not eating. need help!

[VeiledOwner87]

Thomas my new fischer's. has only eaten 2 crickets since i got him saturday night. im really worried. i have a schedual fecal apointment this morning which is good, but if any medication is needed, they will have to assess him which is another 90 something bucks ontop of the 30$ for the fecal. i do have a 72hr guarantee which is horsecrap, but since i got him saturday night just before they closed, i will fight to have today be my 72 hour (3 day) term. i was thinking of working something out with the manager, to get at least half of the money back for all of the bills, the false claim they believe that they sell "captive born", so yeah, i was thinking of setting something up to get half of the money back for bills, i realy want to take this guy in, i love him, hes awsome and beautiful.

im not going to fill out a help form because lighting, humidity, temperatures, all of that is absolutely perfect. just want some insight about why he may not be eating. hes so active, he's fast as lighting, his eyes are full and his body is symetric, and his grip is quite good. no signs of mbd, and he drinks like a champ. he is skinny though. the other day when i went back in, the lady there said "he likes worms".. ok what worms i replied "i give him butterworms as a treat" (probably all the time) and ive heard that butterworms have been killing off geckos. is this a threat to chameleons as well?

also too, im confident he has a cyst or two from cricket bites, since thoses people free ranged and let them roam all around night and day! how could i clear that up? would vitamin-e gel or polysporin help that?

God i hate how pet stores take care of animals, but i do not regrett the purchase at all, i was eying this guy down for about a week, and i love him, im just really worried. i'd give them all a home if i could

 

[VeiledOwner87]

guys not to sound rude or anything, but i thought this was a forum to help keepers out. it seems that when i ask for help, i get none to very few replies back, and then there are posts that are less imprtant, like "what is the locale" with friggen posts after posts.. come on guys. again im not trying to be rude, but im get very agitated at times. i expect help because that is what this is for!

i got the fecal test done, and for a wc, he came out negative. what are some reasons why he isnt eating. is it because im trying to train him to cup feed? itll be 3 days at 6 or so oclock since ive had him, and hes only eatin 2 crickets, again hes drinking alot. and about the cricket cyst, will vitamin-e gel or polysporin heal it?

 

[gpmo]

Can you post a pic of the cyst? If he is not used to cup feeding try letting the crickets out of the cup. He may be wary of sticking his head and/or tongue in an enclosed space. You could also offer something other than crickets to get his attention, perhaps a roach (dubia) or superworm or hornworm. Take the crickets out if he doesn't eat them within an hour. Hope that helps,

gpmo (her)

 

[Elizadolots]

Well, you can't really expect a lot of answers in just a few hours, particularly on a working day.

I don't find it unusual for a new animal to take a few days to settle down and get to eating normally. Depending on the size of the Fischer's and the size of the crickets, 2 every other day might be normal.

I free range crickets with my Fischer's all the time and neither's ever been bit. I'm not saying that couldn't have happened, but just that it's not necessarily what's going on. You can certainly try putting neosporin on anything you suspect is a bite.

It's good you're going to the vets for the new pet checkup. Hopefully the vet will have more insight into the bites/cysts.

 

[VeiledOwner87]

Can you post a pic of the cyst? If he is not used to cup feeding try letting the crickets out of the cup. He may be wary of sticking his head and/or tongue in an enclosed space. You could also offer something other than crickets to get his attention, perhaps a roach (dubia) or superworm or hornworm. Take the crickets out if he doesn't eat them within an hour. Hope that helps,

gpmo (her)

thank you for your reply gpmo. unfortunatly i cannot get a picture of the cyst. my camera just wont zoom in with great focus i guarantee it will be blurry every shot. again, thomas ate 2 crickets out of the cup, when he thought i wasnt in the room, and that was it. ive left food in there all day. i dont know if i should let the crickets out because the bottom of the cage is constantly wet due to the dripper and the misting. i would free range a couple, but im afraid ill just loose crickets. also im afraid i wont be able to get them out at the end of the day without disturbing him and stressing him. ive switched the cup to a clear shallow but wide tupperware container. ive offered him more than crickets, (crickets, mealworms, wax worms, super worms) i cannot get roaches in canada

 

[VeiledOwner87]

Well, you can't really expect a lot of answers in just a few hours, particularly on a working day.

I don't find it unusual for a new animal to take a few days to settle down and get to eating normally. Depending on the size of the Fischer's and the size of the crickets, 2 every other day might be normal.

I free range crickets with my Fischer's all the time and neither's ever been bit. I'm not saying that couldn't have happened, but just that it's not necessarily what's going on. You can certainly try putting neosporin on anything you suspect is a bite.

It's good you're going to the vets for the new pet checkup. Hopefully the vet will have more insight into the bites/cysts.

i know elizadolots, youre right, but even on non working days, i dont usualy get much feedback. i appologize and i shouldnt complain. but i appriciate your post. im guessing he is trying to acclimate as well, but he seems to be quite skinny, i just want the little guy to eat. he is roughly 5.5-6'' without tail, and we all know how enormously long fischer tails are lol. i will go and buy some neosporin then and apply it to him. im just worried about him getting more bites, crickets are blood thirsty suckers lol. from my last post, is there a different way i can drain the water so the bottom doesnt get as wet. hes caged in a flexarium right now, and it has the flex tray. i have poked holes for drainage running into a bin but the ground stays wet. not so much puddly but just wet.

 

[jannb]

I read your post earlier but did not reply because I don't know allot about fischer's but my daughter has had WC chameleons before and had a hard time getting some of them to eat at first. I can remember her having to force feed one for months before she would eat on her own. It has to be a real shock for them to be living free in the jungle and then shipped and then put in a cage. I guess that's why some don't make it. It's probably a good sign that he ate two. I would keep trying and offer different types of feeders and probably freerange the feeders until he's eating well then try cup feeding.

A picture of the cyst would be very helpful.

 

[Elizadolots]

Fischer's aren't as solid bodied as veiled. You might be used to a beefier animal so be thinking he's skinny when he's not. Maybe you could post a picture of him, even if we can't see the cysts to give us an idea.

Here's my Spike. I think he's a little smaller than yours. My index finger is only about 3 inches long.

 

[VeiledOwner87]

I read your post earlier but did not reply because I don't know allot about fischer's but my daughter has had WC chameleons before and had a hard time getting some of them to eat at first. I can remember her having to force feed one for months before she would eat on her own. It has to be a real shock for them to be living free in the jungle and then shipped and then put in a cage. I guess that's why some don't make it. It's probably a good sign that he ate two. I would keep trying and offer different types of feeders and probably freerange the feeders until he's eating well then try cup feeding.

A picture of the cyst would be very helpful.

every little bit counts for a reply, thanks jann. i have put some free range cricks in there. im just not used to the fact that i dont know how many he's eatin. im used to cup feeding lol. i surely hope i dont have to get to the point of force feeding, but youre right, at least two is a good sign. hes just a fidgeddy little guy. the thing jumps! lol so i dont think force feeding would go well.

do any of you guys know what plastic grid flat plannels are called? people use them for making their own terrarium backgrounds before placing the foam and silicone on it

 

[Carlton]

A tip for feeding that I use all the time for wc chams:

Instead of a little deli cup (which is pretty unnatural for a wc cham to go near), I put feeders in a larger plastic storage box like a Critter Keeper or similar. Wedge the box in the foliage or put it at the base of a plant pot so the cham can climb down to the rim of the box without being observed. Shy nervous chams (and yes, fischeri can be this way) will feel they can watch the food for a while without giving themselves away and shoot when they are ready. Don't put in a lot of feeders or they get overwhelmed by the movement and can't single one out (that's why so many prey animals travel in herds...to confuse the predators). The feeders can't escape and if you put a bit of gutload in the box they can keep themselves fed. Remove the box when you mist.

Fischeri like a LOT of foliage cover to feel secure. If you can't find him in the cage that's about right. Also, they don't always recognize our domestic feeders right off either, especially if they are distracted by the new surroundings. Chams hate change and getting to know his new turf is taking a lot out of him.

About not responding...I don't get a chance to log in to the forum all that often. If you mention the species of cham in the title of your posts sometimes it triggers a better response from someone who knows that particular cham well. And, yes, sometimes we don't know what to suggest!

 

[kinyonga]

Sorry if my answer sounds rude...but most of us have other things to do during the day and can't be answering questions all day. Some of the questions we don't have the answers to. This is one of the best forums around for caring people spending their time answering (often) the same questions over and over again...and giving answers to all the questions that can be answered.

You said...guys not to sound rude or anything, but i thought this was a forum to help keepers out. it seems that when i ask for help, i get none to very few replies back, and then there are posts that are less imprtant, like "what is the locale" with friggen posts after posts.. come on guys. again im not trying to be rude, but im get very agitated at times. i expect help because that is what this is for"...I looked at your posts and in almost all of them you got good responses. You expect help but you won't provide information so we have a point at which to start so we might be able to help you. You said..."im not going to fill out a help form because lighting, humidity, temperatures, all of that is absolutely perfect"...do you know how many times I've heard this and people have not had things set up properly?? I'm not going to waste my time trying to guess at what is going on with your chameleon when you don't give enough information so that anyone could even guess.

If the temperatures are not right he might not eat. If the crickets are not of an appropriate size he might not eat. If he's afraid of the cup he might not eat. If he's sick he might not eat. If the "cysts" are near his mouth he might not eat. If he's old and dying or has organ damage he might not eat.

Fischer's are not big eaters to begin with, but I looked at your previous posts and saw some photos of him that showed him to be quite thin in the tail...so he does need some help.

Did you not ask about the "cysts" when you took the fecal in to be checked??
How do you expect us to know what the cysts could be when you won't supply a picture and you don't even say where they are or if they are growing or remaining the same.

You said..."im confident he has a cyst or two from cricket bites"...and..."how could i clear that up? would vitamin-e gel or polysporin help that?"...why didn't the vet who did the fecal give you an answer to this...or did you not see a vet? The treatment depends on what they are.

No idea if the worms would be a problem or not since I never use them.

 

[VeiledOwner87]

Fischer's aren't as solid bodied as veiled. You might be used to a beefier animal so be thinking he's skinny when he's not. Maybe you could post a picture of him, even if we can't see the cysts to give us an idea.

Here's my Spike. I think he's a little smaller than yours. My index finger is only about 3 inches long.

Elizadolots, here is a link to the thread i posted the day i got him. there are pics of him, you be the judge. your fisch is great looking though. and again, i will not be able to get a pic of the cyst with my camera. the zoom is not clear enough for a small area like that, i will try, but i doubt it. to describe the cyst, it is a small light colour bump. it isnt big, but just a small little hard bump. its not from shedding either. hope that helps lol

A tip for feeding that I use all the time for wc chams:

Instead of a little deli cup (which is pretty unnatural for a wc cham to go near), I put feeders in a larger plastic storage box like a Critter Keeper or similar. Wedge the box in the foliage or put it at the base of a plant pot so the cham can climb down to the rim of the box without being observed. Shy nervous chams (and yes, fischeri can be this way) will feel they can watch the food for a while without giving themselves away and shoot when they are ready. Don't put in a lot of feeders or they get overwhelmed by the movement and can't single one out (that's why so many prey animals travel in herds...to confuse the predators). The feeders can't escape and if you put a bit of gutload in the box they can keep themselves fed. Remove the box when you mist.

Fischeri like a LOT of foliage cover to feel secure. If you can't find him in the cage that's about right. Also, they don't always recognize our domestic feeders right off either, especially if they are distracted by the new surroundings. Chams hate change and getting to know his new turf is taking a lot out of him.

About not responding...I don't get a chance to log in to the forum all that often. If you mention the species of cham in the title of your posts sometimes it triggers a better response from someone who knows that particular cham well. And, yes, sometimes we don't know what to suggest!

Carlton,. thank you for the tip. i have tried that, but it wasnt deep in the foliage. i have put it in the back of the cage now. do they spend most of their time hiding? my guy is all around his cage, he likes perching on the branches. he sleeps deep in the foliage though. i am just charging my cam batteries so i will post a pic of my set up asap. say a half an hour from now.

 

[VeiledOwner87]

kinyonga, i understand what you're saying. but a pic ive clearly said i cannot supply at the moment. the cyst is on the tail. i got the fecal done, but didnt bring him cause i didnt want to stress him out at this point due to the fact that im trying to get him adjusted. i wasnt even sure if i was going to keep him. thats why i wanted fecal documents incase he was infected. i briefly talked to my vet cause he was just about to run into surgery, i didnt have an appointment to talk with him, but still chatted for a few. i will be keeping him, because tests results came negative for parasites. i will be bringing him back within a month for another one and a check up. i agree that he is skinny in the hips and tail, and i understand there are countless factors in why he isnt eating right now. so this post was to get ideas for feeding. freerange, container, cup, hand. hes a very shy chameleon, though i was expecting that. i discussed this matter with the pet shops owner today, she was more than cooperatble in replacing him, but since no parasites, i want to give this guy a chance. in all else, he seems to be good. again, very active, his body is symetrical, eyes are full, no missing nails or anything, again no parasites, just skinny. the owner said he was quarenteed in the back for a week, and always drank and eat. so again im assuming hes acclimating. ive got a pillowcase covering the front screen to give him some privacy now.

my husbandry:
uvb - 5.0 reptiGLO linear
temperature -84-87 degrees basking with a gradient down to 75. drops down to about 71-69 at night
humidity - 60-80%
lights are on 12/12
offering him every thing from crickets, wax worms, meal worms, superworms, and silks when they're back in supply
crickets are medium 3/4'' or a smaller large.

 

[VeiledOwner87]

 

[Elizadolots]

He's a bit thin. I suspect some of that is the dehydration. He'll probably start eating better and "fluffing up" in a couple of days.

 

[billbuckner]

when i was trying to get my little guy to cup feed i had to put only like 2 of his normal ammount of crickets into the cup and a few days later he actually ate those and little by little i was able to add a few more in and now he eats from the cup

 

[VeiledOwner87]

awsome guys, thank you for your replies. his eyes are full and his breathing is fine. would there be other things resulting in dehydration? his urates are also very white

 

[Elizadolots]

I just think it takes awhile for full recovery from dehydration. He's probably well on the way. He's been through a lot (what with being shaken out of his tree and shipped around the world, kept by a store that didn't really do the best and all....)so it's reasonable for him to take some time to get back to prime shape.

I know all Fischer's aren't the same, but mine are both big fans of hanging vines. They both seem to prefer climbing on hanging vines than walking up branches. So, I have at least one floor to ceiling vine along each wall. They are both big on the vertical travel too. They visit the bottom of their cages several times a day. They often climb down one vertical vine walk across the bottom and climb up another vine. It's hard to see what exactly you have in there, so I thought I'd mention it.

Also, I've never seen a pet store say anything but "oh, yes, he's been eating and drinking and pooping just fine"...I mean, what else can they say? "No, we've never seen him drink, we sold you a dry chameleon?" My other Fischer's came from a store that swore they did everything right, but I'd had my eye on him for a week and knew he was starting to look a bit crispy the day I decided to bring him home.

 

[pantherlover]

maybe try to let crickets crawl up the screen one or 2 at a time. leave them for an hr or so. if interest, keep em comming one or 2 at a time. if no interest take em out & try again later. i remember reading a blog with a wc cup feeding system. it was basically a milk jug with a lage hole cut in it. on the inside is a chunk of mesh so the crickets can run up & down the inside of the cup. surposedly this triggers more strikes from a wc cham. i wish i could give you a link. maybe someone elsecould recognize what im talking about & post. since its a new wc cham my first advice would be to cover up with a sheet, let it be alone for a day & dont offer any food so all it has to concentrate on is it surroundings. hope this helps