New panther chameleon barely eating. Please give advice

[BrennaNxoxo]

I bought a new adult male panther chameleon on Saturday, and so far I've seen him eat only one cricket of the ones I have dropped in. He will not eat from tweezers which I would like to train him to do. I dropped a hissing cockroach in his enclosure Sunday night, I can't seem to find it so idk if he has eaten it or if it is hiding cause I hear they are good at that. I called the place I got him from and they said he is just probably adjusting to his new habitat, but I would like to make sure he is good. He roams around a lot, and he looks quite healthy. His heating is at 90-94 degrees on top where he basks, and 75-80 at bottom. Humidity is 80 at top and 62 at bottom. Please help I want him to be happy and healthy !

 

[Keeneye]

The place you got him from is probobly right. One of our Ambanjas wouldnt eat for just over a week when we brought him home and did it again a few weeks ago when I moved him into his new "big boy" cage. He went about a week again. Just make sure to keep him well hydrated, give him his space and privacy to adjust and offer multiple feeders.... he should come around.

 

[BrennaNxoxo]

The place you got him from is probobly right. One of our Ambanjas wouldnt eat for just over a week when we brought him home and did it again a few weeks ago when I moved him into his new "big boy" cage. He went about a week again. Just make sure to keep him well hydrated, give him his space and privacy to adjust and offer multiple feeders.... he should come around.

Ok thank you very much ! I just want to make sure he is a healthy boy

 

[junglefries]

Keep him hydrated and keep attempting to feed at different times of the day. if your lights are on a 12/12 cycle, maybe try feeding him every four hours. when you mist him, don't spray him directly. try and keep any traffic away as much as possible. he will settle in eventually. you can try feeding him a silkworm, hornworm, or superworm. his hunger may override his stubborness. worms generally illicit a response. you are right about the roach. it is most likely hiding. good luck and don't worry. once he forgets you abducted him, he'll come around.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I bought a new adult male panther chameleon on Saturday, and so far I've seen him eat only one cricket of the ones I have dropped in. He will not eat from tweezers which I would like to train him to do. I dropped a hissing cockroach in his enclosure Sunday night, I can't seem to find it so idk if he has eaten it or if it is hiding cause I hear they are good at that. I called the place I got him from and they said he is just probably adjusting to his new habitat, but I would like to make sure he is good. He roams around a lot, and he looks quite healthy. His heating is at 90-94 degrees on top where he basks, and 75-80 at bottom. Humidity is 80 at top and 62 at bottom. Please help I want him to be happy and healthy !

Is he drinking?
they often take awhile to settle into a new enclosure.
why would you want to train him to eat from tweezers? unnecessary and potentially problematic - maybe you would consider bowl/cup feeding instead, if its a matter of tracking food intake.
yes, the hisser likely got away / is hiding.
humidity doesn't have to be that high all the time.

 

[BrennaNxoxo]

Is he drinking?
they often take awhile to settle into a new enclosure.
why would you want to train him to eat from tweezers? unnecessary and potentially problematic - maybe you would consider bowl/cup feeding instead, if its a matter of tracking food intake.
yes, the hisser likely got away / is hiding.
humidity doesn't have to be that high all the time.

Yes I've seen him drink plent of times that's why ok not worried about his hydration ! And I tried the cup method but it hasn't worked so far!

 

[sandrachameleon]

great that he's drinking
let him settle in for a bit. give him a fair bit of privacy. I think you'll find he is eating well in a few days time.

 

[browncofan]

Same Thing

I just went through the same thing. My litte guy didn't eat at all for a week and not much the week after that. I have had him for three weeks now and he is eating like a beast. My guy likes his privacy when he eats, if he catches me looking at him he will stop eating and go on a hike around the cage. It is funny.

Finally today he ate a superworm off the couch, he wouldn't take it from my hand but when I set it on the couch next to me he climbed down off my arm and ate it after about 15 minutes. It takes time for them to trust us people. LOL

 

[djfishygillz]

My guys eat as soon as they get to their new destinations, so I would have a vet do a routine health check up just to make sure everything is good. Also make sure all your husbandry is correct. Provide pictures of your enclosure along with pictures of him.