Not eating much, a little sleepy...

[maryanne27]

So my 9m.o. graceful cham has only been eating like one cricket a day for the last few days and has been a little lethargic and sleeping more. He was eating about three or four crickets daily, and I have also been trying to feed him butterworms since I got him a month ago, but he doesn't seem to go for them - from a cup or while they roam. I thought maybe it was because he is cold in this old house with winter weather, so I turned up the heat and the humidifier in the room. Is there any other reason he may not be eating?

I was also thinking maybe he is bored with crickets since he won't eat the butterworms. The breeder said she fed him bb flies, but I can't find them. Does anyone have any suggestions of other food to try? I would prefer to avoid cockroaches.... they gross me out.
Help please!

 

[jannb]

Please fill out the ask for help form linked below. Give as much detail as possible with your answers because that will help to try to figure out what's going on. For a long time Tate would only eat crickets and flies but I just kept on offering him other feeders and now he likes superworms, hornworms and silkworms too. You can buy BB flies at themantisplace.com
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[maryanne27]

Help form

Chameleon Info:
Rory is a 9 month old male graceful chameleon. I have had him for just over a month.
Handling - Since I got him, I have only handled him twice
Feeding - He usually eats 3-4 crickets a day, gutloaded with BugBurger. I have also tried feeding him butterworms (from a cup and just letting them roam), but he has only eaten maybe one or two.
Supplements - Zilla calcium supplement sprayed on crickets daily, Repashy vitamin dust twice a month
Watering - Dripper used constantly. Hand mister used throughout the day - at least 4-5 times most days, 2-3 if I work. Pretty much when I go upstairs, I check to see if there is enough moisture in the cage. I mist for a minute or two until screens, vines, and plants are wet. I have witnessed him drinking a few times.
Fecal Description - Color and consistency seem pretty consistent with what is described as healthy under the health forum thread about bowel movements. Brown, semi-solid. Urates are a lighter yellow or white. BM once or twice a week. Not sure if he has been tested for parasites before I got him.
History - nothing noteworthy since I have only had him for a short time.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - He is in a screen cage, about 3'x3'x1.5'.
Lighting - I use the UV lamp recommended on the forum here (can't remember the actual brand, but I got exactly what was listed). Heat lamp is a normal desk lamp. Turn on about 7 or 8 am, off at around 6 or 7 pm.
Temperature - Temp is about 68 degrees
Humidity - Humidity meter is in the mail, so I don't know for sure. I can say that my house is very dry, but the room I keep Rory in is noticeably humid. Along with misting and dripping, I keep a normal room humidifier running.
Plants - I have one live plant in the cage - small scheflerra arboricola. There are about 5 other potted plants near the cage - heard that helps keep humidity up.
Placement - In our extra bedroom in a nook surrounded by windows so he gets sunlight. Not near fans or air vents. Extremely low-traffic area. The bottom of the cage is raised about 8" off of the floor.
Location - We live in northwest PA. Cold and snowy this time of year; air is dry. Weather has been fluctuating a lot lately between warm and freezing.

Current Problem - As described above, Rory has only been eating maybe one cricket a day or none at all for the past 4 or 5 days. He has done it before, but then pounded down like 4 or 5 the next day. It seems strange he has gone this long with so little to eat. Doesn't go for the butterworms. Also, he seems a little lethargic, staying on his favorite vine all day or just basking and going to sleep early. Suggestions?

Side note: Also, thanks for the link for flies. I will get some and see if he likes those!