Not feeding

[ChappyMcChap]

Ok I've had my panther about five days, in those five days he has not taken any food. I realize that it can take a week or so for them to get acclimated to their new environment and I'm trying to minimize my presence as much as possible. I've got two live pothos and some bamboo for him to climb on. Basking spot in the low 90s, ambient in the 70s, creating a proper thermal gradient. Why I am concerned is that he acts somewhat lethargic. Not going to a basking spot and hanging out on the cage wall. He's not dehydrated I also has a gallon jug with a pinhole acting as a dripper. I really hope it's nothing and he acclimates to his new home, but I always have concerns with shipping and acclimating herps this time of year. Today is the last day to make a claim and send him back, I really hope he's ok and I'm just overreacting. Think I should return and exchange him?

 

[ataraxia]

Ok I've had my panther about five days, in those five days he has not taken any food. I realize that it can take a week or so for them to get acclimated to their new environment and I'm trying to minimize my presence as much as possible.I've got two live pothos and some bamboo for him to climb on. Basking spot in the low 90s, ambient in the 70s, creating a proper thermal gradient.

GREAT!

Why I am concerned is that he acts somewhat lethargic. Not going to a basking spot and hanging out on the cage wall.

Why do you think he is lethargic?

He's not dehydrated I also has a gallon jug with a pinhole acting as a dripper.

Are you misting his cage at all? Humidity level? I will need the how to ask for help form filled out to be able to help you. https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

Where did you get him?

 

[ChappyMcChap]

Your chameleon- male nosy faly panther, approx 6 months
Handling - once or twice getting him out of the bag and again to add plants to cage.
Feeding - crickets and superstores offered free range and cup style. Gut loaded on veggies and flukers calcium gutless
Supplements - none yet. Bought repcal and herptevite
Watering - Dripper, supplemented with a couple mistings.
Fecal - normal, from what I have seen
History - Havent had him long.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Screen, 4x2x18"
Lighting - 40watt basking bulb and a reptisun cfl, will get changed Friday.
Temperature - 90s basking spot, 75 in the room.
Humidity - Maybe 65%, misting two or three times a day plus live plants.
Plants - two pothos, washed and repotted.
Placement - no fans are on, he has a room to himself.
Location - just north of Knoxville tn

Current Problem - lack of movement, not eating. He will move up and down the cage wall some, but not into plants or basking spots.

 

[ChappyMcChap]

I bought it from Jim Flaherty at the chameleon company

 

[ataraxia]

Your chameleon- male nosy faly panther, approx 6 months
Handling - once or twice getting him out of the bag and again to add plants to cage.
Feeding - crickets and superstores offered free range and cup style. Gut loaded on veggies and flukers calcium gutless Make sure the crickets are no bigger than the distance between the eyes of the chameleon.
Supplements - none yet. Bought repcal and herptevite What type of repcal did you buy?
Watering - Dripper, supplemented with a couple mistings.
Fecal - normal, from what I have seenWhat is normal?
History - Havent had him long.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Screen, 4x2x18"custom built cage?
Lighting - 40watt basking bulb and a reptisun cfl, will get changed Friday.
Temperature - 90s basking spot, 75 in the room.
Humidity - Maybe 65%, misting two or three times a day plus live plants.
Plants - two pothos, washed and repotted.
Placement - no fans are on, he has a room to himself.
Location - just north of Knoxville tn

Current Problem - lack of movement, not eating. He will move up and down the cage wall some, but not into plants or basking spots.

If he has been constantly on the screen. from my experience he is un comfortable/happy with his surroundings.... if he still only climbing the screen of the cage after a week.. Whether your cage is to small, to big, not enough foliage, not enough things to climb around, something within the cage basically he is not to happy with or unsure about.

Can i see some pics of the chameleon and cage set up?

 

[ChappyMcChap]

I haven't supplemented anything yet, they come in the mail Friday. Yes my cage is custom and it's going to just be an outdoor cage when I get my new one Friday. His feces is two thirds brown exoskeleton and one third white urete.

 

[ataraxia]

Please answer the underlined questions.

 

[ChappyMcChap]

Sorry it takes a min to do this from my phone I have no desktop or laptop.

Update: I was able to get him to drink using a straw as a pipette. He may perk up now. He has had the drip since day one but maybe he just didn't notice. I estimate he drank 1-2mL of water or half a straw.I had taken him out to remove the water from the dripper that had accumulated, sat him on his "hang out" plant that I set him on to clean or add to his cage.

 

[ChappyMcChap]

Ok when I took this pic his eye is opened, but when I walked into the room his eye was closed(right) and the other opened and when he noticed me he opened it then I took this pic. When I first got him, I noticed him doing the "inflatable eye" routine and I didn't think much of it. Now he's closing the same eye. I was able to get him to drink but not take any food.

 

[ataraxia]

ah ha! Some chameleons refuse to cup feed. The spacing in the screen used is to big to free range. I do like the cage btw. you just gave me a great idea for my w/c rehab cages! I think things will change once the new cage arrives. He may just like to see them climbing the screen walls.

Eyes closing, I would double check with the chameleon company and see what he uses for preformed vitA with his panthers and how often. I dont think it is your problem right now but it will be useful to you. I believe it is your uvb light ATM. Hopefully you ordered a florescent 5.0?

btw- he is not on the screen i would suggest having more vines and limbs large enough for him to grip.

 

[ChappyMcChap]

Thanks. Yes a tube 5.0 is coming w the cage and some bendable vines and a ficus tree. What about him closing his eye? He is doing it again and chilling on a branch.

 

[ChappyMcChap]

Wow ok I was also standing there watching him because he had his eye closed and he prolapsed. I wasnt able to get a pic and luckily it went back in, but something is seriously wrong. Not sure how I could have caused this, but I think something may have happened during shipping, is this a sign of impaction? He hasnt eating and there isn't really any way for him to eat the substrate in the plants.

 

[panicbess]

I would put a lot more highways and crossings in there with him..He is scared, thats all! Get that guy some more toys..

 

[ataraxia]

if it went right back in...he didnt have a prolapse. he more than likely showed you his junk.

 

[ChappyMcChap]

Ok, yes he has some more toys coming and you're right it was just his hemipenes. It just worries me that his eye has been closed a couple times.

 

[ataraxia]

First chameleon?

 

[chamguy]

if you'er worried about stress, you could try covering the cage with a sheet to minimize disturbances. Other than the eye, he looks healthy,...to me anyway. As long as he's not loseing significant amount of weight, i wouldnt worry to much.

I also agree, he needs more limbs and plants to climb/hide one. Hopefully your stuff comes soon.

 

[ChappyMcChap]

No I've had five veileds before, I had a couple
Pet shop rescues that were too far gone. I never had health problems with the ones I bought from reputable breeders. And i successfully bred and hatched two clutches before selling them off and getting out of the hobby.I would have had more vines but the local shop was sold out so I had to order them.

 

[KatCham]

That's good that you are getting the 5.0 linear tube

Enclosure looks great.

Only other thing I could think of is his basking temp might be a bit too warm for a baby. Fine for adults but I'd say 85 better for a baby. Might explain why he's lethargic and staying out of the basking spot...he might be too hot???

Will let the more experienced keepers confirm, but I just remember from when Simba was a baby, being advised not to have the basking temp too high.

 

[ChappyMcChap]

Do you think I should move him into something smaller like a sterlite box to kind of make his cage smaller and so he has more things in close proximity to climb on? I had seen in the classifieds a guy sells sterlite boxes for babies, since he is still kind of a baby maybe he could hide easier and not be stressed from being in a large cage. Not sure he is stressed considering the coloration.