Not gonna lie...I'm super happy right now!

[Slug]

So, I am a really new cham owner, (1 week and 2 days), and have been worried almost the entire time that I have been doing everything wrong. I tried to get as prepared as I could before I made my purchase. I went through several trials and tribulations after my Senegal cham arrived. Everything from stressed cham, it not eating like I thought it would, finding out it was WC (unlike the CB it was advertised as on the site, which has been since corrected), drainage issues and just general stressing out over the little guy/girl.

Well, yesterday I got a ray of hope. I looked up from my usual Facebookery, and saw my cham climbing down a vine rather quickly to the feeding bowl I put in the cage (suggested by a forum member), then it paused...and shot out its tongue and got its first cricket! This came after several days of not seeing it eat any crickets (crickets counted each day).

Today I decided to try something. I got a cricket in a pair of feeder tongs and decided to try to put the cricket on the leaf the cham was on, and it didnt even have a chance to get off the tongs! I was going to film this happening, but it happened way too fast to get my phone ready.

I sat back down and would look up when I saw movement, and saw my cham nail 3 more crickets! This is a huge turn-around from a few days ago.

Thanks again to everyone here that has been offering help and suggestions. I have done as much as I can and it all seems to be working. I owe you all so much.

 

[Trillian]

That is so wonderful!!! I know it's a huge relief for you to see her eating, and it shows she's feeling happier and settling in!

 

[Vegun]

If you think that's exciting just wait till he poops!!

Great news.

I had a Senegal once. Little bugger had the best personality of any reptile I've owned..

And I've owned lots.

 

[Slug]

Update!

Update!

It has eaten 3 more crickets since I posted this!

Also, I have seen it poop, and have cleaned it up, yet not since it has eaten this much. We shall see though.

Vegun: Got any pics of your Senegals?

 

[JonRich]

Ahhh. Congrats! Always good when your cham takes a turn for the better and reassures you that you are doing it right!

 

[Slug]

And just when I think I am doing good...my cham falls off a leaf that was not strong enough to hold it's weight...damn.

Don't worry, I added some more vines to climb on, and I will be adding the braided hibiscus later today after I get it washed off and the dead leaves picked off. I have a schefflera, but it is too thick for the cage. It may be an outdoor free range set up, who knows.

 

[Swayne8998]

Great news! Not to him falling off...Lol. I love senegals, mostly because they remind me of veileds xD

 

[PantherEnvy]

The happines/relief/satisfaction that you are experiencing is what our husbandry/parenting is all about!

 

[lysinlight87]

If you think that's exciting just wait till he poops!!

hehehe, then u got to post a picture of it!

 

[Slug]

I will. I am a pic monster.

 

[Slug]

IT ATE!!!

 

[Drago]

What do you use for a feeding cup? I wonder if my first try with one was too big because my cham didn't want any part of it.

 

[Slug]

What do you use for a feeding cup? I wonder if my first try with one was too big because my cham didn't want any part of it.

I just used a clear plastic deli style cup that we had in our cabinet. I have been told to use something light colored so it will not be so scared. I am guessing because it can see your hand through it if you are holding it up to them.

What seemed to really work was putting a small tub like container at the bottom of the cage with some vine access and it will climb down and do a little hunting.

I have gotten lucky and have had it eat crickets out of the cup, off a vine, out of the tub and off of feeder tongs. I am not really ready to free range the crickets just yet, but I have put them on leaves and vines and watched to make sure they get eaten. I have even gotten it on video, which is pretty awesome.