Kevin's Mom
Member
Hi,
Our veiled chameleon, Kevin, has not been eating regularly for the last 6 days. He normally eats about 8 to 10 medium/large dubia roaches a day and a 3 to 4 superworms every other day as a treat. Last Sunday, 7/21, we had family over and he was handled more than normal. I think we held him 2 or 3 times that day for about 10 -20 minutes each time. He didn't seem to mind and was his color was good during those times. I'm afraid we overdid it and stressed him out. I won't be doing that again. He's never not eaten regularly so I'm worried.
He has eaten maybe 1 roach in the morning then he won’t eat any more roaches. I offer him superworms and he’ll eat the 3 or 4. I don’t want to feed him more superworms and have him get used to them. On Wednesday and Thursday I offered a roach in the AM but he didn’t eat it so I didn’t offer anything more. He wouldn’t eat any more roaches that day, even in the evening. On Friday he only ate 4 superworms after not eating a roach. Saturday and this morning he ate 1 roach and 3 superworms. Is that enough? He looks skinnier to me.
I read on the forum that they sometimes go on “hunger strikes” but if it lasts longer than 7 days, they should go to the vet. He fell asleep last Sunday evening in his free-range "playground" area so I had to wake him up and put him back in his cage.
He also seems to be falling asleep sooner. He’s usually asleep by 8 pm but this last week he's out by 6:30 or 7 pm. We're not exactly sure when he wakes up but he's always awake when we wake up around 7:00 am. Is it because he's getting older? I'm willing to take him to the vet if needed. I thought I’d try the forum first as I'm sure that a trip would be very stressful for him. I’m also open to any other suggestions based on the details I’ve noted. Sorry for writing so much and thanks for reading it.
.
Our veiled chameleon, Kevin, has not been eating regularly for the last 6 days. He normally eats about 8 to 10 medium/large dubia roaches a day and a 3 to 4 superworms every other day as a treat. Last Sunday, 7/21, we had family over and he was handled more than normal. I think we held him 2 or 3 times that day for about 10 -20 minutes each time. He didn't seem to mind and was his color was good during those times. I'm afraid we overdid it and stressed him out. I won't be doing that again. He's never not eaten regularly so I'm worried.
He has eaten maybe 1 roach in the morning then he won’t eat any more roaches. I offer him superworms and he’ll eat the 3 or 4. I don’t want to feed him more superworms and have him get used to them. On Wednesday and Thursday I offered a roach in the AM but he didn’t eat it so I didn’t offer anything more. He wouldn’t eat any more roaches that day, even in the evening. On Friday he only ate 4 superworms after not eating a roach. Saturday and this morning he ate 1 roach and 3 superworms. Is that enough? He looks skinnier to me.
I read on the forum that they sometimes go on “hunger strikes” but if it lasts longer than 7 days, they should go to the vet. He fell asleep last Sunday evening in his free-range "playground" area so I had to wake him up and put him back in his cage.
He also seems to be falling asleep sooner. He’s usually asleep by 8 pm but this last week he's out by 6:30 or 7 pm. We're not exactly sure when he wakes up but he's always awake when we wake up around 7:00 am. Is it because he's getting older? I'm willing to take him to the vet if needed. I thought I’d try the forum first as I'm sure that a trip would be very stressful for him. I’m also open to any other suggestions based on the details I’ve noted. Sorry for writing so much and thanks for reading it.
- Your Chameleon - Veiled Chameleon, 9/10 months old. We've had him for 7 months.
- Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? - Usually, every other day just long enough to put him back in his cage from his free-range area. Before his free-range area was set up, 5 to 10 minutes, every other day, at the most.
- Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? Dubia roaches and superworms What amount? Normally, 8 to 11 roaches a day. 3 to 4 superworms every other day or less. What is the schedule? 4 or 5 roaches in the morning around 7:15 before we go to work and then another 4 to 5 when we get home around 6:00. How are you gut-loading your feeders? Nature Zone – Total Bites (the green moist gel cubes)
- Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Rep-Cal Calcium without d3 every feeding. Rep-Cal Calcium with Vit.D3 & Rep-Cal Herptivite w/ Beta Carotene – every 14 days.
- Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Hand mister. How often and how long to you mist? 3 to 4 times a day, long enough so water is dripping off the leaves. Do you see your chameleon drinking? Only 2 times since we’ve had him.
- Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Nothing out of the ordinary for him. He’s never been tested for parasites.
- Cage Type – Large repti-breeze. See photos.
- Lighting - Med ReptiSun 5.0 UVB Fluorescent 12” on about 12 hours a day and Zilla – Night Black Heat bulb that’s on 24/7. See photos.
- Temperature - Basking is around 80-85. We keep the house A/C at 76 degrees when it’s hot outside. Lowest overnight temp? Currently probably around 70 degrees. How do you measure these temps? Zoo Med Digital Combo Thermometer Humidity Gauge. Temperature gauge is a bit below his tallest basking spot at the back of the cage. That temp reads around 80 degrees.
- Humidity - What are your humidity levels? Currently 44 measured just outside of his cage on the right side. How are you creating and maintaining these levels? Hand misting 3 to 4 times a day. What do you use to measure humidity? Zoo Med Digital Combo Thermometer Humidity Gauge.
- Plants - Are you using live plants? Yes. If so, what kind? Inside the cage is a dracaenas. Next to the cage is an umbrella plant.
- Placement - Where is your cage located? It’s on top of a long dresser in a bedroom. You can see the air vent in the photo. The air vent slats go up. I know I’ll have to address this once Kevin gets bigger as he’ll be able to reach the vent if he’s standing on the top of the heat lamp cover on top of his cage while he’s free ranging. At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? 5’ 9”
- Location - Where are you geographically located? San Jose, CA.
.
