that you would notice (unless you are counting items).

 

[Shaner]

Hey,

Yes I have seen 1 poop, it is not runny and the normal colours. He is brown, orange and green under the light and when he is on the other side of the cage where it is cold he turns black.

I do count his crix and worms, I only put about 10 crix or 6 meal worms. As for temps I will have to check when I get home.

I hear you on the pet store, how a tamatave is very rare, but this pet store deals in reptiles only so I was lucky to be at the right place at the right time. I was actually looking for a male ambanja...but hey Tamatave's are rare so I snagged one of those instead.

 

[Shaner]

His temps are in the mid 80's and 90 in his basking area.

I coloured the cup from an opaque white to blue so he can see the white crix running around.

I came home today and a few were gone, but I have a feeling they may have jumped out of the cup...I hope not but you never know.

I am really worried right now, I would hate to have him die on me due to starvation...

 

[toddmkeller]

Try some Fruit Flys.... Little ones love them and they are easy to catch....

 

[bighutch917]

Try free range feeding. I just lost a beautiful Ambanja who also had a difficult time acclimating. I thought my enclosure was to big to free range but I received my replacement cham today and had little trouble free range feeding. He's a beast! 3 mos old Ambilobe from The Chameleon Company (Sire: Zeppo) but looks like hes 6 or 7 mos. Almost twice the size of my 3 mos old Ambanja. I put about 10 free range crickets in his enclosure and witnessed him eat 4. I haven't spotted any loose crickets roaming so I'm sure he devoured more. My Ambanja on the other hand didn't eat for two days after I received him. He never ate more than 2 crickets a day. His health deteriorated in less than a month before passing. Hopefully, I'll have better luck this go round.

Also, cricket size could also be a factor. Make sure they aren't to big. I hope everything works out.

 

[Shaner]

OK,

This morning I put 6 crix into his dish, the dish is now blue so things should be ok, he should be able to see them now.

I also put the cup higher off the ground about half way up his basking spot so he doesn't have to go to the ground.

I also (and no I am not sadistic) clipped the back legs of the crix so they can't jump out so I can see if he is eating, I will post again tonight to see. If he is not eating after today, I will go to the vet, pick up some A/D soft food and inject it into his mouth via syringe...I am not losing him for something as stupid as starvation.

Anyone else have anymore ideas I can try?

 

[Shaner]

OK

Just as I suspected I was being too paranoid, he ate today, I came home and all the crix were gone. I guess colouring the bowl blue worked and adding it in a higher location so he didn't have to go to the ground to get food worked.

Thanks everyone for your help and support.

Mojo thanks you too!!

Shaner